A Kildare woman and Instagram star has shared details of her incredible weight loss experience after shedding seven stone in seven months, RSVP Live reports.
Joanne Phibbs, aka @JustJoannesJourneys on Instagram, began her weight loss journey earlier this year and is now just six pounds away from having lost a remarkable 100lbs, just over seven stone.
Joanne posts updates and shares updates with her 68,000 followers on Instagram account and creates content focusing on fashion, fitness and her lifestyle and weight loss journey.
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She is perhaps best known on the platform for inspiring women to ‘feel good about themselves’.
She decided to embark on her weight loss journey when she came to a realisation that her weight was hindering aspects of her life.
Speaking to RSVP Live, Joanne explained: “I was always focused on improving my health, and I struggled with losing weight the ‘normal’ ways. But, when I went in October last year to meet a consultant about getting my gallbladder removed, she said I couldn’t get it out due to my weight.
"She told me that it was the same risk getting bariatric surgery as it was getting my gallbladder removed. So I thought, ‘Why not just go for It?’”.
Joanne faced not only physical challenges, but she also discussed the mental aspects of the journey and how that presented itself along the way.
“The mental side is harder; you still see yourself as the same size as you were before. For example, when I weighed 326lbs, I didn’t actually see myself at 326lbs. It's only when I look back at photos, I think ‘wow, there is a difference!’. I still feel like I’m the exact same person in the exact same body as I was 7 months ago".
Continuing, she said “The biggest challenge for me along the way was making sure I didn’t lose who I was because my identity had always been the confident plus size girl. But if I get really slim, am I going to lose who I am, but it’s now I realise that people don’t care about my size, they just care that I am speaking up for them”.
The influencer is passionate about ‘keeping it real’ and encouraging other women to ‘love their bodies’.
“The last few years I’ve built up my online presence. It’s always been that I wanted people to embrace their bodies, to love themselves for who they are.
“Sometimes we can get hung up on seeing these perfect bodies being airbrushed and photoshopped; that can affect your mental health. So, by creating content, the aim was not just to help myself but to also help others. It has meant I’ve had to step outside my comfort zone, but it’s been worth it mainly because I’m helping others feel good about themselves”.
Joanne told RSVP that she has experienced so many positive feelings due to her weight loss
“I feel fantastic, and I definitely have more self-confidence. I’m just living my life to the fullest. I have so much energy compared to what I used to have. Which is so important because I have a five-year-old to run around after!”.
She is determined that her weight loss journey isn’t going to come to an end just yet. However, she chooses not to label her journey with a specific ‘end goal’.
“For me, I want to lose more than 100lbs, but it will be another steppingstone. Afterwards, I will aim to hit the 125 lbs mark and the 150lbs milestone. I don’t want to have an end goal weight, because this is a lifestyle, and this is forever. I’m going to have to watch what I eat for the rest of my life. I’m going to have to continue working out 4-5 times a week. I do a lot of HITT workouts, whether it be at home or in the gym and I go swimming. I do try go for one or two walks during the week as well but that’s mainly just for clearing my mind.”
The mother-of-one was awarded ‘lifestyle influencer of the year’ at the Vava Awards 2022.
“When they called my name out it took a couple of days for it sink in. I felt so proud not only of myself but for every other woman. When you see award ceremonies, you usually don’t see plus size representation”.
“That might have given somebody else the courage to be themselves and know their size doesn’t stop them from following your dreams.
Joanne shared simple advice aimed towards anybody who may wish to go on a similar journey.
“Do it for yourself and for the right reasons. Don’t let anybody hold you back”.
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