The reality TV star Amber Johnston, known from TLC's "7 Little Johnstons," has shared her weight loss journey with fans, inspiring many with her determination and openness. The Johnstons, a typical American family in many ways, navigate life with achondroplasia dwarfism. Amber's journey highlights her commitment to health and well-being amid the challenges of a busy life.
The Beginning: Overcoming Health Challenges
Weight was never an issue for Amber until about four years ago. She experienced a back injury that limited her mobility. Following the injury, she underwent back surgery and was prescribed steroids for almost two years. These steroids contributed to weight gain, and she found herself struggling to lose the extra pounds.
Amber mentioned that surgery is not uncommon in their family because of the genetic disorder. After the spinal surgery, things took a toll on her. Mentally, she felt she needed to "nurse" her back, leading to reduced physical activity. The pounds continued to accumulate, and she began buying larger clothes to accommodate her changing body.
The Breaking Point: A Family Hike
Amber reached a turning point during a family outing. While "chasing waterfalls" with her husband, Trent Johnston, and their children, she struggled to keep up during the hike. This was unusual for her, and it became her "breaking point."
Struggling to keep up with the rest of her family during a hike turned out to be "literally my breaking point," and she decided to take charge. "I came home and knew I had to change my lifestyle. And I did!!" she wrote.
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Taking Charge: Lifestyle Changes and Determination
After realizing she needed to make a change, Amber committed to adjusting her lifestyle. She told fans that in two months, she had been able to shed twenty-five pounds. In the months since, she shed another 19, for a weight loss of 44 pounds and counting. Amber Johnston has been able to drop a significant amount of weight in a short time.
The Secret to Success: Diet and Exercise
"Well, it's really no secret," Johnston explained. The plan has proven to be successful for Johnston, who admitted that it's helped her to adjust her lifestyle and cause the pounds to drop away. Amber has lost 53 pounds by cutting back on carbs, processed foods, and sugar.
Inspiration and Encouragement
In September, she shared a post featuring before-and-after photos of herself, along with a candid explanation in hopes that her own weight-loss journey would "inspire or give encouragement" to anyone else in a similar situation. She regularly posts about living and eating healthily on her Instagram. The mom of seven, who has inspired and encouraged many, wants fans to know that the exercise and diet plan works.
The Optavia Diet
Johnston's 25-pound weight loss caught many of her fans' eyes. According to US News & World Reports, Optavia ranked 27th out of 35 diets, as per their panel of experts. The Optavia diet is strict in general, though, which might prove difficult for certain people to adhere to, as the food is bars and powdered "just-add-water" products. Clearly, Johnston was determined to make a change, and the Optavia Diet suited her lifestyle. They make their own range of products, similar to WW, which are also reasonably priced, comparatively speaking.
Overcoming Obstacles: Mental and Physical Health
As Johnston wrote, she never really had trouble with her weight until a few years back when she underwent back surgery, which required her to take steroids. After getting the requisite spinal surgery, however, things got more difficult for Johnston. "Mentally I was still in a state that I needed to nurse my back," she continued. As she explained, "Due to back injury and then surgery, it became easy and a way of life. So, yeah, I had to change that and fix that, and I'm so thankful that I did, because I literally feel 20 years younger physically. But my goal is probably about another five or six more pounds and then [I'll] be good to go.
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A Continuous Journey
Since then, the 7 Little Johnstons TLC star has been keeping fans updated on her journey of losing weight. Amber Johnston recently told fans that in three weeks, she had lost an additional six pounds. The spouse of Trent Johnston has now lost a total of 31 pounds in only eleven weeks. And she is looking great. At that point, she had lost 25 pounds. In the months since, she shed another 19, for a weight loss of 44 pounds and counting.
Balancing a Hectic Life
Amber Johnston's life is incredibly hectic. Aside from running a household with five demanding children, being a committed wife to fellow reality star, Trent Johnston, starring on their hit TLC show, 7 Little Johnstons, and juggling a regular career, it's unlikely that Johnston has much free time. In a lengthy Instagram post, the reality TV star noted that an injury had knocked her schedule out of whack, causing her to gain unwanted weight. "Weight hasn't really been a struggle for me until four years ago," she wrote in the caption.
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