Deirdre Walsh as told to Emily Shiffer

When I was a teenager I started worrying about my appearance. In college, I developed an eating disorder, constantly measuring my self-worth based on what the scale said. I was also diagnosed with <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a23133075/signs-of-anxiety-disorder/" id="a41f8f70-e035-31e3-a6bf-5a86390eb614"> anxiety </a> and <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/a19949365/mandy-eagler-ptsd/" id="66a22051-ce8a-31f7-a8c2-eb8f507630aa"> post-traumatic stress disorder </a> (due to abuse I experienced)-so college was a period of struggle for me, big time. But with a ton of determination on my part and support and concern from people who cared about me, I was eventually able to <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/g19915009/lose-weight-without-scale/" id="36c912a8-464b-3562-a59b-7af0e564a616"> stop weighing myself </a> and tracking every calorie and bite.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl2qZnfBeIU/" id="1f446db7-7078-3481-af93-b577b0307428"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/Bl2qZnfBeIU/" id="ad8b31ec-46d5-3304-aee3-56165ccd4a5f"> Same girl. Same pants. Different body. Different mindset. The major difference between these two pictures? The girl on the left wasnt living. She was just doing what she could to survive. Now I am truly living, loving (myself and others), and thriving on this journey. And more than anything else, I just want to inspire others to do the same. #mondaymotivation _________________________________________________ #fitness #fitnessjourney #fitnessmotivation #instafit #weightlossjourney #orangetheoryfitness #monday #fitnessgirl #fitnessgoals #justdoit #fitspo #fitnessaddict #fitspiration #fitnesslifestyle #selflove #nopainnogain #fitfluential #beforeandafter #instafitness #morelife #otfnwomaha #otfnation #noexcuses #nevermissamonday #newweeknewgoals #motivation #inspire #motivationmonday #transformationtuesday </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de.dubbs/" id="f166bcc9-64e1-3984-a53c-ee1b1cdbfd7a"> D. Walsh </a> (@de.dubbs) on Jul 30, 2018 at 4:27am PDT

While my relationship with food got somewhat healthier, my actual eating habits still needed some work. I graduated from college in 2013 and applied to an accelerated nursing program that was so intense.

I was either studying or in a clinical rotation before the sun came up and after the sun set, so I would opt for Chinese takeout because it was filling and always meant I had leftovers to munch on during breaks in my tricky schedule. Fitness didn't exist in this period of my life.

But the hard work paid off: In 2015, I graduated summa cum laude with my bachelor of science in nursing and passed my boards. I was ecstatic. I was hired on as a night nurse at the hospital of my choice. The downside of being a night nurse? I could barely even prioritize sleep, let alone exercise or healthy eating.

<h1> Strangely enough, a bout of chronic bronchitis sparked my weight-loss journey. </h1>

I came down with the illness after starting my new job and couldnt shake it for five months. As nurses, we educate about the importance of eating healthy, not smoking, and making sure to get enough daily activity. But I wasnt even doing all of those things myself-and it seemed to me that my body and immune system were feeling the effects of my lifestyle habits.

My cough became so bad that my patients would ask me if I smoked. I didnt! I couldnt help but think that maybe my lungs and respiratory were just out of shape, so to speak.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvNWOQqFckU/" id="34847e7f-a827-3268-af01-ff73d6eb4a29"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvNWOQqFckU/" id="717ae264-84ed-39ce-aada-95d732ab7418"> I almost didnt post this, but vulnerability and honesty are something I value! I honestly wasnt too proud of my 10lb loss during our 8 week challenge. its hard for me to see much of a difference, even in the before and after picture (swipe ). But guys, I FEEL IT. Then I remembered, this wasnt just an 8 week challenge (for me). This has been (and will be) a lifestyle change!! So naturally I had to take a look back. The picture on the left is from the 2018 challenge. I lost 12lbs during that 8 week OTF challenge and kept it off + lost even more. I continued to be consistent with my OTF workouts since then and the picture on the right is where Im at now. I have so far to go, but I HAVE to remember that consistency and healthy habits WILL bring results. Just like you gain weight overtime, it takes TIME to lose it. And keep it off! Faster is not always better. And I am not in a race against anyone but myself. If theres any advice I have, its do not stop. Dont stop going to OTF workouts and dont stop your healthier eating habits. We got this! #orangetheory #otftransformationchallenge #orangetheoryfitness #transformationtuesday </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de.dubbs/" id="f166bcc9-64e1-3984-a53c-ee1b1cdbfd7a"> D. Walsh </a> (@de.dubbs) on Mar 19, 2019 at 4:36pm PDT

Toward the end of the five months of coughing, wheezing, and just feeling crappy overall, I remember standing on the scale at my doctors office during a checkup. I peered at the number on the scale and nearly fell off in disbelief: I was 260 pounds. At that moment I remember thinking to myself, if youre going to teach healthy lifestyle habits to patients, you need to practice what you preach.

A good friend told me about <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/a28117681/what-is-orangetheory/" id="f0d9fae2-773b-31cd-a42e-31f3c7c1488e"> Orangetheory Fitness </a> (OTF). She swore that it was the best workout she had ever done and felt great after every class. I had to give it a try. After canceling my free class *three* times-I was so afraid of failing at it-I finally showed up in July of 2017.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzzQHsjJrd7/" id="310130a1-665f-344b-ac5b-5302dff449da"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BzzQHsjJrd7/" id="3f5120b0-4e86-3a29-a16a-b8d74aec0b11"> 2 years at @otfnwomaha 85lbs 7,429 splat points earned 262,972 calories burned #morelife discovered Thank you @orangetheory </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de.dubbs/" id="f166bcc9-64e1-3984-a53c-ee1b1cdbfd7a"> D. Walsh </a> (@de.dubbs) on Jul 11, 2019 at 7:59pm PDT

When I started attending the classes, I had to modify all of the workouts. I couldnt keep up with everyone around me, but it didnt matter and I was never judged. And in the first six weeks, I watched my body transform. Seeing my progress was so motivating that it got me excited to work on other healthy habits.

<h1> I dropped 20 pounds in the beginning of my journey via consistent exercise, but also by eating smaller portion sizes and healthier meals. </h1>

Prior to joining OTF, I didn't eat to fuel; <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a28067470/how-to-stop-stress-eating/" id="d0e19ce7-b856-3223-ac07-cb8991bde2eb"> I ate to soothe my emotions </a> . Since joining, Ive created a lifestyle of meal prepping. Meal prepping is not only a timesaver for me, it also helps me create proper portions, make better choices, and it helps me always stay prepared with a snack on hand so I don't have to rely on fast food late at night. To be honest, Ive tried <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a21729470/16-8-diet/" id="2c9968ef-edb0-32fc-a3ae-f2372119d9c3"> intermittent fasting </a> and other fad diets, but what works for me is just eating a reasonable calorie count and *not* obsessing over food.

<ul><li> Pre-gym snack: Before I work out, I drink a juice made with an apple, orange, a stalk of celery, one romaine heart, and half a ginger root. </li><li> Breakfast: I love having two Kodiak Cakes Power Waffles and a grapefruit. </li><li> Lunch: Cauliflower rice and shrimp with sriracha sauce and asparagus is a go-to. </li><li> Snack: A Fit Crunch Protein Bar or Built Bar satisfies me. </li><li> Dinner: Im really into Caesar salad with chicken sausage and broccoli. </li><li> Dessert: Strawberries with chocolate hummus-yum! </li></ul>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwNTlQDlat_/" id="cbaa0dff-a75a-3067-afff-d130f3f6ad4e"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwNTlQDlat_/" id="607d657d-07f3-352d-afdd-bd78b33b956c"> OmaHalf Half Marathon I arrived this morning with zero expectations other than to cross that finish line. But I finished with a PR and ran the entire race without any walking breaks. This is huge for me and just goes to show you can do anything you set your mind to. Our bodies are so, so awesome and once we overcome the mental hurdles of I cant do that or what was I thinking, we become limitless. I already know what its like to give up. I want to see what happens if I dont. Thank you all so much for your words of encouragement and motivation to keep going. I appreciate it more than youll ever know! </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de.dubbs/" id="f166bcc9-64e1-3984-a53c-ee1b1cdbfd7a"> D. Walsh </a> (@de.dubbs) on Apr 13, 2019 at 12:44pm PDT

<h1> Ive lost 85 pounds. But my success is about so much more than weight. </h1>

I went from a size 18 to a size 7/8. I went from walking an 18-minute mile to running an 8-minute mile. I can lift heavier than ever before. I don't have a nagging cough.

Ive realized that when you find a workout and community you truly love, a weight-loss journey becomes something entirely different, more meaningful. To say OTF has changed my life for the better is an understatement. It has not only given me strength and better physical health, but it has been a source of refuge in times of struggle and has led me to some amazing friends in my life. You cant put a price tag on that.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BylIpyRJTX3/" id="160307c1-a2dc-3770-a845-f727fbb3f169"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BylIpyRJTX3/" id="98f64916-d87b-3cd4-aa00-d79964c8f382"> Consistency doesnt mean never messing up- it means never giving up! 1 month before OTF 22 months of OTF Im not sure if its the vibrant atmosphere, the variation in challenging workouts, the enthusiasm from the coaches, or the friendships Ive made with other members and studio staff... but @otfnwomaha is the only gym Ive joined that I consistently go to and I absolutely look forward to every workout! Who else feels this way? I have @orangetheory to thank for giving me my life back in so many ways. Its not just about the weight Ive lost, but about all that Ive gained. Ill be forever grateful. </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de.dubbs/" id="f166bcc9-64e1-3984-a53c-ee1b1cdbfd7a"> D. Walsh </a> (@de.dubbs) on Jun 11, 2019 at 11:53am PDT

<h1> Even when life gets hectic, I make time for fitness and no longer let my health fall to the wayside. </h1>

Case in point: I now work in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU)-my dream career!-taking care of the vulnerable neonate population. It's the best, most fulfilling job ever. I work 12-hour shifts, but I have made a habit of getting up at 4 a.m. to get a workout in before work, showering at the gym, and heading straight to the hospital.

Some people call me crazy, but Ive come to realize I have more energy and a sharper mind to get me through my shift when I work up a sweat in the morning versus if I sleep in the extra hour.

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwmmaVbFWlM/" id="dada3ca5-e93d-3f87-a3c9-b7d850d763a5"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BwmmaVbFWlM/" id="ea157a91-8d62-30df-a656-743c5bef8557"> The distance between your dreams and reality is called action. This #transformationtuesday is a reminder of where I started and where Im at now. Of course Im not where I want to be quite yet, but part of the journey is appreciating what youre capable of TODAY, because its still more than yesterday. Ive worked so hard to get to this point Im at right now. And life should be about enjoying EVERY step of the journey! Although Im sure wed all love a quick fix, the reward comes from putting in the hard work, day in and day out! Everyone has a bad day, and its important to never fall off the wagon (Easter, anyone?) and get right back on track the next day. I also want to mention #looseskin Ive been asked if I have some and I definitely do in places including my lower stomach area. So even if I flex, it has almost no collagen in some areas. Thats to be expected and even though it makes me a little uncomfortable showing you this, I want to because its reality! It shows where Ive come from and a visual testament to the hard work Ive put in </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/de.dubbs/" id="f166bcc9-64e1-3984-a53c-ee1b1cdbfd7a"> D. Walsh </a> (@de.dubbs) on Apr 23, 2019 at 8:29am PDT

The biggest lesson I have learned from my journey is that theres no timeline for weight loss. Weight loss is not about a 30-day diet-its a lifestyle shift. My current goal is to achieve a 100-pound loss, but I don't care about setting some arbitrary deadline for it, and Im *not* a prisoner to the scale.

My journey is not about looking good in my clothes, but about feeling great in my own skin. Health looks different on everyone. It isnt a number on the scale. Its how you feel, how you sleep at night, the energy you exude, the happiness you feel in your heart, and the overall confidence you notice. Trust the process, be kind to yourself, and know that transformations arent just physical.

'Orangetheory Fitness Helped Me Lose 85 Pounds'

Ive had an unhealthy relationship with food most of my life. I grew up in a large family that struggled to afford the basic necessities, and we didnt always know where our next meal was coming from. So at a young age, I started binging whenever I was around food. By the time was in third grade, I was getting bullied about my weight. Food became a security blanket for me.

'I Lost 85 Pounds After Falling In Love With Orangetheory Fitness'

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Pulse Kenya is the most followed news and entertainment platform in Kenya. It informs and engages young Kenyans around the clock and provides updates by the hour.

Deirdre Walsh as told to Emily Shiffer

Articles written by the author

'I Lost 85 Pounds After Falling In Love With Orangetheory Fitness'