I Quit Eating Fast Food (and Lost 50 Pounds) Once I Paid Attention to How It Made Me Feel

Photographs courtesy Kelly Hilton.

Changing your body takes hard work, persistence, and dedication. Here’s one local’s story. Want to share your Transformation Story? Email ccunningham@phillymag.com

Who: Kelly Hilton, an agency administrator from Bucks County

Why I wanted to make a change: “I spent last summer feeling really stuck in my own body. I missed a lot of events and that involved anything with a swim suit because I was incredibly unhappy with how I looked. I reached out to Jenna Fisher, who owns Train & Nourish, and she built me a fitness program and meal plan and have since been a dedicated client.”

When I started: “October 2017 is when I decided enough was enough. I was trying to pick out Halloween costumes with my boyfriend and tried on a few I found and nothing fit right, and I was embarrassed.”

Height: 5’7″

Weight change: From 270 (at my heaviest in October) to 221.

What else changed: “I feel like myself again. I am not where I want to be yet but the confidence is definitely coming back and activities like hiking and going for bike rides are fun to me again instead of a chore. I feel with everything I have accomplished, there is no stopping how far I can go.”

“When I ate fast food or high-carb and sugary foods, it was a temporary feeling of satisfaction, then I would be tired and not motivated. I didn’t like it at all, but it was a way of life.”

How I changed my diet: “I first started with thinking about what I ate and how it made me feel. When I ate fast food or high-carb and sugary foods, it was a temporary feeling of satisfaction, then I would be tired and not motivated. I didn’t like it at all, but it was a way of life. Through Jenna’s meal plan, I saw that I could eat healthy, feel satisfied, and my energy levels were high. This was huge to me. I stay away from fast foods, soda, and high carbs. Cheat day meals happen, but most of the time I am so motivated and happy with all my results thus far, it deters me from eating something not healthy.”

How I changed my workout routine: “Before Jenna, I would work out maybe once a week. I had no energy, so working out was something I would dread. Now I work out five days a week with a mix of cardio and weights. Mostly low weight, high re — or a lot of activates like planks and body squats just using my own body weight.”

The hardest part: “The hardest part is just getting started. You have to be mentally prepared for big changes that are going to benefit you for the rest of your life; you are doing this for you! I get through the tough days through looking at pictures of me before and remembering feeling down and having low confidence back in October. I think about the smile on my face now when I look at myself and in the mirror and think Yes! You are doing it, Kell — and it feels incredible.”

What I’m most proud of: “My diet is healthy, and I feel good when I eat food now. I like understanding the labels and being able to make healthier choices because of all the knowledge Jenna has taught me.”

What’s next: “I am very happy with my results, but I know I am not finished yet. I don’t think I will ever be ‘finished.’ This isn’t just about weight loss; it’s about changing your life for the better through healthy eating and exercise.”

What I want everyone to know: “That there is always hope, even when you feel stuck and like you cannot do something like lose weight — especially if it’s a substantial amount. You can be the person who is proud to look in the mirror instead of avoiding it. Bottom line, the only person who can stop you is you. Get excited! Change your life!”

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