Weight loss success: This is how Kristin lost 50 kilos

weight loss
This is how Kristin lost 50 kilos

Kristin Hahlbohn not only struggled with her depression, but also with her weight. The young woman rediscovered her love for herself and for sport – and lost a lot of weight as a result.

A good ten years ago, in her early 20s, the American Kristin Hahlbohn began her ordeal: the young woman went to college while working hard to earn a living and struggling with depression. To this day, she’s not exactly sure if there was a specific trigger for her depression – but after being rejected by her crush once, she lost all self-esteem.

Eating as a consolation

Kristin found comfort in food, but first with the double burden of college and work, she lost all measure: “I was always a plus size girl, but my weight exploded when I had to balance college and work,” Kristin told Love What Matters.

From good intentions to eating disorders

After college, Kristin got her depression under control and now desperately wanted to lose weight, but quickly fell into one The cycle of binge eating and emotional eating. She was nervous, but the pounds dropped on the scales: in just under a year, she lost around 59 kilos. But Kristin knew her weight loss wasn’t healthy. She starved more and more every month, sometimes only allowing herself 500 to 600 calories a day.

She made up excuses for friends and family: “I just lied to them and claimed that I had already eaten or that I was just not hungry.” On a normal day, Kristin would eat a small apple in the morning, skip lunch, and have a smoothie or a small piece of chicken in the evening. In addition, she regularly struggled in the gym.

Then came the first turning point: “I felt constantly weak. Then one day I fell unconscious from the treadmill.” That was Kristin’s wake-up call. She confided in friends and family. With her help, the young woman gradually learned to listen to her body and to love it the way it was. However, over time, this resulted in all of the weight she had lost coming back.

Back to the beginning

It wasn’t until a few years later, at 68 and now over 300 pounds again, that Kristin realized she needed to fight the weight again. She was uncomfortable in her body: For example, instead of enjoying her life, she tried to hide in the background in photos and didn’t dare go anywhere where a bathing suit should have been worn.

The second fight against the weight

But it wasn’t until she ended a bad relationship in January 2017 that Kristin actually found the strength to change her life again. This time with a plan: Not only did she start listening to her body again, she also broke up with people who weren’t good for her. Bit by bit, she rebuilt her everyday life: first she gave up sweet lemonades, then sugary foods. She ate healthier in general, eventually leveling off at around 1,700 calories a day.

But Kristin knew that to lose weight successfully, she also had to integrate more exercise into her everyday life – after her collapse she had given up the exercise. At first she just lengthened the walks with her dog, then she started walking to work. It wasn’t until Kristin was sure she had her eating habits under control and gained some confidence that she re-entered the gym. Here she discovered her new love: kickboxing. “It was so much fun and at the same time the most intense workout I’ve ever done. I just love it!”

Slowly but surely to the goal

That love has remained to this day. And in addition to kickboxing, Kristin hired a personal trainer to show her just how much her body can actually do. Little by little, Kristin learned to love herself again. In total, she has lost around 50 kilos since January 2017 and feels better than ever.

“I finally have the confidence to do the things that I was previously afraid of doing because of my weight. Losing weight has not only changed my body, it’s also changed the way I look at life.” With her story, Kristin would like to encourage other affected people to to take the first step: “It’s a hard road and you will make mistakes. But don’t give up, it’s worth it!”

Bridget