At 24 years old, Sarah (@josygotcurlss) has already gone through a transformation that changed far more than just the number on the scale.

After losing 85 pounds following weight loss surgery in October 2024, Sarah says the biggest change wasn’t physical — it was finally feeling like she had her life back.

“I wanted to lose weight for my health and just to live a long life. I wanted to reach my full potential and feel comfortable in my body.”

But getting there wasn’t easy.

Like many people struggling with weight, Sarah had spent years trying every method imaginable — restrictive dieting, cutting carbs, calorie counting, Herbalife, juicing, and countless quick-fix trends.

“I kind of just counted calories and ate whatever had the least amount of calories. I wasn’t focusing on protein or nutrition. I thought carbs were bad for me.”

Despite loving movement and exercise, she felt like something deeper needed to change.

“I needed something to fix the eating aspect of it.”

The Trip That Changed Everything

For Sarah, the true turning point came during a trip to Spain before her surgery.

Looking back, she realized how much her weight was impacting her daily life — not just physically, but emotionally too.

“I came home from Spain with barely any pictures of myself. I love documenting everything, so realizing I didn’t even want to be in photos really stayed with me.”

She also remembers struggling physically throughout the trip.

“I couldn’t even go up a flight of stairs without being completely winded.”

At the time, she simply accepted it as normal. But reflecting later made her realize how much her quality of life had been affected.

“Basic life felt hard.”

Today, the difference is dramatic.

“I can go to Disney and walk 30,000 steps and feel fine.”

Learning How to Fuel Her Body

While surgery gave Sarah a starting point, she’s quick to emphasize that it wasn’t the entire solution.

“The surgery was just the beginning. The real work was learning how to fuel my body properly and stay consistent.”

One of the biggest game changers was working with a dietitian who helped her understand nutrition beyond simply “eating less.”

Her focus shifted toward:

• Prioritizing protein

• Understanding macronutrients

• Eating foods that actually kept her full

• Building sustainable habits instead of crash dieting

“Focusing on protein helped me stay fuller longer and actually feel satisfied.”

She also stopped forcing herself into workouts she hated.

Instead, she found movement she genuinely enjoyed - activities like walking, tennis, Zumba, and weight training.

“Mixing up my workouts helped me stay consistent. It became less about the scale and more about finding hobbies I loved.”

That mindset shift became one of the foundations of her success.

The Mental Side of Weight Loss

One of the most difficult parts of Sarah’s journey had nothing to do with food or exercise — it was the mental adjustment.

“The hardest thing was fixing my relationship with food.”

After surgery, she experienced the emotional challenge of watching others eat normally while adjusting to an entirely new way of eating herself.

But even after the weight came off, another challenge remained: body dysmorphia.

“Losing weight so rapidly, I feel like my brain didn’t get a chance to catch up.”

That’s why visual progress tracking became especially meaningful during her journey.

Seeing Progress Beyond the Scale

For Sarah, seeing her progress visually became an important part of staying motivated — especially during moments when the scale didn’t reflect how much her body was changing.

“Being able to see the inches being lost or growth from muscle means so much because that’s just not something the scale reflects.”

Using ZOZOFIT’s 3D body scans helped Sarah better recognize changes that were difficult to see in the mirror.

“It’s nice to see physical changes and not rely on the scale for approval.”

The Small Habits That Helped Her Stay Consistent

Sarah credits consistency — not perfection — as the real key to her success.

Some of the simple tools and habits she leaned on included:

• A treadmill for daily walks during New England winters

• Zero-sugar sodas and sweet snacks to help satisfy cravings

• Social media communities for accountability and support

• Following creators with similar journeys

• Finding enjoyable movement instead of forcing workouts she hated

“I think hobbies are super important. It took away from obsessing about food and helped me stay consistent.”

Sarah’s Advice for Anyone Starting Their Journey

When asked what advice she’d give someone beginning their own transformation, Sarah kept it simple:

“Move your body in a way that you love.”

She believes consistency comes from enjoyment — not punishment.

Whether it’s walking, dancing, tennis, or strength training, Sarah says finding movement you genuinely enjoy is one of the biggest predictors of long-term success.

Her second piece of advice?

“Protein and fiber. That’s the foundation.”

And perhaps most importantly, Sarah encourages people not to rely solely on the scale for validation.

“The scale only tells one part of the story.”

Looking Ahead

Today, Sarah is only a few pounds away from her original goal weight, but her focus has evolved beyond numbers.

Her goal now is maintaining the healthy, active lifestyle she’s worked so hard to build — and continuing to share her story online to help others feel less alone in theirs.

“I started sharing my journey because I couldn’t find the answers I was looking for. I wanted to be that person for someone else.”

And judging by the growing community following her journey, she already is.

Follow Sarah's journey on Instagram - @josygotcurlss.

Resource Corner

Inspired by the strategies discussed in Sarah's journey, here are a few tools and resources our team recommends.

Movement & Activity

• Walking pad or treadmill - great ways to stay moving indoors
• Challenge yourself with ankle and wrist weights like Bala Bangles
  
• Stay motivated with a fitness tracker or smartwatch

Nutrition & Meal Planning

• High-protein snacks like Catalina Crunch or Chomps
• Zero-sugar sodas like Zevia, and snacks like SmartSweets
  
• Protein shakes or powders - we like Koia and Orgain!