Woman Loses 100lb in a Year After Quitting Junk Food

“I was so embarrassed about my weight,” Megan Tjelle told Newsweek, tipping the scales at 247 pounds at her heaviest.

Tjelle admitted that she used food as a coping mechanism amid the stresses of her highly demanding job working as a nurse. Her poor relationship with food began when she was studying at college and continued when she started working as a registered nurse in Chicago, Illinois.

She would plow through takeout for breakfast, lunch and dinner which was not only unhealthy but an expensive habit. She told Newsweek that she used to overspend on junk food; sometimes one order would cost $30 to $40.

In October 2022, Tjelle became extremely unhappy with her size 16 frame and decided to embark on a health and fitness journey. Now, one year later, she couldn’t be prouder to show off her 138-pound body after dropping 100 pounds.

“I was athletic growing up and a gymnast for 13 years, but when I went to college, things changed,” the 29-year-old told Newsweek. “I used food as a coping mechanism, and it escalated when I began working as a nurse, especially during the pandemic. I turned to food for comfort.”

Tjelle estimates she used to eat around 3,000 calories per day and would always eat at strange times.

“My eating habits were all over the place as I worked night shifts and was often on call,” she said. “I didn’t have a regular sleep schedule, and I would eat unhealthy food to cope with everything. sometimes I would have dinner in the middle of the night or when I got home at 6 a.m.”

Avery Zenker, a registered dietician, previously told Newsweek that a proper sleep routine could be the key to shedding those extra pounds.

“Usually seven to nine hours is recommended to best support weight loss. But the sleep quality is just as important as well as the sleep quantity,” Zenker said.

Last year, Tjelle decided enough was enough after starting a new office-based job in the same industry. At the time, she weighed 247 pounds and severely lacked self-esteem.

“It got to the point where I was very self-conscious, and I didn’t want to leave my house,” she said. “I was so embarrassed about my weight. I had tried diets before, but I was never able to stick to them. I spent seven years putting my all into other people and neglecting my own needs. So when I left my job as a travel nurse and started one with normal 9-5 hours, I decided it was time to prioritize myself.”

Tjelle joined a gym and walked on an incline for 30 minutes per day and stopped eating junk food. Instead, she purchased ready-to-eat healthy meals prepared by a local company.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention explains a healthy weight isn’t just about following a diet or program. Instead, it entails a way of life that incorporates stress reduction, regular exercise, and healthy eating habits. Losing weight is a marathon, not a race and those who go at a slow and steady pace are more likely to keep the weight off.

Although exercise and a healthy diet are essential for weight loss, they aren’t the only things that affect how much you weigh. Weight management may also be influenced by sleep, aging, genetics, diseases, medications, and environments.

The CDC suggests starting small and working your way up to 150 minutes of moderate-intensity aerobic activity per week. However, this amount of time is just a guideline as the physical activity needed varies greatly from person to person.

Tjelle progressively increased her physical activity and also ditched sugary drinks. She opted for water which has been proven to boost fat loss results.

“I walked daily on the treadmill for six months. Then I added weight training after around five months, but only a little bit at a time—for example, three different machines per visit or the stair master.”

Tjelle admits there were times when she felt disheartened as the results weren’t instant. But she soon realized consistency is key when it comes to losing weight.

“It took several months to see a difference. It required a lot of patience on my end as the changes were pretty minimal. That is why it is so important to stay consistent when trying to lose weight as you won’t see the changes overnight,” she said.

“It was frustrating at first, but then I saw little changes that kept me going and propelled me forward.”

Tjelle consistently went to the gym daily from October 2022 to May 2023 before taking a two-month break during the summer. By this point, she was capable of making healthier choices and eating in moderation.

She told Newsweek: “In the summer, I was enjoying my weight loss and having fun with my friends and family. But I continued to walk. I try to do 10,000 steps per day, but it doesn’t always happen, sometimes I do less, and others I do a lot more.

“I always listen to my body so if I’m really tired then I won’t force a workout and I will rest instead,” she said.

Tjelle also sought medical advice from a weight loss doctor who told her exactly how many calories she should consume in a calorie deficit. She advises others to do the same.

“It was good to have some guidance from a professional—it’s better than trying to do it all on your own,” she said.

Tjelle doesn’t wish to disclose her current calorie intake because everybody’s body composition is different. But she always burnt more calories than she was consuming.

She told Newsweek: “I am very proud of myself. I feel like I can do anything now and the sky is the limit! I’m proud that I believed in myself and followed through with my accomplishments.”

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