Tarah Blake Saylor: 3 habits that took her from 84 to 57 kg in five months

Many people struggle with diets because they are overly strict, too complicated or simply impractical in everyday life. Tarah Blake Saylor’s story points to another route: less pressure and more intelligent routines. Her three habits sound almost ordinary, yet they helped her go from 84 to 57 kg in just five months.

Why radical diets so often fail

Strict diet plans may promise rapid results, but they usually bring frustration too. Giving up favourite foods, a constantly rumbling stomach and feeling left out when eating with friends are things few people can sustain for long. Eventually, many people slip back into old habits, often with the yo-yo effect included.

Tarah wanted to escape precisely this trap. Rather than choosing a conventional diet, she asked herself: what small changes could I make in daily life without turning my entire life upside down?

Her approach: no bans, but adjustments. Not less living, but smarter everyday choices.

First habit: keep favourite foods – in a smarter form

Tarah’s most important step was refusing to ban her moments of enjoyment. Crisps, ice cream and burgers all remained on her menu. What changed was the version she chose.

From bans to sensible swaps

Instead of telling herself, “No more crisps ever again”, her rule became: “Different crisps.” She opted for alternatives with less fat, more protein or a better ingredient list. The same applied to dessert: ice cream was still allowed, but perhaps with less sugar, a higher protein content or in a smaller portion.

These are typical swaps that can save plenty of calories without creating a sense of deprivation:

• Vegetable, pulse or baked crisps rather than standard fried crisps
• Protein ice cream or frozen yoghurt instead of high-sugar dairy ice cream
• Homemade burgers with lean meat or veggie patties rather than fast-food versions
• Wholemeal burger buns instead of white-flour buns
• Water flavoured with lemon or berries in place of soft drinks

The psychological benefit is significant: people who know their favourite foods are still permitted tend to remain motivated for longer. Eating habits change through routine, rather than coercion.

Tarah’s message, in essence: don’t stop enjoying food – learn to enjoy it differently.

Second habit: movement that does not feel like exercise

Movement was the next part of her success, though not in the form of an intense training schedule. There were no 5 am workouts and no punishing gym regime. Instead, she looked for ways to move that fitted her life.

Adapting the timing and type of movement to everyday life

Tarah quickly realised that rigid rules such as “exercise only in the morning” did not work for her. So she added movement at times when it felt natural: after work, during breaks or in the late afternoon.

One surprising detail is that she spends around an hour on the treadmill every day while scrolling on her phone. Watching series, using social media and reading the news all happen on the treadmill rather than on the sofa.

For many readers, this could look like:

• Watching series only while walking on a treadmill
• Taking phone calls while standing or walking
• Getting off one stop earlier and walking the rest of the way
• Scheduling short 10-minute walks after meals
• Choosing the stairs over the lift whenever time allows

Her motto: find a form of movement that does not feel like exercise – then stick with it consistently.

Third habit: mental images – how a vision board supports weight loss

Perhaps the most unexpected part of her method is mental: Tarah uses a vision board, a display of images representing her goals and wishes. She put it somewhere visible and looked at it every day.

How a vision board shapes everyday decisions

Her board showed how she wanted to feel in the future: lighter, healthier and more content. Whenever she was about to eat out of frustration or boredom, she looked at the board. It reminded her of what mattered more to her in the long term than a quick burger moment.

At the same time, she kept a diary addressed to her future self. She wrote about the person she wanted to become, the clothes she wanted to fit into again and the energy she hoped to have. This technique strengthens personal motivation and helps people avoid viewing setbacks as failure.

Every note and every image on the board was like a small contract with her future self.

Every decision matters: the simple but difficult truth

Over the course of her journey, Tarah developed a clear attitude: every small daily choice moves the scales a little, in one direction or the other. She fully embraced this way of thinking.

In many situations, she asked herself: does this choice serve my present self or my future self? Do I reach for quick fast food now, or make myself something better? Do I drive, or walk?

This shift in perspective can have a powerful effect without requiring a single list of forbidden foods.

How to bring the three habits into your own daily routine

What to consider: limits, risks and realistic expectations

As inspiring as this story is, losing 28 kg in five months is a great deal. Not every body responds in the same way, and not every starting point is comparable. Anyone with existing health conditions or severe excess weight should seek medical advice before making major lifestyle changes.

Crash diets, extreme calorie restriction and excessive exercise can slow metabolism, disrupt hormones and encourage eating disorders. Tarah’s approach is particularly interesting because it focuses more on lasting behavioural change than on radical restriction.

Anyone wishing to introduce similar habits can begin with small steps:

• Make one meal a day deliberately “smarter”
• Plan five- to 10-minute movement sessions rather than immediately expecting an hour
• Create a simple vision board using magazine cuttings or printed images

Why small routines can have such a major effect

The core of Tarah’s success lies less in spectacular methods than in consistency. Small choices, repeated continuously, can alter body weight, energy levels and self-image. It may sound unremarkable, but it works far more often than the next trend diet.

Anyone who does not want to completely overhaul their behaviour can take a great deal from this story: enjoyment can remain part of life, movement can feel easy, and your personal vision deserves daily attention. This combination of enjoyment, structure and mental clarity helped Tarah change her weight – and her view of herself as well.