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Update July 2020: Sending a huge shout out to Stacy. It’s been almost 2 years since we featured her story and she has worked hard to maintain her results. Maintenance is the real struggle.

Starting weight: 324 pounds
Current weight: 165 pounds
Current weight loss: 159 pounds

2013 vs 2020. To all my new weight loss sisters/brothers: Keep pushing. It’s not easy, but giving up doesn’t get you the progress you want.

Transformation of the Day: Stacy lost 161 pounds. After a health scare, she decided to face something she’d been avoiding: the scale. She started her journey back in 2014 at 324lbs. Today, thru healthy eating habits and exercise, she has taken her health back. Check out her story.

I found the motivation to start my weight loss journey one day when I was at Publix supermarket. I would always run from the scale they have at the front of the store. Everyone can see you weighing yourself there. The night before my visit to the store, I was in bed, and I felt like I was suffocating. I couldn’t breathe. Something like this had never happened to me before, and I was scared. I didn’t want to see a doctor because I already knew they would tell me that I’m overweight, and I need to do this and do that. I knew I had to take matters into my own hands.

I walked into Publix on December 9th, 2014 and got on the scale. It went around twice, meaning I was very overweight. I weighed in at 324 pounds. I went home that same day and completely changed my eating habits. I threw everything I had in my refrigerator out. It was very hard, and YES, very expensive to do, but my life is way more important.

I stopped eating pork and beef, and haven’t had any ever since. I eat healthy portion sizes and never overdo it. I make sure that I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner. Even if I don’t feel as hungry, I still eat something small. In the past, I would go all day without eating, and when I did eat, I would overeat, which causes weight gain.

I started working out five days a week. I didn’t have a trainer, because I was always scared to work with one, lol. To this day, I still don’t work with one. I run 3 miles every morning, Monday thru Friday. I also try to tone as much as I can. I jump rope and lift weights three times a week as well.

My Starting weight was 324 pounds, and my current weight is 163 pounds. I still have a long way to go, but I’m determined.

What inspires me the most to not give up is thinking about how far I’ve come. I look back at my past and the reckless things I did. My eating habits were ridiculous, and I never want to go back to that ever again.

My advice to anyone who is starting their weight loss journey: Don’t give up! Keep going! Remember, this journey is time-consuming and what comes easy don’t last long. MIND OVER MATTER.

Instagram: @therealmsfluff

Transformation of the Day: Elizabeth lost 50 pounds. This mom of three experienced postpartum depression and anxiety after the birth of her youngest child. She wanted to return to the healthy and active mom she used to be. By making practical changes to her eating habits and exercising daily, she has released the weight.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
When I started my journey, I had just given birth to my youngest child. I was overweight, had postpartum, and anxiety. I had to get healthy again and lose the weight.

My children inspired me. In the past, I was always that mom who was active, but after giving birth, I could barely play with my kids without being out of breath. I knew I had to change my life.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in January 2017. I am still transforming my body, and I see no end in sight at this moment.

How did you change your eating habits?
When it came to my eating habits, I had no idea where to start. So, all I did was cut unhealthy foods out of my diet. I started eating more fruits and veggies, and less meat. In 2017, I stopped eating all meat and became a vegan.

Since then, I have gone back to eating meat because my body was lacking certain nutrients that it needed. Your body tells us things, and it is essential that we listen. Now, I focus on eating healthy food. I do not follow a specific plan. I eat according to my goals.

What did your workout routine look like?
When I began this journey, I had no gym membership. I started by walking every morning. I walked for 30 minutes before I had to get the kids up. After I had been walking for a couple of months, I decided to switch things up, and do other forms of cardio.

I would do PopSugar workouts after work, while I continued to walk in the mornings. I did this for months. Then, I started running and riding a bike.

When I moved into my new house, I decided to start buying weights, barbells, exercise balls, dumbbells, etc. I created a home gym in the garage. I started lifting weights and doing cardio in my “gym.” I worked out five days a week from anywhere between 30 minutes to an hour, depending on what body part I was working.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 220 pounds. My current weight is 170 pounds, and I’m still not finished with my weight loss journey yet. I am 5’5″

Was weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, it’s not part of my journey. I have what I call a mom pooch. I don’t know if it will ever go away, but it’s ok. God gave me three beautiful reasons why it may not go away, and that’s ok with me.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest lessons I learned and am STILL learning is to be patient and to love myself. Change takes time. Love the person you are so you can love the person you are becoming.

What advice do you have for other people who want to lose weight?
Be patient. There is no magic pill. You are going to struggle, and that’s ok. Take your time. Learn to love your body. Take pictures of your changes and be happy with ANY change.

Instagram: @liz_trufit

Transformation of the Day: Yvonne has gone from a size 22 to a size 14. Her biggest fear came to life when she was diagnosed with high blood pressure and prediabetes. Two years ago, she got serious about getting healthy. Intermittent fasting and plant-based meals are two of the tools she used. Check out her story.

What was your motivation?
Working in the medical field, I know how serious both diabetes and high blood pressure can be. Almost four years ago, my biggest fear came to life when I learned that I was prediabetic and had high blood pressure.

The doctor wanted to give me medication. He convinced me to try taking meds until I could get it under control. I felt awful, and after a few days, I stopped taking them. I was determined to turn it all around through diet and exercise, so began transitioning to a healthy lifestyle.

At first, I looked for quick fixes instead of permanent changes. I would lose 20 pounds and gain back 30. I was also an emotional eater. Two years ago, I became very serious about becoming healthy. I even started a small online support group for accountability.

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
When I want to give in to my emotions or eat, I think about my life. My children are adults now, and I want to travel the world. I look at before and after pictures, and I can see how far I’ve come.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started eliminating simple carbs and junk food from my diet instead of just abstaining from it. This has been key.

I do Intermittent Fasting at least six days a week. I have a 16:8 fasting schedule, eating eat from 11 AM to 7 PM. I love it because I can adjust the time for special occasions and still stay on track. I eat mainly a plant-based diet, but I do eat fish and chicken occasionally. I love smoothies and usually start my day off with one. I’ve witnessed the amazing results IF can bring.

What is your exercise routine?
For exercise, I walk at least four times a week and do a home-based workout.

Starting Weight/Current Weight
My weight had been up and down since I hit my 30’s. When I turned 40, the weight came on even faster. I went from a size 16 to a size 22. I avoided the scale as much as possible. I’m 5″6, and I began my weight loss journey at 268 pounds. I’m sure my weight was higher than that at some point. Now, I try not to focus on the scale as much. I currently wear a size 14.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I had to learn that I am what I eat. If I eat junk, I will feel like junk. I have to take responsibility for what I consume and for how much I exercise. It’s a journey, and I’ve learned to get back up if I fall.

What advice would you share with people who are just starting their journey?
For those who are just beginning the journey, I would say that consistency is critical. Find a realistic approach to achieving your goals. Find something that you can maintain and make it a lifestyle change. Find a support group and refuse to give up.

Instagram: @destine845
Facebook group: (W)inning (W)hile (L)osing

Transformation of the Day: La’Tanyia lost 50 pounds. At the beginning of this year, she realized just how much weight she gained in the last 2 years. With prayer, healthy eating habits and lots of exercise, this mom of two is reclaiming her health. Check out her story.

I’m a 40-year-old a mother of two (ages 14 and 19). In November of 2016. I lost my only brother. He died suddenly with Interstitial Lung Disease. From that point, my life fell into a depression, and I was in stress mode. I was trying to be strong for my Mother and Father, and doing for everyone around me while ignoring my needs. I didn’t realize how all of this was affecting me, and I was experiencing constant weight gain.

In January 2018, I decided to step on the scale. That is when reality hit me in my face. I am 5’3″, and I was tipping close to 300 pounds. I weighed in at exactly 283.6 pounds. I gained a total of 40lbs from November 2016 to January 2018.

My first step was to go to God in prayer and ask him to help guide as I took back control over my life. I asked God to lead me in the right direction as I worked to get ME back. Since January 8th, 2018, I have lost 50 pounds and I been taking charge of my life.

What motivated me to get back to a better version of me? I was about to be 40 years old, and my health is important. Most of all, I didn’t want to be on blood pressure pills or cholesterol pills, and I didn’t want to become Diabetic (which commonly runs on both sides of my family). Also, my kids have always have motivated me to become a better me for them.

What inspired me the most during this process was the way my clothes looked on me, and the people who inbox or dm me just to tell me that I have inspired them to take back their lives and get back on track.

Out of all the things that inspired me, the most important are my before and after pictures. I just look at how far I’ve come and all the prayers that God has answered for me.

How did I change my eating habits? First, I wrote down everything that I was eating or drinking that wasn’t healthy for me. Then, I eliminated those things from my diet. I started out on a 1500 calorie diet and gradually transitioned to 1200 calories a day. I incorporated Intermittent Fasting using the 16:8 method.

I began to eat clean. I cut out occasional alcoholic drinks, soda, junk food, juice, potato chips, sweets, bread, fried food, and fast food. All of that had to go. I replaced these foods fruits, vegetables, and lean meats that were baked or broiled. I drank a gallon of water a day, and sparkling water when I had cravings.

My workout routine started out at 2 miles a day until I was able to reach 3-5 miles a day by either running for 1 mile and walking 3 miles around my neighborhood. On the days when I couldn’t get outside and walk, I used my treadmill.

Next, I added to my workout routine by using YouTube exercise videos, battling ropes, jumping ropes, and weights. Some of the exercises I did include tire flips, jumping jacks, crunches, sumo squats, squats, push-ups, lunges, donkey kicks, and fire hydrants. I work out at least 6 days twice a day for at least 1 hour.

I have been on my journey since January. Even though I still have ways to go, I can honestly say I’m glad that my transformation doesn’t look like 9 months ago.

What I’ve learned is that not everyone is gonna celebrate me, and some people may not be happy for me. I discovered that by taking charge of my life and losing pounds, I had to lose some people who were not benefiting me. The biggest lesson of all was learning how to love me… all of Me.

I also learned that every day is not gonna be a good day, but no matter what you have to keep going. Keep going even if you make a mistake.

My advice to others who are just starting out on their journey or thinking about starting: Find your WHY. That is important. Next, start by doing what you need to do to be a better you. Whatever you choose, stick with it until you form a habit. If you have a bad day or a bad meal, don’t beat yourself up. Hit the reset button and start over.

Most importantly, never overwhelm yourself with trying to do it all at once. We all know that Rome wasn’t built in a day. Our bodies are not like Amazon Prime. We want to get the body we desire in 2 days, but that’s not realistic.

I wish you all well, and I hope my story inspires someone.

Instagram: @Getting_FitDiva38

Transformation of the Day: Lea lost 40 pounds. When this mom of two was denied cosmetic surgery due to her BMI, that was the last straw. Fasted cardio, strength training and the Ketogenic diet worked wonders for her. Check out her journey.

What was your motivation?
Honestly, what got me going is when I went to get a quote for cosmetic surgery. When I received the information back from the doctor, she did not give me a quote for the operation. Instead, she wanted me to diet and exercise to get my BMI down. I was too big to have surgery. That was it!

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
What inspired me when I wanted to give up was the fact I no longer wanted to be unhappy. I was tired of feeling depressed and sluggish.  When I would walk up the stairs in our building or if I was carrying my son for too long, I would be entirely out of breath. I needed a change.

How did you change your eating habits?
The way I changed my eating habits was by doing the Ketogenic Diet.  I kept my carbs to no more than 20g a day, and I ate a high fat/moderate protein diet.

What did your workout routine look like?
I would wake up in the morning and have black coffee. Then, before eating, I would do 30 minutes of fasted cardio. At night, I would do strength training. I would workout no less than four times a week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 215 pounds, and my current weight is 175 pounds. My height is 5’3″.

When did you start your journey and how long did your transformation take?
I started in March 2018, and it took five months. Eventually, I did have a tummy tuck and Lipo.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest thing I learned from this journey is the art of balance. Juggling being a mom, a wife, and helping the family businesses… all while trying to get a workout in and lose weight is something that I had to learn to succeed.

What advice would you share with people who want to release the weight?
If you take the time and make an effort, you can do it!  Break it down and approach it as 8 pounds a month or 2 pounds a week to lose.

Instagram: @Carmen_SanDiego713

“Over the period of five months I’ve lost 40 pounds. So many people say before going to get #cosmeticsurgery “make sure you go to the gym”, “just workout”, “you don’t need surgery”, “try to do it yourself”. Well I did that! So how did I lose my weight? The first thing I did was I just did the regular “diet and exercise routine” we all know which took me from 215 pounds to 195lbs. At 195 lbs I still felt heavy and was still very tired from walking up stairs or carrying my baby for too long. At this point I began to eat a low carb diet and I also began training with @hdtvuc. Hector’s plans work very well for me because even though I could not get to the gym to train with him; he makes workout plans for when you go to the gym or for when stay home and workout. My brother @immortal.savage was like my “nutritionist”. 😂 He would take the time to teach me about food and what our intakes should be. He also taught me about, what I feel changed my life, FASTED CARDIO! fasted cardio for me I when I wake up I drink and iced black coffee and do about 30-45 mins of cardio Before eating. He also took the time to introduce me to the #KetoDiet. (I’ll explain #Keto in another post) The largest help through it all has been my husband @mohesco. My husband understood I was sensitive about my weight so instead of telling me to go to the gym or lose weight he would say hey Lea let’s go to the gym TOGETHER hey Lea let’s walk the trail TOGETHER! We BOTH did the diets! I really appreciated the fact that he took the time to work with me workout with me lose weight with me! (he actually ended up losing more weight than me). 🤷🏽‍♀️💋❤️ .”

Transformation of the Day: LaTausha has released 22 pounds. A vacation video served as her wakeup call. She also wanted to do something about her pre-diabetes and blood pressure. Check out how she is taking action.

What was your motivation?
My motivation came when I saw how big I had gotten in a vacation video. Also, my doctor told me that I was pre-diabetic and needed to control my blood pressure.

What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
PRAYER! I pray daily for the strength to keep going.

How did you change your eating habits?
I don’t deprive myself of the food I love. I practice portion control instead. I started eating more green leafy veggies, and I’ve fallen in love with portabello mushrooms and cauliflower rice. I love to make new recipes.

I try to be strict with my eating habits during the week and lighten up a little during the weekend. I only have one cheat meal on Saturday and one cheat meal on Sunday.

What did your workout routine look like?
I hired a personal trainer to help me see the results. I train with my trainer twice a week and workout on my own once a week. My workouts consist of both cardio, weights, and resistance training. I also walk one or two days a week during lunch at work to get some extra movement in.

What was your starting weight? 280 What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 280 pounds, and my current weight is 258. I’m 5’4″.

When did you start your journey?
January 14, 2018. My transformation is still in progress.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
To take this journey one day at a time. If you fall off the horse, get back on and ride the heck out of it!

What advice do you have for other people who want to lose weight?
Everyone’s journey is different. Do your research on food and nutritional values, and get moving. Walking is a great start. You don’t have to speed walk. Just walk for 30 minutes, 3 times a week. Exercise makes a difference.

Instagram: @Taushadoll

Transformation of the Day: Kiara lost 64 pounds this year. At 24 years old, she decided that she didn’t want to be on medication for diabetes and hypertention for the rest of her life. Check out how she released the weight.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
My motivation was definitely all of the medications I was taking due to my obesity. At 24 years old, I was diabetic and had hypertension. I was determined not to have to take medication for the rest of my life. I’ve struggled with being fit my whole life. Now, after getting a personal trainer, my dreams are coming true.

How did you change your eating habits? 
I changed my eating habits by limiting carbs and daily calories. I do not eat after 6 pm, and I drink at least a gallon of water each day.

What did your workout routine look like?
I hired a personal trainer who tailored every workout to fit my body type. I work out with him 4 times a week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 304 pounds, and my current weight is 240 pounds. My height is 5’3”.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started in March of 2018. I am currently still on my journey. I noticed changes after the first month.

Was weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, I did not and will not have any weight loss surgery.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to control my emotions. I’m an emotional eater, but now I find other more creative and healthy ways to cope with my feelings.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
To anyone trying to lose weight, I would tell them not to delay the process. Just do it. Don’t expect it to be easy either. You will have bad days and good days. In the end, more good will start to come to you.

Instagram: @Kiarasings13
My trainer: @iamthekingoffitness

Transformation of the Day: Natasha lost 100 pounds. She had lots of tests run to find out if there was a medical excuse for her weight gain, but it was just a result of her lifestyle. This mom made a promise to her two sons that she would adopt a new, healthy lifestyle, put in the work, and release the weight. That’s exactly what she did. Check out her journey.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
My motivation came in December 2016 when I had realized I had put on an incredible amount of weight. I asked my doctors to do a full blood test, and test my thyroids, test my liver, run tests for diabetes… the whole works. I wanted to see if there was any medical reason for my weight gain. Basically, I was looking for an excuse to blame the weight on. Tests came back all clear, except my cholesterol (which was slightly high but nothing to worry about at that point). The doctor told me to step into the scale, and it revealed that I weighed a whopping 274 pounds.

My two sons were my biggest inspirations during this process. I made a promise to them that I would try hard, stick to a healthy lifestyle and lose the weight.

How did you change your eating habits?
I was just militant about my eating habits. I stuck to three meals a day, with only fruit for snacks. I stopped eating white sugar and replaced it with low-calorie sweetener. I stopped eating bread, rice, and pasta. I replaced those foods with vegetables, sweet, and salad. I also cut out red meat and stuck to chicken and fish.

What did your workout routine look like?
I lost 9 pounds during my first month without working out. Then, my eldest son advised me that if I joined the gym, it would speed up the weight loss, so I did. I worked out 7 days a week for the first month for 1 hour a day. I used the treadmill, cross-trainer or bike. As I progressed with my weight loss, I started to train with my friend Lesha who would give me various routines and exercise circuits in sets of five.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
274 pounds was my starting weight, and I currently weight 174 pounds. I am 5 feet tall.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started in January 2017. I lost 5 and a half stone (77 pounds) by October 2017. I lost the remainder in 2018.

Was weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, but I did consider it. I went to a meeting in March 2017 and was told that I had already lost 28 pounds. I canceled all further appointments, took my name off the list and decided that I could lose the weight on my own.

What are the biggest lessons you’ve learned?
Consistency is the key, and to not to give up.

What advice do you have for other people who want to lose weight?
Read all about food and don’t be afraid of food. It’s not your enemy. The lack of education about nutrition is.

Instagram: @lilmiss5ft_0

Transformation of the Day: Tiffany lost 50 pounds by going Keto. After experiencing significant weight gain, she tried to exercise the pounds away, but couldn’t outrun bad eating habits. When a friend suggested the Ketogenic diet, she was skeptical at first, but now she is a believer. She also learned that consistency is vital to success. Check out her story.

After I had my daughter, I weighed 270 pounds! Even though was spinning regularly on my Peleton but I couldn’t outwork a bad diet! So, I called my friend for advice, and she suggested that I try Keto! I wasn’t open to it at first, but I started researching and purchased a couple of books. I also followed several Keto pages on social media. Seeing the results and Keto success stories got me HYPED!

I started my Ketogenic journey on Thursday; March 28, 2018. During the first week, I got the Keto Flu, but I was determined to get this weight off. I couldn’t afford to give up. I weighed myself every day and was losing a pound a day. I consistently rode my bike and tracked my macros. I lost 13.4 lbs after the first month!

After 3 months on the Ketogenic diet, I became fat adapted and lost 30 pounds! I only ate when I was hungry, and I did intermittent fasting 3 times a week. I worked out at least 20 days a month, whether it was riding my Peloton bike for 30 minutes or going to Pure Barre classes. I was more focused than I had ever been in my life.

Now I’m five months in, and I’m 50 pounds lighter! (70 pounds lighter than I was after giving birth). I currently weight 200.3 pounds at 5’10”. My goal is to get my weight back down to 170-180 pounds.

My Big Why: My past “start-overs” inspired me. I had already tried so many diets (vegan, vegetarian, meal replacement shakes, etc.) that I had no more room to play around. I had to put my game face on, and Just Do It!

The biggest lesson I’ve learned is to stay consistent. It doesn’t matter how slow your progress is, just keep going. It took me five months to lose 50lbs. I have set a goal to lose another 20lbs by the end of the year, and I will reach that goal by staying consistent.

Advice: Don’t compare your weight or body type to anyone else’s. Work hard to create the best version of yourself and the rest will fall into place.

Instagram: @snatchedbyketo

 

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Transformation of the Day: Erika lost 166 pounds. She didn’t have a plan or a specific motivation in mind, but she knew that she was sick and tired of being unhealthy. Her transformation took patience, research, and consistency. Check out her story.

When did you start your journey?
I started my journey on August 24, 2017. I haven’t had any weight loss surgery of any kind. I lost more than 150 pounds naturally by counting calories and working out daily.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I really didn’t have any specific motivation. I just woke up one day and decided I was sick of being so big and so unhealthy. What stopped me from giving was the results I started to see.

How did you change your eating habits?
I didn’t have a specific diet plan. In fact, I had no idea what I was doing. I used the MyFitnessPal app and stopped eating fast food. I did a lot of research about healthy eating on Google as well.

What did your workout routine look like?
I started out doing cardio only. Then, I moved on to adding some weight training to my routine 2 days a week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 365 pounds, and my current weight is 199 pounds. I’m 5’5″.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I learned was about consistency. Consistency was the key to my success.

What advice would you share with other people who want to lose weight?
My advice would be to start consistently! Don’t be distracted by plateaus. Focus on your goal.

Instagram: @Where_is_waldo877