A mother has revealed the remarkably straightforward yet highly effective strategy that enabled her to shed an impressive 50 pounds, following more than two decades of unsuccessful dieting and exhaustive exercise plans.
Decades of Struggle and Failed Attempts
Toogi Dorjbayar, aged 34, had battled with her weight for over twenty years, feeling perpetually trapped in a frustrating cycle of attempting to lose weight and inevitably failing. She described her journey as being stuck in an endless loop with no apparent exit.
'I have tried absolutely everything, from adopting vegan and raw vegan diets to experimenting with keto carnivore approaches and even the Gabriel method. I once resorted to drinking clay,' she disclosed during an exclusive conversation. 'I have likely invested hundreds into various meal plans over the years. My relationship with food became profoundly distorted.'
Dorjbayar, who resides in Belgium, explained that her life was characterised by extremes. She would either commit to severely restrictive diets or engage in binge eating while simultaneously planning her next dietary 'reset.' A sustainable middle ground seemed entirely elusive.
Her efforts extended beyond nutrition. She pursued every popular workout trend imaginable, yet nothing yielded lasting results. 'I joined a CrossFit club, hired a personal trainer for a period, engaged in high-intensity interval training (HIIT), followed home workout routines, and purchased exercise plans from Instagram influencers,' she continued. 'None of them proved effective. The primary issue was that these workouts demanded a significant time commitment that I, as a single mother working full-time, simply could not afford.'
The Game-Changing Walking Challenge
The turning point arrived during a conversation with her twin sister in March 2025. While discussing her ongoing struggles, her sister proposed a collaborative walking challenge designed to foster mutual accountability.
The terms were beautifully simple yet powerfully motivating: both sisters had to achieve 20,000 steps each day. Failure to meet this daily target would result in a financial penalty of 200 euros (approximately $232) payable to the other.
As someone who has always thrived on friendly competition, Dorjbayar was immediately captivated by the concept. 'Every single day, we were required to send each other a screenshot of our step count as proof that we had reached the 20,000-step goal,' she explained.
At the outset, this target appeared daunting. Dorjbayar was typically walking only between 5,000 and 6,000 steps daily. However, the prospect of losing hundreds of dollars provided a powerful incentive for the single mother. She invested in a walking pad, enabling her to accumulate steps indoors while her children watched television or slept.
'I also began utilising my phone scrolling time as walking time on the pad, effectively transforming a passive habit into a positive, active one,' she noted.
Overcoming Initial Hardships
Dorjbayar openly admitted that the initial weeks were exceptionally tough. She endured significant pain in her joints and knees, developed blisters on her feet, and often found herself walking until midnight on her pad after putting her children to bed to ensure she hit the target.
'On numerous nights, I was walking until midnight on my walking pad after settling my kids,' she recalled. Despite these early difficulties, her determination never wavered.
Remarkable Physical and Mental Transformation
Perseverance soon began to pay dividends. As days turned into weeks, Dorjbayar started noticing profound changes. She began losing weight steadily and discovered she had substantially more energy to engage actively with her children.
'My anxiety levels decreased noticeably, and I was feeling progressively better,' she shared. 'By the third month, I had lost 20 pounds, which exceeded the weight loss from any previous diet I had attempted.'
She maintained the 20,000-step regimen consistently for eight consecutive months before transitioning to a sustainable 15,000 steps daily upon reaching her goal weight. Her routine is now finely tuned: three dedicated 30-minute walks each day—one before her children wake, one during her work lunch break, and one in the evening—supplemented by normal daily movement.
The cumulative result is extraordinary: a total weight loss of 50 pounds. 'The weight loss has been truly unbelievable after more than twenty years of repeated failure,' she expressed with evident joy. 'I had never before experienced a normal, sustainable approach to eating. Walking fundamentally changed that dynamic.'
She elaborated on the metabolic shift: 'By creating a consistent daily calorie deficit through walking, I can consume around 2,000 calories without feeling restricted or as though I am dieting, and still continue to lose weight. For the very first time, weight loss felt calm and achievable, rather than an impossible battle against my own body.'
A Profound Psychological Impact
The benefits extended far beyond physical transformation. 'I never possessed real confidence until I discovered walking. Witnessing myself accomplish a demanding task like 20,000 steps daily and maintaining consistency has bolstered my self-esteem more effectively than any therapy session,' she reflected.
'Furthermore, committing to 20,000 steps forced me to dedicate three hours to myself every day—something I had never done before. I was always prioritising everyone around me. This challenge compelled me to put myself first, and it has genuinely rewired my thinking patterns.'
Inspiring Others Through Shared Experience
Dorjbayar now channels her experience into helping others. She hosts monthly online walking challenges where participants can win prizes for meeting their step targets.
'Observing other people become motivated to start walking has been the most rewarding aspect of this entire journey,' she concluded, highlighting the power of community and shared accountability in achieving personal health goals.
