eating habits

Before and After Transformation of the Day: Michelle lost 163 pounds, going from a size 28 to a size 12.  She took action by walking and changing her eating habits.  Eventually she found a helpful gym and weight loss plan that helped her lose the pounds.  Here are what she shared about her journey:

“Hello, I’d like to share my weight loss story with your page. I was 347 pounds and I currently weigh 184 pounds. I was told by my primary doctor, that I was healthy but overweight. I took time to think about this, and as time went on and I could accept that I was overweight. I decided that I was the only one that could really help me. I took the first step and located a trail near my place of residence. I started walking 1 mile a day for about 5 weeks. Then my husband began going with me. One morning he said, “Let’s challenge ourselves.” and we got started. Well, I went from walking 1 mile a day to 3 miles a day. Not long after, around 2 weeks later, he fell off. That’s when I spoke to myself and decided to challenge myself and keep going. I continued to walk 3 miles a day.  I also incorporated a little jogging, which in the beginning I thought I couldn’t do. I told myself, “I can so all things through Christ who strengthens me”. I pressed on. As time went on I jogged each day and I just didn’t feel as if my workout was any benefit to me if I didn’t jog.

In a little over a year, I lost 54 pounds by walking/jogging just 3 miles a day. I started looking for more than just weight loss, so I joined a gym here in Winter Haven Fl. called TigersWorld. This gym, the owner Mr. Berto, and the trainers forever changed my life. They taught me so much discipline. I thought I was eating healthy, but once I started at TigersWorld, they taught me what healthy eating really was. I did 1 hour cardio workouts at the gym. When I first started, I could only last for about 27 minutes of the 1 hour workout, but I made up in my mind that I would not quit.  I live by the word of God and again told myself “I can do ALL things through Christ who strengths me.” I endured and I continued to press. It wasn’t long before I was doing the whole 1 hour class and leaving the gym for a walk afterwards. I was bound and determined to live a healthy life.

Prior to joining TigersWorld, I looked for help from another local gym in the WinterHaven area, and a few of there trainers, said to me that they didn’t recommend me joining a gym.  They said that I first need to lose some weight. I thought to myself, “That’s what going to a gym and working out will help you do.” My question to them was what do you recommend? A lady trainer, weighing no more than 105lbs, said “They got a pill called…”. I halted her sentence, because prior to me trying to do it the right way I tried 3 different diet regiments. They were only temporary and I wanted to make a lifestyle change. The gentleman trainer that was there said, “Ma’am you gotta start somewhere.”  I chose to move on and start at another, more helpful gym.

In the beginning, I basically cut out sweets and cut back on my carbs, eating no bread at all. Changed from white rice to only brown rice, which I had 1 cup at a time and only two times a week.  I also cut out all fried foods. After I joined TigersWorld, I followed their eating plan, which was very strict. I ate fish 7 days a week, sometimes 2 times a day. No salt at all. I purchase several Mrs. Dash seasoning mixes and mix them together to have some type of seasoning to work with. I eat turkey from time to time and chicken breast. I also eat lots of green vegetables. In the morning when I wake up, I drink warm water with 2 teaspoons of Lemon Juice and have a bowl of instant oatmeal. I eat 5 small meals a day. For a snack, I’ll either have a piece of fruit, almonds, nuts or cashews. I eat salads, but I only eat dark greens. Most of the time, I eat my salad with a dry salad sprinkler on it with a little olive oil and no other dressings. I use olive oil to base my foods, no crisco. I only drink water, of course. I was never a big soda nor juice drinker. Also, I only eat dark fruits, as blueberries, cherries, strawberries, plums, kiwi, etc. and only fresh fruit. The canned fruit contains too much syrup and other additives, in my opinion.

I could write a book on my story, which I am in the process of doing. I went from a 26 to a size 12 and I’m not done YET. I have a passion for fitness.  My overall weight loss at this time is 163 pounds. My ideal goal would be that by June 2014 I will weigh 145-150 pounds. Blessings”