Gloria lost 55 pounds

I dont look like what I’ve been through. The journey to good health and wellness can be hard. I still struggle at times even after going through my own transformation. But this morning…I relalized the thing that keeps me going is the quality of life I have. Yea I know the aesthetics are what you see first. But changing my habits has made me feel better and boosted my confidence in other areas of my life. So to those of you on this journey…stay the course. Your health and well-being will thank you for it ❤️ #tbt #throwbackthursday #weightlosstransformation #transformation #gethealthy #workout #bodybuilding #bodybuilder #npc #lovelife #eatcleantraindirty #healthyliving #ebonyfitness #ebonyfitfreak #melaninpoppin #everydaylegday #abs #selflove

A post shared by Glory 💋🇳🇬 (@getglorygoals) on May 31, 2018 at 6:52am PDT

Transformation of the Day: Gloria lost 55 pounds. Her reality check came when her mother suffered a stroke. She wanted to an example for her mom of what believing in yourself can do and improve her own health at the same time. She learned that doing your research and creating a clear plan for nutrition and exercise is key to success. Check out what she shared with us, including a video.

Well, I can certainly say that I did not have the background of a fitness expert. Several things pushed me in the direction of getting on the band wagon and taking my health seriously. First, my mother suffered a stroke! If that doesn’t slap you in the face to make a change, I don’t know what will. I can still remember my little brother calling me to tell me “Mom’s in the hospital! What do I do?!”. My mom had been told for over 5 years that she needed to lose weight, and lower her blood pressure and cholesterol. How many of us have been told this by our primary care physician, only to ignore it, carry on with our bad habits, and rely on prescription medication to carry us through? Why do we wait until a near death experience to make a serious change in our lives?

Second, I’m 5’3 and weighed almost 200 pounds! Although, I may have carried my weight well according to my friends, I knew this couldn’t be good for my health. I struggled with simple tasks like running up the stairs and had terrible eating habits. If I’m struggling with this in my twenties, what will my thirties look like? Not to mention I wasn’t proud of the way I looked. My self image was not great. I was constantly comparing myself to other girls, dissecting my body and imagining what I would look like if I looked like her. How many women are guilty of that?

The combination of a sick parent and a poor self image was enough for me to decide to make a change, and never look back. I wanted not only tell my mom that she needed to lose weight, but be an example for her of what believing in yourself can do. I began my journey on January 6, 2014. What better way to push myself than to compete in a fitness competition! Right? Actually, I could think a few ways that may have been better, but in hindsight I’m glad I put myself in a very uncomfortable position outside of me comfort zone. It was scary! I mean, I had no fitness experience and my body was far from being “show ready”. What the hell are you doing Gloria? Who do you think you are? Nevertheless Gloria, are you going to shut up and do this or cower in a corner and come up with excuses as to why you can’t do this?

This single decision changed my life! My life changed from a physical perspective, but primarily it changed mental endurance. It taught me how to place myself in the most uncomfortable positions and watch myself perform at my peek.  (I won first place in my first competition.)

How did you change your eating habits?
I changed my eating habits by constructing a plan. I learned what items needed to be on my plate for every meal and what items I needed to limit in order to see the results I was looking for. I made a grocery list of healthy foods that I loved and then began meal prepping my food so I was always prepared. I found that the more meals I had prepared, the less likely I was to make a poor decision when I was hungry. I started eating more lean sources of protein, such as salmon, ground turkey and bison. Additionally, I began eating lots of vegetables. Prior to my transformation, I was not a big veggie eater, but I began reading about the benefits of certain vegetables such as broccoli, carrots, and leafy greens. These items are now staples in my daily nutrition.

What did your workout routines look like?
My fitness routines initially consisted of strength training with weights and HIIT cardio. I work out about 5-6 days a week for approximately 90 minutes. I created a schedule weekly of which muscles groups would be targeted for each workout. I also researched the most effective moves that really worked and exhausted a particular muscle group. Currently, my workout routines focus on flexibility and endurance. I have incorporated yoga workouts into my weekly workouts which have expanded my capabilities tremendously.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 180 pounds. My current weight is 125 pounds. I am 5’3″ tall.

How long did your transformation take?
My transformation took 4 months.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Before getting started, realize that the journey is more about mental endurance than physical. It’s important that you remember why you are doing this, because you will need to refer back to your “why” on those days you do not feel like going to the gym. Additionally, in order to go through this process you need a plan. You can’t go through this process with out a plan for your nutrition or workouts. Without a plan it will literally feel like you are trying to see in the dark. Do your research.

Instagram: @naturalglo @getglorygoals

#tbt Sometimes you have to take a look back and realize how much progress you have made. As competitors we are our own worst critic. But pausing to reflect gives me more motivation to continue creating my physique knowing the goal is progress not perfection. #transformation #determination #ambition #focused #goals #bodybuilding #bodybuilder #npc #npcfigure #npcbikini #muscles #gainz #abs #gym #gymrat #workout #exercise #fit #fitfam #instafit #fitness #girlswithmuscle #eatclean #naturalglo

A post shared by Glory 💋🇳🇬💪🏾👩🏾‍🔬 (@naturalglo) on Dec 1, 2016 at 5:24pm PST