Mayra Arias, as told to Lauren Krouse

<p> I never thought about my weight when I was growing up. I was surrounded by family and friends who accepted me for who I was. I was a happy kid and ate whatever I wanted, which included lots of highly processed foods and munchies. </p>

<p>It wasnt until my 17th birthday that I really noticed my weight in an impactful way. When I developed photos from my camera from that day, I was utterly shocked by my size. At that exact moment, I decided to change. I got a gym membership and started working out every day. </p>

<p>But looking back, I made some less-than-healthy choices to slim down as fast as possible during that time .  I overdid it with my workouts and ate an overly restrictive diet. Yes, I lost weight, but my approaches were not safe or sustainable. </p>

<p>I maintained my weight until I got pregnant at the age of 24 in January 2010. During my pregnancy, I stayed active, walked every day, hit the gym three times a week, and watched what I ate. Still, I gained 100 pounds. At the peak of my pregnancy, I weighed 278 pounds. After I gave birth to my daughter on November 13, 2010, I lost 40 pounds naturally as a result of <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/life/a19929480/breastfeeding-burns-calories/" id="5a8d9f20-9d3c-3aa0-a803-e5995b3dfaf9">  breastfeeding </a> , taking care of my daughter, and recovering from my pregnancy. But I was still overweight and ready to see lasting change.</p>

<h1>  Two months later, in January 2011, I started my *second* major attempt at weight loss. This time, it stuck.  </h1>

<p>I began working out at home five days a week, as I needed to be home to take care of my daughter. My workouts consisted of cardio, squats, and lots of crunches. For cardio sessions, I did <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/fitness/g19514951/fitness-trends/" id="0ea03dfa-3b0a-3a5a-aa31-71a6729cd5e0">  old-school (and fan-favorite!) Tae Bo workouts </a> (think: a mix of martial arts, boxing, and dance), as well as hot yoga and weight training.</p>

<h1>  I also started a low-carb, high-protein diet and figured out my calorie deficit.   </h1>

<p>I knew I needed to start eating fewer calories than my body required to maintain my current weight. And, tbh, losing weight after my pregnancy required a ton of focus and determination, so I also got rid of temptations to help me stay on track. For example, I threw out all of my junk food, sweets, chips, soda, and bread. </p>

<p>My diet consisted of <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/food/a19969285/foods-with-protein/" id="f91db154-9d26-3209-a48e-e5df07df7f27">  healthy protein sources </a> like chicken, steak, salmon, tuna, and eggs, salads and veggies, cheese and plain yogurt, olive oil, some fruit, and protein shakes for on-the-go nutrition.</p>

<p>By June 2011, five months into my weight-loss journey, I had lost over 100 pounds. For the next five years, I worked out at the gym every day to maintain my weight and stay fit. This was, as you can imagine, a lot of work. But it was worth it.</p>

<h1>  In August 2014, one of my friends mentioned the   keto diet  , and I was intrigued.  </h1>

<p>It sounded like something I could incorporate into my lifestyle, so I tried it for a week. In just that one week, I lost six poundsand I was sold. Its been my way of eating ever since. For me, its less a so-called diet and more a lifestyle. I also started <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a28563472/intermittent-fasting-diet/" id="a697b537-d258-3816-a839-f93e2ebcff5d">  intermittent fasting </a> in January 2018. Generally, my eating window is about six to eight hours (so I often skip breakfast).</p>

<p>I eat keto-friendly foods about 90 percent of the time. The other 10 percent of the time, I eat outside of keto rules so that I can enjoy special occasions and different cuisines around the world as I travel with my family. </p>

<p>Over the last two years, Ive committed to sharing my weight-loss journey and the tips I've learned with friends and followers. Its my personal mission to transform as many lives as I can by sharing my story, as well as simple recipes and alternatives to traditional high-carb, less-healthy foods on my Instagram. I enjoy experimenting with baking low-carb, sugar-free desserts like cupcakes, cookies, bread, cinnamon rolls, danishes, brownies, ice cream, and more. Im also big on keto-friendly drinks like shakes, smoothies, teas, and coffee drinks. </p>

<h1>  The most helpful changes I made were simple swaps.   </h1>

<p>Some examples (trust me, you can do these, too!): I replaced my go-to pasta with zoodles, swapped rice for cauliflower rice, and ditched my go-to desserts for homemade keto versions. I also swapped soda for sparkling water and replaced high-sugar drinks with homemade, sugar-free versions that were keto-friendly. </p>

<p><strong> Heres what I eat in a typical day:  </strong></p>

<p><strong> Breakfast:  </strong> A cup of coffee with a splash of heavy cream. </p>

<p><strong> Lunch:  </strong> Chicken or beef with veggies (plus butter and salt), salad, and healthy fats (like dressings, sauces, avocado, grilled cheese, or spicy mayo). </p>

<p><strong> Dinner:  </strong> Chicken, steak, or salmon and veggies. </p>

<p>I've now lost about 135 pounds. As someone who's had ups and downs with her weight, my biggest advice is to remember that weight loss is a journey, and its okay to go at your own pace. Having lost weight *too* fast the first time, Id advise anyone to make a healthy plan to lose weight over a realistic time period. Find a lifestyle you can stick with long-term. For me, that was keto, but its important to find something that works for you and your body. </p>

<strong> My name is Mayra Arias ( </strong> <strong> ), and Im a 35-year-old mom and self-employed businesswoman based in Laguna Beach, California. After battling my weight for years, I committed to a consistent workout routine and the keto lifestyle. Ive lost over 100 pounds and kept it off.  </strong>

'I Do Keto, Intermittent Fasting, And Tae Bo Workouts—And I've Lost 135 Pounds'

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Mayra Arias, as told to Lauren Krouse

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'I Do Keto, Intermittent Fasting, And Tae Bo Workouts—And I've Lost 135 Pounds'