50-Pound Weight Loss Caused by 3 Simple Habits, Says ‘Top Model’ Winner
NEWNow you can listen to News articles!
Weight loss can be complicated, especially when done without the support of medications.
For India Gants, winner of season 23 of “America’s Next Top Model,” her weight loss journey led her to lose 50 pounds with what she described as “very little effort.”
In a TikTok video, the Seattle model shared the “secret sauce” that led to her weight loss, including three main lifestyle factors: quitting alcohol, eating more protein, and lifting weights.
100-YEAR-OLD GREAT-Grandmother REVEALS HER SECRET TO LIVING A LONG LIFE
No. 1: Give up alcohol
“Losing weight wasn’t my goal in the first place,” Gants said. “It was kind of a byproduct… a byproduct of stopping drinking… [that] “It kind of drove everything else.”
In an interview with News Digital, Gants discussed how getting sober has played a “major role” in her weight loss journey, even leading her to launch the podcast “The Sober Scoop” to help others navigate sobriety.
“I stopped drinking because I had a drinking problem, but I stay sober for many reasons beyond that,” she shared. “Alcohol is a class 1 carcinogen, it slows down our metabolism, affects the health of our brain and destroys our internal organs.
CARDIAC SURGEON REVEALS WHAT TO EAT (AND NOT EAT) FOR OPTIMAL HEART HEALTH
“I don’t want to scare people, but since getting sober, I’ve learned a lot more about the negative effects of alcohol and I have no interest in drinking again.”
Beyond the physical results, Gants credits sobriety with making her happier, kinder, more confident, and more successful.
For India Gants, winner of season 23 of “America’s Next Top Model” and host of “The Sober Scoop” podcast (pictured right), her weight loss journey led her to lose 50 pounds with what she described as “very little effort.” (India Gants/TekTok; iStock)
“When you’re a heavy drinker, you give up everything for alcohol; but when you’re sober, you give up everything else,” he said. “Everything in my life has improved and I feel like everyone deserves to be sober.”
Gants encouraged others to seek out sober activities that bring them joy.
“Not everything about sobriety is rainbows and butterflies. It was hard to get here,” she said. “Sobriety is worth the initial investment.”
No. 2: Increase protein
The second change Gants made was adding more protein to his diet.
“For me personally, thinking about eating more of something is a lot easier than saying, ‘I don’t eat carbs, I don’t eat sugar,'” she said. “I didn’t cut anything.
Adding more protein to your daily meals helps you gain muscle mass and feel full, experts confirm. (iStock)
“I allowed myself sweets, I allowed myself bread, whatever I wanted, really, but I tried to eat more protein, and it’s like a magic potion.”
Gants noticed that protein helps her stay fuller longer while building muscle.
“Protein is very good for your health and is very easy to understand mentally,” he said.
No. 3: Embrace strength training
As for fitness, Gants revealed that the third change he made to his routine was lifting weights, which he called the “life hack for fitness.”
“You can do Pilates, yoga, walking… but weightlifting is truly life-changing,” she said. “You’ve never seen your body as good as it can look until you try weightlifting.”
DIABETES PREVENTION LINKED TO A SPECIFIC TYPE OF EXERCISE, STUDY SHOWS
He added that lifting weights doesn’t take too much time: Just 15 to 30 minutes, three days a week in the gym, caused changes in his body composition.
“Plus, strength is linked to longevity, so it’s good for overall health,” Gants said. “Try it and mix in some walking. Those three things helped me lose 50 pounds with very little effort.”
‘Somewhere in between’
Dr. Peter Balazs, a hormone and weight loss specialist in New Jersey, reacted to Gants’ weight loss routine in an interview with News Digital.
CLICK HERE TO DOWNLOAD THE News APP
“The truth is somewhere in between,” he said. “Weight lifting along with higher protein intake creates more muscle mass. Additionally, muscle mass memory can be easily restored when you stop drinking and live a healthier life.”
TRY OUR LATEST LIFESTYLE QUIZ
According to Balazs, alcohol consumption “actively opposes” weight loss by adding empty calories, stopping fat burning, encouraging fat storage, increasing appetite and reducing inhibitions that lead to poor food choices.
Drinking alcohol can also disrupt the body’s natural recovery and sleep cycle, which can also disrupt hormones and increase the risk of sleep apnea, he added.
Quitting drinking helped jump-start Gants’ weight loss journey, he shared. (iStock)
Lasting weight loss occurs by maintaining a calorie deficit, which a high-protein diet can help facilitate, Balazs noted.
“Weightlifting ensures that the weight you lose is fat and not muscle,” he said. “All of this together decreases cortisol, which is the stress hormone and the biggest enemy of weight loss.”
CLICK HERE TO SUBSCRIBE TO OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER
In addition to balanced exercise, Dr. Sarah Towne, a family medicine physician at PlushCare, recommended a balanced diet with fruits and vegetables for healthy intake of vitamins, fiber, and antioxidants.
“You need protein, but also whole plant foods.”
“You need protein, but not just protein; you also need whole, plant-based foods,” the North Carolina-based expert told News Digital. “Eliminating junk food helps curb cravings and reduces the… occurrence of metabolic disasters such as diabetes and hypertension.
CLICK HERE FOR MORE HEALTH STORIES
“When it comes to sustainable weight management, whole foods and lean proteins (skinless chicken, fish, beans) are crucial,” the doctor added. “Combined exercise, which includes both cardiovascular and weight-bearing activity, is excellent.”
Angelica Stabile is a lifestyle reporter for News Digital.