Ree Drummond Shares Lessons From Her 1 Year Weight Loss Journey

Ree Drummond has done a serious 180° when it comes to her health choices, and has shed off a whopping 55 pounds!

Drummond's decision to change her lifestyle habits was influenced by her desire to be at her best for her daughter Alex's wedding to Mauricio Scott.

The "Pioneer Woman" star did not keep all the lessons learned during her rollercoaster journey to herself and recently told all on her blog.

On Monday, February 7, Drummond took to her Instagram page with a photo of herself looking radiant in a floral shirt over a black camisole and blue jeans. 

The TV personality got candid about deciding it was time to change a few old habits and get healthier a year ago. 

Drummond noted that her daughter was getting married soon, and she needed a spring to her step at the wedding, so she began making changes towards the end of January 2021.

The blogger recorded her experience and directed fans to read all about it on her blog. She concluded with a clarification that read:

"I’m not an expert in the slightest (on the contrary), but I hope you enjoy reading the approach I took (as well as the approach I didn’t take!) 🤓"

On Saturday, February 5, Drummond updated her blog with a long, candid post about how she had no idea how to lose weight but knew she had to start.

Except for walking her dogs, the cookbook author noted that she did not exercise much, which increased her weight over the years. She continued:

"So last January, at my highest weight ever and with the wedding of my daughter looming in May, I just knew I had to start. One year later, I've lost 55 pounds."

Drummond summarized the first ten lessons she learned in the first half of her weight loss journey before continuing with an update. 

The 53-year-old clarified that she never used a trainer or followed an official diet like Keto or Paleo. She never ate specialty foods or did intermittent fasting.

She explained how she lost her impressive weight, writing, "I ate fewer calories. I consumed smaller portions. I weighed my food. I walked and did the rowing machine. I built muscle by lifting weights and doing lunges and squats."

She also ate more protein, less alcohol, and reduced sugar. She used a Happy Scale app to track her daily weight and generally tried to be more mobile.

The "Frontier Follies: Adventures in Marriage and Motherhood in the Middle of Nowhere" author continued with her latest ten tips.

Firstly, Drummond noted that after initially counting calories and weight lifting, she relaxed her efforts. She explained that starting her health journey disciplined allowed her more freedom.

Secondly, the blogger emphasized the importance of muscle building, writing:

"Building muscle—not just the smaller muscles in your arms, but the larger muscles in your legs and butt—will turbocharge your weight loss like nothing else and set you up for more success."

Thirdly, Drummond posited that weighing her food and counting calories helped her train her body to get used to more normal portions.

The fourth tip was to swap sugary alcoholic drinks for sparkling water-spiked beverages, which help with hydration and prevent people from consuming excessive alcohol.

Lesson number five is to remain committed to moving every day, even if not exercising. Drummond recommends using tools such as a standing desk and stepping away for frequent breaks.

The "Charlie The Ranch Dog" author's sixth tip is daily weight measurements. She shared candid screenshots of her weight chart and admitted that checking the scale can trigger some.

Drummond's seventh lesson is that there are no banned foods from her diet. Following a strict five months of abstaining from sugar, she enjoys her favorite treats in measured portions. 

Tip number eight is to significantly reduce the consumption of wasted calories, which includes cookies, doughnuts, soft drinks, cake, potato chips, and more. Lesson nine is to take things at a steady pace.

Finally, Drummond stated that though weight loss is considered a lifestyle change, it has not changed her life. She clarified that she feels much freer but is still the same woman at the end of the day.