Conversations with the Inspiring Anita Kouza

Anita, can you briefly walk us through your story – how you started and how you got to where you are today.
Since my early teens, I have struggled with my weight. I have tried every fad diet around and nothing worked. You name it, I’ve tried it: shakes, little stickers on my ears, pills and even hypnosis! I was desperate and looking for that quick fix. We all should know by now that there is no quick fix. The only way to truly transform your body is by creating a caloric deficit. Eat less than you what you burn and stay consistent. People will ask me, “does keto work?” “should I eat paleo?” I always tell them the same thing. All those diets work if you stick with them long enough to see results. Don’t expect to follow something for a month and have it be this miracle diet. If you are eating fewer calories than your body is burning, you will lose weight. Once I learned this, I made a commitment to myself that 2018 was going to be the year where I didn’t quit.  I was going to give myself a fair shot in truly transforming my body. I shifted my mindset and relationship with food, I started lifting regularly and incorporating cardio. I have lost a total of 55lbs. and approximately 10% of my body fat. I went from a size 16 to a 8 in jeans.

Great, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Nothing is ever a smooth road. Especially when it comes to weight loss. You have to deal with emotional eating when that comes up, binge eating when you have a moment of weakness. Being at events and functions where some of your favorite foods are spread out on the table and make that choice to not have any that evening. Ordering the healthier item on the menu when you really want that burger and fries. It’s a daily struggle but once you make that shift in your mind that you don’t need those foods, that’s when real change occurs. My advice for young women just starting this weight loss journey is to take things slowly. Don’t jump into it thinking you’re going to change everything all at once. You will fail, I promise you. Start slowly by eliminating one or two items from your diet. For example, in 2018, I vowed to have no soda or French fries. I always say don’t worry about exercise till later on. Especially if you have a lot to lose.  Concentrate on making healthier choices with foods. Stick to nutrient dense items like chicken and fish, fruits and vegetables, etc. Watch your portions. It’s all about moderation. Staying away from trigger foods is also very important. If you can’t count out 14 chips and put the bag away then don’t bother eating them or better yet bringing them into your home. Once you feel you got the food down, you can start incorporating exercising. Even just going for a walk during your lunch will help. Join group classes at your gym. Do in-home workouts, there are so many options.

Please tell us more about your work, what you are currently focused on and most proud of.
I like to use my social media platform to empower women who struggle with weight loss. I help them create healthier relationships with food by shifting their mindset and working out. I take them along my journey to try and inspire and motivate. Health and fitness have turned into my passion. My dream would be to one day turn it into a career.

Do you have a lesson or advice you’d like to share with young women just starting out?
Whatever it is you want to accomplish, believe in yourself and never quit. We all have bad moments and days, but we need to get back up and keep going. Stopping should never be an option. If you only remember two words from this interview, I want you remember CONSISTENCY & CALORIE DEFICIT.