Update Nov 2017: Aneesa lost 7 more pounds and one more dress size since we featured her story in May. She learned that consistency is key and that the scale isn’t always the best way to monitor progress. Check out her update.
Starting weight: 195.3 pounds
Current Weight: 168 pounds
Weight Lost: 27.3 pounds
How have you continued to lose weight?
I workout out 5 days a week, on average, for at least an hour. I also monitor my food intake to stay within a healthy caloric range while eating nutritious foods. I drink at least 80 oz of water everyday and avoid sugary and unhealthy foods as much as possible.
What has worked in terms of eating habits and what worked in terms of exercise?
Meal prep. Meal prep. Meal prep. I can’t say it enough. Being prepared with what I am going to eat each day helps me to stay on track and prevents me from eating things that do not help me reach my goals. In terms of exercise, I have to go first thing in the morning. This takes away any and all excuses for not getting it done later in the day. I also keep motivational fitness quotes in front of me while I workout to help keep me going.
What lessons have you learned on this journey?
I have learned that consistency is key and that the scale isn’t the best way to monitor progress. What stands out the most to me is how important it is to document your journey through pictures and journaling.
At this point, would you offer any new or different advice to other people who want to lose weight?
If you find a program that works and you work it completely, you’ll see results.
Aneesa lost 20 pounds, going from a size 14 to a size 10. She read one of the success stories we featured and decided to try the same online program. Accountability, nutrition guidance and exercise is working for her.
Age: 35
Height: 5’7″
Starting weight: 195.3 pounds
Current Weight: 174.6 pounds
Weight Lost: 20.7 pounds
Starting Dress Size: 14
Current Dress Size: 10
Representing: Chicago, IL
What was your motivation?
My motivation is a combination of taking care of my health and looking and feeling better. In the past, my weight loss efforts were centered around looking good only. Although that is a good benefit, I want to be sure that I am healthy as well. I’m doing whatever I can to take care of my body now so that it continues to work for me later. I also want to be an example for my children, as they see me living a healthy lifestyle.
I had a baby this past September and put on 50 pounds or so. I knew that I would not be happy if I didn’t lose that weight, because I was uncomfortable. Nine years ago, I gained 70 pounds with my first son and was able to lose all of the weight. I couldn’t settle for not getting the baby weight off this time.
How did you change your eating habits?
I have cut out refined sugars, pasta, white bread and basically anything that is processed. I only drink water, and I eat 3 meals and 2-3 snacks everyday. I meal prep just about every weekend and always know what I am going to eat in advance. This has helped me to be successful. If I do indulge in something, like pizza (I love, love, love pizza), then I plan for it so I don’t sabotage all the hard work I’m putting in to reach my goals.
I stopped eating empty calories and focused on eating foods with high nutritional value. I’m not a big fruit eater, so getting in enough fruit everyday has been the biggest challenge. I have found that drinking homemade fruit smoothies helps me with this. I have also found ways to make healthier versions of my favorite foods.
What did your workout routine consist of?
Fire, the online trainer for the Fitness on Fire Program, has me doing 60-90 minutes of resistance training which was best suited to help me drop the body fat and achieve my desired shape. I go to the gym 5 days a week.
How long did your transformation take?
This transformation has taken roughly 5 months. The biggest motivation for me has been seeing side-by-side comparison photos. I am learning and accepting that the scale is just not a good way to truly measure progress. Moving forward, comparison photos, how my clothes fit, and feeling great (physically and mentally) will be how I continue to measure progress.
The Fitness on Fire Online Training Program has been perfect for me for a number of reasons. My top reasons are the accountability provided, the measures of progress used, and the sustainable eating plan. Before finding FOF, I went back to doing several programs I have done in the past. Those were also great programs and I had lost some weight on them, but they just weren’t working for me overall. I was looking for a very specific type of accountability that would leave me with no excuses. I read a success story on Black Women Losing Weight’s blog of a woman who was following the program. After that, I reached out to Nia, the NutritionistGuru, with a million questions. I decided to try it out, and I could not have made a better decision. The NutritionistGuru and Fire, the online trainer, have such a unique program. They are always available and we communicate daily. This helps me to stay on track.
The measures of progress that FOF uses are helping me to free myself from the the scale, and are not like anything I’ve experienced on any program that I’ve done before. When I see my comparison photos and complete other assignments, I am always amazed at how my body is changing. I’m truly seeing how my body is reshaping. In addition to that, my fitness level is better than it has ever been, and my journey is being documented in a way that keeps me motivated and inspired. Lastly, the eating plan I follow on FOF is sustainable for real life. I never feel hungry or deprived.
What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice is to find the program/routine that works for you and do it consistently. Results come over time, so be patient. If you’re putting in the work with the right program/routine, you will see the results. Also, find two types of people: 1) someone who has been successful on their weight loss journey 2) someone who is currently on a weight loss journey and serious about it. I find that being able to talk to people who have done what I’m trying to do as well as people who are seriously on the journey themselves is helpful.
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