Transformation of the Day: Mecca lost 123 pounds. At 308 pounds, she was faced with a number of medical issues. Three simple words spoken by a friend changed her life: Have you tried?. Check out how she took action through exercise and nutrition.
My journey started in July 2014. I was going back and forth with my doctors about a medical issue. I was taking 800 mg of Ibuprofen almost daily. Every step I took was painful. This issue went on so long that I forgot it wasn’t normal to feel that way. I also have a torn meniscus in my knee, so I had foot and knee pain.
I will never forget getting on the scale and seeing it read 308 pounds (which wasn’t my all-time high of 342 pounds) The nurse who weighed me rolled her eyes, releasing a sigh as if she was not surprised to see another overweight black woman. My feelings were hurt. That day, I was put on high blood pressure medicine. I felt hopeless.
I hadn’t taken a full body picture in years, so I took the before photo above. From that moment forward, I was 100% sure something had to be done about my weight.
I talked to a co-worker who had recently had gastric bypass surgery. I asked her questions about the experience. She loved it and had no regrets. I began doing research online and read about both positive and negative experiences, but I didn’t care about the negative. I even attended a gastric bypass information session. The doctors explained everything and shared the risks associated with various types of weight loss surgery. I was sold. Before leaving the session, I made my 1st appointment.
Before I went to that appointment, I talked with a friend and she asked me one simple question, “Have you tried?”. I was perplexed. “Of course I have tried. That’s why I am going to have the surgery.”
Her reply was, “No, have you REALLY tried? Have you put forth and honest effort that lasted longer than 3 months? Have you tried?”
It’s a very simple question, but that question changed my life “Have you really tried?”
By January 2014, I lost about 30 pounds without surgery. I didn’t exercise or a do a huge overhaul of my lifestyle. I stopped drinking soda, ordered kids meals at fast food places and parked my car far away when I went out, which forced me to walk. I didn’t think too much about it, because in my head if it didn’t work I would get weight loss surgery.
On January 20th, I committed to 30 minutes of exercise before work. I used a very low impact workout from a magazine. I was not sure about what I was doing, if I was doing it right or if it was working, but I pushed myself through the 30 days. I got stronger.
Then, I got a gym membership and began to jog. I couldn’t jog for 30 seconds without being out of breath, so a co-worker recommended putting the treadmill on the highest incline and just walking. That was a game changer.
I didn’t weight myself until 4 months later. I lost 40 pounds with no dramatic changes to my diet. I hit a plateau at 240 pounds. I was so discouraged that I didn’t work out the entire summer that year. I accepted that 240 lbs is the weight God wanted me to be.
I began to read weight loss stories every day and finally I reached out for help. Another coworker introduced me to the Beachbody workouts. From there, I began to meal prep and watch what I ate. It was a slow and natural progression.
Today, I’m down to 185 pounds and still working to reach 160 pounds. I’ve lost a total of 123 pounds. I meal prep weekly and workout 5 days a week. I always change my workouts and try a new activities whenever I can. I absolutely love 5k and 10k races as well. Trail running is my favorite.
Your health cannot be an option anymore. It has to be the only option. Don’t wait for results. Try different foods and research healthy ways to prepare foods you like. Read weight loss stories. They got me through on the really hard days. (This site especially)
Don’t take all the advice you receive. Just take what works for you. Learn about what you are putting in your body and gocus on your health Be good to your body, because you only get one. Workout and feed your body nutritious food because you love it, not hate it.
Will it be easy? No. Will it be worth It? You have no idea!
Instagram: @mecmor
Highest Weight: 358 pounds
