Kenya lost 78 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Kenya lost 78 pounds. She didn’t let hypothyroidism, diabetes and insulin resistance stop her. The medication she was taking made her prone to weight gain, so she sought out a specialist to help her adjust her meds and took steps to change her lifestyle. Check out her journey.

It was very hard for me to lose weight because I have hypothyroidism and other metabolic issues. However, with a strict diet and exercise I am finally down to a weight I haven’t been in 14 years. I’m still a work in progress.

What was your motivation?
My motivation was being here for my children and getting my life back.

What inspired you when you wanted to give up?
There have been times that I did feel that way. Especially, when I was going to a personal trainer for an entire year and only lost 5 pounds. I found a specialist who adjusted my thyroid medicine. I was told if I wasn’t watching my diet and working out I could have easily gained 50 pounds. When you have metabolic issues such as hypothyroidism and diabetes with insulin dependency, it’s very hard to lose weight. I was diagnosed with both in my early 20’s. At that time, I was not overweight. When you are over 40, your metabolism slows down naturally and society does not make it easy because they just assume you are lazy.

How did you change your eating habits?
I count my carbs and portion control is the key. I switched to meals with tofu instead of meat and the portions are basically no bigger than my fist. I eat a lot of veggies.

What did your workout routines look like?
I work out at least 5 times a week, walking at least 10,000 steps with my Fitbit and doing Fitbit challenges they get me motivated. I do yoga sometimes for stretching as well. I have been overweight so long that I have to modify some workouts because of my knees and age. For squats, I use the wall to help take off some pressure on my knees. Find a workout that is right for you and don’t let anyone, including yourself, discourage you from your weight loss goal.

Starting weight/Current weight
In August of 2012, my highest weight was 264, but I got down to 230 and stayed there for four years. My current weight is 186 pounds. I haven’t been this weight in 14 years. My height is 4’11”.

How long did your transformation take?
I really started in full force in September 2016. It’s been 4 months so far and my goal weight is 160 pounds.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Before turning to weight loss surgery, make sure you have testing done to see if you have medical issues working against you that can be addressed. Also, make sure that you know the side effects of any medicine that you are taking. A lot of medicine can cause weight gain as a side effect. Because I am insulin resistant, I had to take insulin at high doses which caused weight gain. I am on a medicine now that helps with my insulin resistance, so my insulin intake is lower. Social media can inspire you but it can also depress you. Remember, not everything you see on social media is real. Start with little goals, like losing 4-5 pounds a month. Drink more water and get an walking or exercise app that can help you increase the amount of time that you exercise.

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