Weight Loss Story of the Day: Paula is determined not to see 400 pounds again. She’s lost 155 pounds. After she didn’t find lasting success with weight loss surgery, she changed her eating habits and started running to release the pounds. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss transformation…
My name is Paula Banks and I have been on my weight loss journey seems like my entire life…LOL. My highest weight was a whopping 400lbs! Yes, that was my life. I couldn’t do much of anything, or wear a regular pair of pants (sweat pants were my life) So, in 2003 I had weight loss surgery with the gastric bypass procedure. Oh, I thought my life would be forever changed. I lost over 100 pounds, and I was feeling great, but once again I got comfortable. The scale started moving back up and before I knew it, I was up to 300 lbs. The survey was a tool that I didn’t truly utilize, and I missed out on that opportunity to really lose the weight.
Thus after surgery I began dieting, going up and down, eating, not eating, working out and not working out. It just became a bad cycle. I did manage to lose 50 pounds but I still wasn’t really committed to the journey until recently. In the past 2 years, I have become a runner. I have ran several 5K’s, & 8K’s and I recently just finished my first Half Marathon on August 31st of this year. I workout at least 5-6 times a week, Running, HIIT and the Arc Trainer. I also weight train at least 3-4 times a week. Aside from working out, I started eating healthier, watching my carb, protein and fat intake, and I drink at least a Gallon of water daily. I have given up bread for the most part as well as sugar laden foods, lots of processed foods and my ultimate favorite food…Potato Chips lol. Healthy Meals for me are low in carbs and high in protein, such as Taco Salad, Baked Fish, Eggs, Homemade Protein bowls (no rice) and lots of veggies!
Trust me, I have failed a thousand times between 400 pounds and where I am today, and TRUST I still fall (and it’s usually potato chips that gets me tripping). However, the one thing I never have done is give up on myself, because if I had I would not be the person you see in these pictures today. Keep PUSHING LADIES.
Check out more photos from her journey on Instagram: @paulabanks
