Woman changes lifestyle after pre-diabetes diagnosis, loses 105 pounds

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Courtesy Courtney SmithBy KATIE KINDELAN, ABC News

(NEW YORK) — Courtney Smith credits a diagnosis of pre-diabetes with changing the course of her life.

Smith, 40, of Houston, was motivated by the diagnosis two years ago to change her lifestyle. She has since lost 105 pounds.

“I went into my kitchen and threw away all of the things that were bad for me,” Smith told ABC News’ Good Morning America of how she started her weight loss journey. “I hit the ground running.”

Smith credits the ketogenic, or keto, diet, which calls for cutting carbohydrates and eating more fat and protein, with spurring her weight loss.

“Within three to four weeks, I noticed that I was losing weight and I felt motivated to keep going,” she said. “I thought to myself, this is something that could work. This is something I can see myself doing long term.”

Smith, who works in the insurance industry, travels frequently for work and would rely on quick foods like pizza, burgers, potato chips and French fries to fuel her.

Now she focuses on eating healthy fats, proteins and vegetables, limiting her carbohydrates and listening intuitively to her body.

“I’ll have Bulletproof coffee in the morning and lunch is a protein like a chicken breast and some broccoli and cheese and a deviled egg,” Smith said. “Dinner would be like a rib-eye and a big salad.”

“I focus on what I can have instead of what I can’t have,” she said.

Smith turned to Instagram for motivation as she was trying to lose weight. She now has her own Instagram following of more than 3,000 who turn to her for motivation and recipe ideas.

“I thought not only will it hold me accountable but it will inspire other people to get motivated and want to lose weight,” she said of sharing her weight loss on Instagram. “I get so many wonderful notes and messages from people.”

Now at age 40, Smith says she has more energy and is in better health, including no longer being pre-diabetic.

Of all the things she has learned in her two-year weight loss journey, Smith boiled them down to these nine things she wants other people hoping to change their lives to know:

1. “Everybody’s journey is their own and no two journeys will be their own.”

2. “You have to make your mind up to be ready.”

3. “Just start one day at a time. Each day is a new day.”

4. “Do your research and find out what lifestyle or diet works for you.”

5. “Be mindful and intentional with the way that you’re shopping and the food that you’re bringing home. Make a list and stick to the list.”

6. “Plan and prep your meals.”

7. “Drink water like it’s your job.”

8. “Don’t starve yourself. If you’re hungry, eat. When I started, I wasn’t eating enough. When I realized that I don’t have to do this, I can eat and enjoy food, that’s when it started to click for me.”

9. “Don’t beat yourself up if you do fall off the wagon. Tomorrow is a new day, give yourself some grace.”

Copyright © 2020, ABC Audio. All rights reserved.

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