Chrys lost 110 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Chrys lost 110 pounds. In 2017, she had VSG surgery. Since then, she has put in the work to transform her mindset around food and embrace a low-carb lifestyle. The gym became her happy place. She has shaped her body and kept her curves with weight training.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
Once I started losing weight, my motivation and inspiration became the vision of the person I desired to be. As I was losing weight, and I started feeling better about myself. I began to fall in love with myself. For the first time in my life, I truly felt proud of myself. It was a feeling that I had always yearned to have. Feeling good about myself gave me the push and motivation to keep going.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take? 
I had the Vertical Gastric Sleeve done in August 2017. The first year, I lost 100 pounds. Towards the end of 2018, I gained 20 pounds. At the beginning of 2019, I was determined to get serious again, so I started living in the gym. I reached my all-time low of 140 pounds. 

At the end of 2019, I had personal things going on, which caused me to stop working out. My old habits crept back in, and my weight increased to 195 pounds. By God’s grace, I pulled myself out of the depression, refocused, and I’m currently at 160 pounds. 

How did you change your eating habits?
Overall, I focused on staying as far away from carbs as possible. In the beginning, I just concentrated on eating as much protein as possible. I made sure that I ate my meats first and then vegetables. Completely staying away from carbs, specifically bread, is very hard. So if I felt weak and ate bread one day, I was on a mission to make sure I didn’t eat carbs for 2-3 days after.

I realized that following a “specific plan” was complicated and put way too much pressure on myself, so I just removed the stress and made conscious decisions about what I put in my body. We are all human, so we will fall short and eat something we are “suppose to stay away from.” It’s okay if this happens. Don’t put yourself down, don’t feel ashamed or inadequate. Understand that this happens to everyone. Move forward and be more conscious about what you eat for the rest of the day. 

Losing weight and keeping the weight off is a process and a journey. There is no quick fix. It starts with a mental shift. Once you shift your mindset about food and your overall life, the weight will begin to fall off. 

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
Let me tell you, the gym is my happy place and part of my therapy. At times, my mind doesn’t fully remember that I have lost 100+ lbs, so the gym is an instant reminder of how far I have come. In the beginning, I was in the gym six days a week for 2 hours. I would spend an hour on cardio and an hour on weights. I don’t have that type of time now, so currently, I go to the gym 3-4 days a week. My sessions are about an hour long. I do 15 minutes of cardio and the remaining time on weights. 

Just a couple of things to keep in mind: Cardio will always be right. The weight will fall off. However, if you want to make sure you don’t lose your curves, make sure you are weight training. Adding weights to your workout routine will shape your body. Also, cardio burns the calories at that moment. You’re no longer burning calories once you stop working out. With weight training, you’ll continue to burn calories after you’ve worked out. Ladies, don’t be afraid of the weights. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight? 
My starting weight was 270 pounds. I currently weigh 160 pounds.

What is your height?
I am 5’2″. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I learned is to give yourself grace. Don’t think your old habits will die forever. It is effortless for the old habits to come back when you get too comfortable. It’s okay to mess up every once in a while. However, when you realize that you are messing up every day for three days straight, then it’s time to get yourself in check. Don’t tell yourself that you are going to wait till Sunday. When you realize that you are sliding backward, make a conscious choice to make a change. 

Also, remember that everyone’s body is different. Please do not compare yourself and your journey to anyone else. That is the quickest way to get discouraged. Just focus on working out, make conscious decisions to eat better, stay away from carbs, and you will see yourself losing weight. 

Although I had weight loss surgery, I had multiple friends around me who worked out with me, ate low carb, and successfully lost 40-50 pounds. It just takes time and patience. 

Instagram: @theshiftingyou
Website: www.theshiftingyou.com
Facebook: Love Chrys Journey
Twitter: @lovechrysj