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Recka lost 40 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Recka shares how she lost 40 pounds. She asked God to help her with discipline and self-control as she embarked on her transformation journey. She says that focusing on wellness is the most important investment you can make.

Recka before and after weight loss

Social Media:
Instagram: @4myhairitage
Facebook: Recka Lyons 

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up? My motivation was self-care which, means caring about my physical wellness. Not feeling insecure about my body anymore is whatkeeps me going. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I changed my eating habits by simply asking God to help me with discipline and self-control. I avoid sodas, greasy foods, white sugars, and fast food. I only eat certain things in moderation. My meal plan is home-cooked meals. 

What is your workout routine?
My workout routine is running or walking outside, weight training, cardio (Vital), and dancing. The goal is to move my body an hour each day. 

How often did you work out?
I work out five times a week. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight is 238 pounds. My current weight is 198 pounds.

What is your height? 5’2″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in March 2024, and the transformation took two months before anybody noticed, lol.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
My body is enough for the person who’s meant to love Recka. Accept the grace God gives you daily. 

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Do it for yourself. Your physical wellness is the most important investment of your life.

Jacqueline lost 22 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Jacqueline shares how she lost 22 pounds. She switched from unhealthy/non-affirming habits to lots of self-care and sustainable lifestyle changes. She is also determined to break a generational cycle of diabetes and heart disease.

jacqueline before and after weight loss

Social Media:
Instagram: @queeniebeenie94

The person on the left was not in the most positive state of mind. She didn’t like pictures being taken of herself. She would avoid looking at herself in the mirror. She didn’t feel like herself. She found herself dealing with stress in rather unhealthy ways. Needless to say, she was uncomfortable and unhappy. One day, she decided enough was enough and did something about it. She decided to prioritize self-care (physically, mentally, and spiritually) and stop treating her body like a dumpster. Now, she’s slowly becoming herself again. 

TLDR: I’ve spent the last nine months unbigging my back and understanding the importance of self-care. So far, I’ve lost close to 25 pounds.)

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My motivation to better myself came when I noticed that I would do things such as avoid looking at myself in the mirror every time I walked past one. I also realized I handled stress by emotionally eating and noticed I looked like I had aged despite being in my 20s. 

There was one particularly bad day when I just broke down because of how unhappy I was. I was at an all-time low, so I decided to do something about it. I stopped treating myself like I didn’t deserve self-care and have never looked back. 

When times get tough, I try to remind myself of my “why.” I’m on this path because I know I deserve to feel good about myself. I also remind myself that every day I stay on this journey, I’m breaking the generational cycle as both sides of my family have a history of diabetes and heart disease (my grandfather passed of a heart attack at 40 years old). 

How did you change your eating habits?
What helped was that I absolutely LOVE to cook. I also sought help from my nutritionist. I simply started swapping things out (i.e., subbed 1/2 a portion of rice for riced broccoli) and being mindful of nutritional information.

I wanted to make sure that the food I was preparing tasted good because that’s the only way I’m going to maintain this habit of eating healthy. There were recipes I found on various Instagram pages that helped me out! I also made sure that I was eating a substantial amount of protein. 

Most importantly, as someone with a sweet tooth, I found substitutions that helped me with my cravings! Yasso ice cream bars have been a lifesaver. 

What is your workout routine?
I go to a local gym that focuses primarily on strength training and squeezes in some cardio exercises! On light/rest days, I walk my dog around the neighborhood. 

How often did you work out?
I work out 4-5 days a week. It’s become an emotional outlet for me! 

What was your starting weight?
In the picture on the left, I was 203 pounds.

What is your current weight?
My current weight is 181 pounds. 

What is your height?
I’m 5’3″

When did you start your journey?
December 2022. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
Weight loss surgery is not part of my journey. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I learned was to give myself grace when things aren’t going exactly to plan. Progress is very rarely linear. Remaining consistent and being patient is going to pay off in the long run. 

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Be kind to yourself. It is YOUR journey. Make sure that the changes you make are sustainable. Remind yourself of your why when things get tough. Remember to celebrate the non-scale victories such as having more energy or if your clothes are becoming looser.

Jennifer lost 138 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Jennifer lost 138 pounds by focusing on self-care and fitness. She suffered from PCOS, anxiety, and depression (prepartum and postpartum), but meds and therapy alone weren’t enough. Weight training and intermittent fasting were crucial to her success. 

Jennifer before and after weight loss

Social Media:
Instagram: @jnunn79 or @blackwomenliftatlanta 

What was your motivation?
I had terrible prepartum and postpartum depression and anxiety. I needed and wanted to get better after battling it for years. I had a two-year-old and a three-year-old at the time. They needed me to get better, and medicine and therapy alone weren’t working. 

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I fell in love with weightlifting and the feeling I got from pushing myself mentally and physically. It’s a getaway for me. I zone out when I’m at the gym. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I initially started Intermittent fasting (16:8). On Tuesdays, I would do a 24-hour fast. I cut out fried foods and junk food, only eating Salmon, shrimp, chicken, and ground turkey. I would also meal prep and include a vegetable and fruit once a day. I minimized my fruit intake because of my PCOS.

What is your workout routine?
I lift weights 5-6 days a week and do cardio 2-3 days a week. My cardio of choice is indoor cycling. I alternate body parts.

  • Monday is leg day (hamstring and quad focused) 
  • Tuesday is upper body day (back and triceps focused)
  • I do that split up until Friday or Saturday. 

How often do you work out? 
5-6 days a week.

When did you start your journey?
July 1, 2017

How long did your transformation take?
I lost 138 pounds from July 1, 2017-November 2019. Then I started lifting heavy in July 2020, gaining muscle and thickening up. 

Jennifer before and after weight loss

What was your starting weight?
My starting weight was 300 pounds.

What is your current weight?
My current weight is 204 pounds.

What is your height?
5’4 1/2″

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
NO

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
I have to put myself first, before my sons or any family or friends.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Find a physical activity you enjoy doing. That way, it’ll excite you, and you’ll have a better chance at sticking to it. 

Lydia lost 75 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Lydia lost 75 pounds by changing her lifestyle and embracing healthy habits. While traveling overseas to teach, she learned to create more of a work/life balance. She also discovered the mix of nutrition and outdoor fitness that works for her.

Lydia before and after weight loss

Social Media:
Instagram and Threads: @live_love_lydia
TikTok: @72sunflower 

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up? 
My reason was solidified once I left the US to teach overseas in 2017. It is something crazy when you are traveling in other countries and see that you are usually the biggest one in the crowd. I started looking at people from different cultures and the work/life balance they created for themselves when I moved to Qatar in 2019. 

My school is huge on well-being. I was like, “How can you teach this to kids if you aren’t practicing it yourself?” What keeps me going is that my primary focus is improving my overall quality of life, not weight loss. So in everything I do, I’m focused on how this will improve my quality of life (mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually). 

Lydia before and after weight loss

How did you change your eating habits? 
In January 2021, I had Covid. While in quarantine, I started listening to audiobooks. I went down a nutrition rabbit hole, and it finally all made sense. I stopped eating out a lot when I left Kuwait (2017-2019) and started cooking my meals. I don’t believe in eliminating items unless there is a medical reason. 

I started focusing on whole foods. I don’t care for meat like that, so if I have something, it’s seafood (maybe chicken here or there). I did cut out dairy due to inflammation in my body. 

I was in chronic pain due to an injury to my left foot during the fall of 2018. I started physiotherapy in 2020, and medication I didn’t want to take forever for inflammation. I noticed an immediate improvement when I stopped dairy and was able to stop taking the anti-inflammatory meds. (2022 was physiotherapy and shockwave therapy from the end of January until I finally had surgery on 12.19.2022 …9 days after my 50th birthday)

What is your workout routine? 
I’m not a fan of gyms. Qatar is all about physical activity. Sports Day is a national holiday. They encourage everyone to be active. So I bought a bike. I cycle, do stairs at the amphitheater, walk, and now jog (since fully recovering from surgery. I also jump rope. In June, I started doing Muay Thai training (martial arts), which includes HIIT circuit training during the last half of the class. 

How often did you work out? 
I’m an everyday person as I believe in being active. However, my intensity is never the same day after day. Active rest days are brisk walks or easy bike rides just to be and unwind from my work day. 

Lydia before and after weight loss

What is your height?
5’3″ and a strong half 

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
In 2010, I reached my highest weight: 304 pounds. In August 2019, when arriving in Qatar to teach, I weighed 270 pounds. This is when I started truly focusing on myself and my health. It was slow due to physical challenges. Then, throw in Covid. So, from August 2019 to July 2023- I’ve released 70–75 pounds.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No surgery here other than the one that was on my foot that gave me a new lease on life. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
In all things regarding your health and well-being, be intentional. This lifestyle does not happen by accident. 

Lydia before and after weight loss

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?

1) Learn to set aside time for you daily for your physical/mental well-being. Start with 30 uninterrupted minutes. We give so much of ourselves to our families, jobs, cats, and dogs …but we seem to go last. Stop that! It doesn’t mean going hard for 30 mins. It may be a 15 min walk and 15 mins meditation. 

2) be intentional about what you need to do. Work on discipline. Motivation is a fleeting emotion. Discipline gets it done. If we are disciplined enough to show up for work when we don’t feel like it, we can be disciplined enough to show up for ourselves. 

3) Take time to find food and activities that you enjoy. There are no quick fixes. Think sustainability. You aren’t going to continue anything you do not enjoy.

Ashley’s Healthy Pregnancy Journey

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Transformation of the Day: Ashley wrote to us to share her healthy pregnancy journey and insights about wellness and self-care. For 14 years, she’s been a body transformation coach, so she knew how to balance nutrition and exercise during her twin pregnancy. She was even able to teach online fitness classes until the day before she delivered.

Ashley before and after having twins

Social Media:
Instagram: @msgradeamuscle
Facebook: msgradeamuscle

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up? 
My pregnancy was considered high risk due to my advanced maternal age of 38 and being pregnant with twins. I knew that my pregnancy would not be like the previous one when I had my daughter in my twenties, so I stayed focused and committed to doing what needed to be done to remain as healthy as possible. 

I was warned that my pregnancy could get very complicated, so I committed to giving my twins the best chance to develop healthily. I’m blessed to have been able to teach my live stream fitness classes all the way up until the day before I delivered. 

How did you change your eating habits
I’m a nutritionist and women’s body transformation coach. For the last 14 years, I’ve had the honor of working with pregnant and postpartum clients on their fitness journeys. So when it was my turn, I applied the same coaching that I provide to others to myself. 

My pregnancy cravings were pretty intense. While I did treat myself to things I craved, I exercised portion control and reminded myself that I was eating for my babies. I wanted to give them the best of everything, so that mindset seemed to keep me on a healthy path. I also developed a few journals with healthy alternative recipes to feed into my cravings and give my body and babies the gift of good nutrition. 

What is your workout routine? 
Before, during, and after my pregnancy, I have only done the workouts that I teach in my livestream classes. The only exercise I do outside of the classes I teach is an outdoor walk. Personally, I really enjoy being outdoors; the fresh air, the sunshine, and the scenery helps with my mood, which is directly related to keeping unhealthy cravings and habits at bay. 

I look forward to my daily walks, but when my pregnancy hormones were in high gear or I just wasn’t having the best of days, the walk helped me by elevating my mood and providing a sense of accomplishment. It feels great to know you are doing what you need to do even when you are not feeling up to it. That sense of accomplishment brings on an internal joy that carries over into food choices and all areas of self-care. I found myself being more focused and proud of myself due to the small things I did throughout the day that contributed to the health and overall well-being of my babies and me.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight? 
Before becoming pregnant, I weighed 145 pounds. I gained about 40 lbs during my twin pregnancy. I currently weigh 144 pounds.Ashley before and after having twins

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take? 
I have been a body transformation coach for the last 14 years. However, before that, I was overweight, pre-diabetic, and a sugar addict. The transformation I made at that time changed every aspect of my life. I lost 70 lbs and had a career change from the mortgage industry to the fitness industry. I became so happy and confident that I started to live my life in ways that I only dreamed about before. 

Is weight loss surgery a part of your journey?
No 

Ashley's postpartum photos 3 months postpartum

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far? 
My biggest lesson is that my health and wellness is the most important form of self-care. 

I have been shown that by keeping my body healthy, I’m benefiting not only myself, but my children, husband, and everyone around me. I’ll be 40 this October, and my energy level is just as high as my teenage daughter’s. I feel great and can run behind my twin toddlers without feeling winded or self-conscious. Good Health and how a woman feels about herself are priceless assets. 

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight? 
If you want to lose weight, write down your WHY and put the note in a place where you will see it daily. This reminder will help you keep your eyes on your prize. From there, find a regime that works for you that does not include any extremes, hard-core dietary restrictions, or workouts that make you miserable. 

Instead, look for a liveable routine to avoid the yo-yo weight loss/weight gain pattern. Remember, the feminine body will thrive when it’s well nourished, and workouts are uplifting rather than brutal. If your routine uplifts you and brings fulfillment and joy, you will do it long-term and will remain fit for many years to come.

BWLW’s December 2022 Challenge

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Join us December 1-21, 2022 for our 21 Day Self-Care Challenge. We all know that the holidays can be a very difficult and stressful time, so we are challenging you to focus on your needs and your wellbeing. Give yourself some extra love and care!

How can you join?

  1. Download this month’s printable calendar (You’ll find the link below).
  2. Complete the daily tasks.
  3. Check-in DAILY at 7 pm EST on Instagram or in our Facebook Group (Black Women Losing Weight Official Group).*
  • Share your insights for the day and give support to the other challengers. 
  • Tell us how you are lessening your stress and focusing on your own needs.

Leave a comment below and tell us why you are joining the challenge.

*Note: If you’d like to join our FB group, please answer ALL the new member questions.

Black woman reading in the bath

Print out the December tracking calendar today and join us!

This month’s daily tasks

  1. Make a playlist of your favorite uplifting songs. We’re talking inspirational, spiritual, high energy, positive emotion-evoking, etc.
  2. Do some yoga. You’ll find some great free routines on YouTube. Yoga is excellent for mental and physical relaxation and relieving tension.
  3. Make a gratitude list. Jot down at least ten things you’re grateful for. Consider making your list a graphic that you can save on your phone or use as a screensaver. (Canva is a free app you can use to do this.)
  4. Start reading a work of fiction that will help you relax. Reread something you already have or buy something new.
  5. Take the time to write down a prayer for yourself. What do you need? What are you prayerful for/about?
  6. Call someone who enhances your life. This weekend is a great time to have a meaningful conversation and check in.
  7. Watch your favorite positive or uplifting movie.
  8. List five ways you can make food less stressful. (i.e., Planning meals in advance. Dealing with your food triggers. Reducing your intake of stimulants like caffeine.)
  9. Take a relaxing bath or shower. It’s time for relaxing music, candles, a bath bomb, your favorite bubble bath, etc. Make it special.
  10. Have a totally social media-free day. (Or cut back as much as possible. You DON’T have to check in on our FB group today.
  11. Do 30 minutes of low-impact exercise—examples: Walking, yoga, dancing, swimming, and pilates.
  12. Clean out your inbox and unsubscribe from anything that is just causing clutter.
  13. De-stress your feet. Examples: Get a pedicure or give yourself one. Make a warm foot bath. Use a food mask.
  14. De-clutter one area of your home that is stressing you out. Perhaps its a closet, your home office, your basement…?
  15. Cook your favorite meal. Take time to prepare it and put love into it.
  16. Make a list of your stress triggers. What is stressing you out? Then, make a list of ways you can counter or remove these triggers. 
  17. Wear something that makes you truly feel beautiful. 
  18. Get at least 8 hours of sleep. Go to bed early if you need to.
  19. Listen to a helpful podcast about a topic that will help you have less stress and less drama in your life. 
  20. Watch your favorite comedy and laugh. Laughing can reduce stress.
  21. Sip tea and relax for at least 15 minutes. No TV and no devices. Tune out and focus on yourself.

Thank you so much for joining our December Challenge! Don’t forget to check-in daily!

Marrissa lost 82 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Marrissa lost 82 pounds. She was tired of not liking what she saw in the mirror and feeling uncomfortable in her clothes. So she took action by setting realistic goals and changing her eating habits. 

Marrissa before and after weight loss

My name is Marrissa M. I started my journey about 1 1/2 years ago. What caused me to lose the weight was that I didn’t feel comfortable in anything I wore. I began to hate looking at myself in the mirror and started feeling depressed. 

Even though my husband tried his hardest to make me feel beautiful, I could not see what he saw. So one day, I looked in the mirror and said, “Marrissa, put your big girl panties on and go hard like you know how to do.” And that’s what I did.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 225 pounds, and my weight now is 143 pounds.

What is your height?
I am 5’0″ even.

How did you change your eating habits? What was your workout routine?
I had to set realistic goals for myself. So I cut out all sweets and started drinking lots of water. 

I cut down the portion sizes I was eating and ate lots of veggies and fewer carbs. I also began walking 5 miles a day. 

How did you stay motivated and inspired?
I started listening to podcasts that are supportive of women losing weight. I started speaking positive affirmations to myself every day even if, at that time, I did believe in what I was saying. 

I also started to do more self-care. I did things that made me feel good about myself.

Now I’m on a journey to tone up all the loose skin that remains from when I was overweight. And I must say I love the results and I am feeling so much more energized. I love to see myself in the mirror now.

Melissa lost 115 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Melissa lost 115 pounds by working out and eating healthy food. After finding the courage to leave a troubled marriage, this mother of three began her transformation journey focused on self-love and self-acceptance. She overcame depression, anxiety, and self-neglect during the journey, creating a new mindset and lifestyle.

Melissa before and after weight loss

What was your motivation? 
My motivation was driven by my ability to acknowledge my own mistakes and poor lifestyle choices. After being in an abusive marriage, I mustered up the courage to leave. Our newborn was only four months old. 

One day, I prayed to God that if I got the chance to live my life without fear, I would start over and reclaim all the time I lost while suffering. The next day, I left with my three children and made the 3-hour trip back home. When I arrived back home in January 2020, I decided to start walking around the neighborhood since I did not have a car at the time. So I walked, and in the first weeks, I lost 3 lbs. 

The depression, anxiety, abuse, and neglectful love towards my body and mind were beginning to go away. It was time to reclaim my life! No turning back! From that moment, I realized I would not let anything or anyone come in between me fighting for me. As a result, I lost 75 pounds in the first year! 

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up? 
Having support from friends and family played a huge role. My mother was my biggest supporter. She would call me every morning like clockwork to ask me what workouts I was doing at the gym. 

She passed unexpectedly in April 2021. But, I refused to give up, not after coming this far! Depression tried to work its way back into my life again, but I kept pushing because that’s what mama would have wanted. 

I saved pictures on my phone from when I was the happiest in my life, which also inspired me. I would say things like,” Girl, you look Great!” and “Remember Your Promise To GOD.” I was also inspired by some Instagram fitness gurus. Watching them go hard every single day pushed, challenged, and motivated me. They are a HUGE encouragement! Seeing their natural bodies is what makes me more comfortable in mine.  

 
 
 
 
 
View this post on Instagram
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

A post shared by Melissa Cannon (@staysnatched247)

How did you change your eating habits?
The biggest and most life-changing habit I incorporated was drinking more WATER. I went from drinking about a bottle a day to 2-3 gallons a day. 

My daughters played a huge role in my improvements as well. They helped me with meal prep and drinking plenty of water. 

I stopped eating fast foods and drinking sodas. I used to drink some, but I get so bloated now, so I’ve stopped completely. I still mainly eat chicken and fish. I occasionally eat pork, but that’s very rare. I’ve always been a raw veggie eater, even before the weight loss, so I enjoy eating them all day. I occasionally eat sugar, but very little. I mainly do honey. Going into the new year, I plan on eliminating bread.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
My workouts consist of heavy lifting. I really enjoy using dumbbells, doing lunges, chest presses, leg presses, overhead shoulder presses, squats, and using various cardio machines. The elliptical is my absolute favorite machine. 

I have compiled a workout plan myself, and I post my daily routine on social media. I work out five days a week at a gym, working out for about 2 hours. Depending on the day, I will focus on glutes and legs. However, every day is an arm and ab day. My biceps are starting to form. Cardio and crunches are part of my workouts every day.

What was your starting weight?
304 pounds

What is your current weight?
189 pounds

What is your height?
5’8″

When did you start your journey?
January 2020

How long did your transformation take?
15 months 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, I didn’t have surgery. 

Melissa before and after weight loss

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is to fully accept my body the way it is. I never thought I let myself go until I didn’t recognize myself in the mirror anymore. That’s when I knew I needed to get a grip on my life and stop living for others. I have to live for me, and by living for me, I had to love my body and heal my mind. A changed mindset can lead you into your destiny. 

Always have a positive mindset about your life. Take control of yourself. Wake up every day and be grateful you can live to fight another day! Life is precious, and we need to enjoy it in our happiest and healthiest versions! 

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
I want to encourage you to keep moving. When you feel like stopping, remember that progress is progress, no matter how slow. Trust the process. It takes time to repair your body and get it back, but you can. 

We need to love our bodies more. Having a positive mindset during this entire process has helped me tremendously. Start now, not today… Now!

Start with your mind. Clear your mind and take a good look at yourself. Picture where you want to be or where you see yourself. Apologize to yourself for not loving you better, and start your journey. 

Instagram: @staysnatched247

Melissa before and after weight loss

Kaekae lost 80 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Kaekae lost 80 pounds with healthy food and exercise. Her journey started after vowing to take care of herself mentally, physically, and spiritually. She has been working hard since 2019 to create a healthy lifestyle and make self-care a priority.

Kae Kae before and after weight loss

My name is Kaekae, and I’ve been on my fitness journey for about two years now. When I started my fitness journey, I weighed about 245 pounds and had no idea how to lose it. I experienced many hiccups and had to start over many times, but I’m proud I stuck with my program and made it to where I am today. I now weigh about 160 – 165 pounds. Although I’m still on my fitness journey, I’m very comfortable with my body nowadays. 

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I made a vow that I would take care of myself mentally, physically, and spiritually while finding a healthy lifestyle that works for me! So, even if it took me years, I decided in 2018 that I wouldn’t stop working to be a better me, a comfortable me.

How did you change your eating habits?
I stopped eating out and started cooking most of my meals! I also stopped eating a lot of processed/fried foods and began to look into what a healthy plate should look like. I also researched what macros are (proteins, fats, & carbs) and tried to incorporate that knowledge into my daily routine. 

I didn’t follow a specific diet. Instead, I just tried my best to make healthier decisions.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
I worked out every day of the week and gave myself breaks on the weekends and holidays. At first, it was tough to stay consistent because I didn’t really know what I was doing. However, after I became more comfortable with being active, I created a workout plan that I knew I could keep up with. 

I started by doing a lot of cardio. Eventually, I added weight lifting into my routine. I continued doing my own routine for a year before seeing any results, so I modified it based on my wants and needs. I still use my workout plan to this day!

Kae Kae before and after weight loss

What is your height?
I’m 5’2″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take? 
I officially started my journey in 2019. However, I began to think about my health critically during 2018. It took me a year before I saw any results. 

Now, I would say I’m actually finished. I’m still learning so many things about fitness and nutrition. I am still learning new ways to transform my body.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
I never got any type of weight loss surgery or surgical procedures. By the grace of God, I was able to lose all my weight naturally by eating healthy food and working out.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
I’ve learned to love my body in all forms. I also learned how to have self-love and that caring for myself isn’t just a bi-product of losing weight. It comes from genuinely wanting to be a better person inside and out!

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
My advice would be to start now and don’t give up! Everyone’s journey is different! You may have some hiccups or setbacks but stay focused on the end goal! 

Commit yourself to a healthier lifestyle that you know you can maintain, and you will slowly but surely see results! Small steps add up to huge achievements! 

Instagram: @_mofitmolife I created my Instagram to motivate others to think critically about their health and give people a safe space to talk about weight, fitness, and nutrition!

Ruby lost 60 pounds

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Transformation of the Day: Ruby lost 60 pounds. She paid attention to what she was putting into her body and researched what workouts would produce the best results. Over the course of nine months, she truly figured out what worked for her.

Ruby before and after weight loss

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My motivation was myself. I’ve always wanted to live a healthier lifestyle. But, growing up, I didn’t have good examples of what health or fitness was supposed to look like. Also, I was just tired of being tired in my own skin. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I just cut back on everything. For example, I ate sweets daily before, but I cut it down to 2 times a week. I also stopped drinking all sodas and sweet drinks. The biggest change was actually monitoring what I was putting in my mouth.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
Initially, I mostly did cardio. Then, I researched and observed that I wasn’t getting stronger, just leaner. Now I mostly do strength and resistance training. I go to the gym 3-4 times a week. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 236 pounds, and my current weight is 176 pounds.

What is your height?
I’m 5’5″.

Ruby before and after weight loss

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in February 2021. This transformation took nine months.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, it’s not. However, there was a time when I wanted VSG surgery [gastric sleeve]. I thought I would never be able to lose weight on my own! But, boy, was I wrong! 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest form of self-love/self-care is taking care of your health. 

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Be patient with yourself. This is not a race. It’s a Journey! 

Motivation isn’t needed. Instead, you need dedication and consistency. Also, don’t start any diet that you can’t maintain for life.

Personal Instagram: @_mizzruby_
Weight Loss Instagram: @rubysfitlife

Ruby before and after weight loss