Melissa McGilvrey as told to Aryelle Siclait

<p>Over the next 20 years, I gave birth to a premature and immunodeficient son, had a second daughter, and left my abusive relationship. Needless to say, taking care of my children became my first priority, so I neglected my own health. Soon, I was 378 pounds and eating high-calorie junk food like ice cream on a daily basis. </p>

<h1>  My turning point came at an amusement park.   </h1>

<p>Once my kids and I got to the front of the line and boarded the ride, the harness attached to the seat wouldn't fit me. As I watched my kids's reactions, <strong> </strong> I realized Id been lying to myself my entire life. Id always told myself my obesity wasnt getting in anyones way, but it actually affected every person around me. I became determined to change that. </p>

<h1> First, I started hiking-and it wasn't easy.  </h1>

<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkKz7_5HKmm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" id="ef8eac45-dd67-387e-a90f-4ed742e4bd8e">  View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BkKz7_5HKmm/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" id="63e6c713-9443-35ba-a0d3-0e207bc0f320">  #colorado #hiking #beautiful </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melisse_marie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading&amp;utm_campaign=embed_locale_test" id="b3b036c8-9979-3fa0-af52-072b3b876bab">  Melissa McGilvrey </a> (@melisse_marie) on Jun 18, 2018 at 7:12am PDT</p>

<p>My first hike, in 2014 at 38 years old, was on a public trail. I only walked a one-mile loop on a low incline, but by the time I was done, I was beet-red, my fingers were extremely swollen and tingling, and I was beyond disappointed in myself. I was super sore the next day, but I went back the day after that for another mile and kept on going every other day. </p>

<p>Once it became more manageable, I started hiking two miles every other day, and once I got up to three miles, I started going every day. By the 18-month mark, I was hiking five to seven miles per day and 15 on Sundays. Since I was an Uber driver, I had a flexible enough schedule to hike everyday and still be home for my kids. But these hikes helped me make myself a priority, too. </p>

<h1> Once I started being more active, I revamped my diet.  </h1>

<p><a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKheo0ahnES/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="ae877865-b614-31f6-ad38-3c1825aacb30">  View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BKheo0ahnES/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="59530ea3-b907-33d0-a756-ba51ee613a39">  #1st14er #mtsherman #loveher #healthyliving </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/melisse_marie/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="cb4dfc10-43aa-3f97-acd3-6657865ebe18">  Melissa McGilvrey </a> (@melisse_marie) on Sep 18, 2016 at 8:52pm PDT</p>

<p>I don't cut any specific food groups out of my diet, but I make sure to eat healthy foods like lean meats, veggies, and whole grains. </p>

<p>I also use tracking tools like MyFitnessPal to remind myself to eat, so I don't go long stretches without food followed by binges. This is what I usually eat in a day:</p>

<ul><li> <strong>  Breakfast: </strong>  a half cup of egg whites with mushrooms and spinach </li><li> <strong>  Mid-morning snack:  </strong> nuts or a protein shake </li><li> <strong>  Lunch: </strong>  four ounces of fish and a sweet potato  </li><li> <strong>  Dinner:  </strong> chicken or ground turkey with a grain like quinoa or farro  </li><li> <strong> Treat </strong> : a peanut butter cookie, since my daughter loves them.  </li></ul>

<h1> I lost 167 pounds-and my daughter is getting into health and fitness, too. </h1>

<p>We recently started going to a gym together called <a href="http://projectrisefitness.com/" id="b4c7f65e-cf1d-359e-a6f1-671e5b95e9d7">  Project Rise Fitness </a> , and the team there has become a family to us. Everyone is accepting and encouraging.</p>

<p>We do HIIT and yoga classes together there, but the gym also offers community building exercises, events, an on-site nutritionist, and coaches who can modify every exercise, which is why we keep going back. </p>

<p>I was sick of my weight affecting everyone around me, so I made a commitment to change. And now that I've reached my goal, I'm determined to pass these healthy habits on to the rest of my family.</p>

Growing up, I was always overweight, but my body changed the most when I hit my late teens. At 19, I gave birth to my first daughter and was in a relationship with an abusive man. I used food to cope.

‘I Lost 167 Pounds Using MyFitnessPal And Hiking Every Day’

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Melissa McGilvrey as told to Aryelle Siclait

Articles written by the author

‘I Lost 167 Pounds Using MyFitnessPal And Hiking Every Day’