This woman lost 40 kg in 1 year and a half with a gluten and lactose free diet and functional exercises –

Anyone who knows me now even doubts that I ever reached 107 kilos. I would also be suspicious, after all, my skin has adapted well to the new measures (I think physical exercise was essential to avoid sagging). It’s true that the change was huge, but don’t think it was quick: it took me a year and a half to eliminate 40 kilos and reduce my body fat percentage from 47 to 19%.

A long time ago, I consulted with a nutritionist and tried to go to the gym. Ever heard of self-sabotage? I had it in my head that bodybuilding was the most boring part of the day and that it was okay to leave the menu a few (many) times. During college, I retired skates – I competed in intercity championships for years – and watched the scales go up.

With the marriage, the situation became critical. At the supermarket, she bought whatever she wanted and cooked huge meals even on an ordinary day. My husband and I always love to take risks with pans, the problem was what we put inside them. When laziness beat, we ordered pizza. Before our second anniversary together, I had already gained 10 kilos.

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The snap for change only happened with the desire to have a child. To increase the chances of success in insemination, the doctor advised me to lose weight and referred me to an endocrinologist. That’s when I discovered the reason for my drowsiness: Hashimoto’s thyroiditis, an autoimmune disease that causes hypothyroidism. The improvement would come with the medication, of course, but also with a radical cut in the menu: no more sugar, gluten or lactose, which, according to the doctor, can ‘provoke’ my body and encourage its defense system, including the which acts on the thyroid.

I realized that I needed to take action for my body to improve. I started with the easy part: replacing ready-made products with their free versions, like gluten-free pasta and lactose-free yogurt. Thankfully, there are options on the market, even in Sertãozinho, in the interior of São Paulo, where I live. But let’s be honest: nothing is good enough to occupy the space of a freshly baked French bread, right? So I made countless promises to be able to stick to the restrictions. My palate was becoming more flexible. I learned recipes to kill the craving for pasta, bread and sweets. For my birthday, I made a gluten-free chocolate cake with green banana biomass frosting. Over time, I got to know my body and what makes me feel good.

And more: “I will never forget the day I bought my first jeans”, says doctor who lost 40 kilos

My exercise routine also changed when I discovered functional training. I fell in love with the kettlebell, an accessory that works legs, arms and abdomen. I don’t die of boredom anymore. Every month, my personal changes my spreadsheet with new challenges. In the beginning, I worked out from Sunday to Sunday, but now I’ve restricted it to four days a week (in addition to cycling around the city for leisure).

My secret to keeping fit and excited is to step up the pace of workouts and increase the rest between workouts. Even my sleep is better. I no longer go through that sadness of wanting to wear an outfit that is in fashion and not finding my size. I had the biggest party when I bought my first size 44 short. I never imagined that one day I would wear a cropped top! I know I’ll never be like the model Izabel Goulart, but I found the best version of myself – and I’m very happy with it.