Candace lost 67 pounds

Weight Loss Story: Candace lost 67 pounds.  She was inspired by the success stories of others and found a weight loss plan that works for her.  Portion control, eating right and working out at home have allowed her to transform her life.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

Hi, my name is Candace Billups and I have used your website and Facebook page as my motivation. It was a struggle for me to lose weight because nothing would work for me. After finding the right workout and eating habits, the weight started coming off. Thank you for the BWLW Facebook page and this blog. Thank you to all the people that you post. They were my motivation.

What was your motivation?
What motivated me was I had a very important surgery coming up and in order for me to get it I had to lose weight. I was obese and in order for me to get the surgery I needed to be under 200 lbs. I was trying every diet I could find and nothing worked for me, so I started looking to Facebook and I found the BWLW page. I started reading all the success stories and followed the posts and suggestions that all of the members and  admins would post.

How did you change your eating habits?
My eating habits changed when I started using the 21 Day Fix by Beachbody. It taught me portion control, what to eat and what not to eat. I cut out all processed foods, soda, pork and sweets out of my diet, which was very hard for me to do.

What did your workout routines look like?
I did the workout videos from the 21 Day Fix program because they were only 30 minutes long and they worked with my work schedule. Also, I was too intimidated to go to the gym, because I didn’t know how to use the machines, so manly I focused on at home and outside workouts. I did a lot of cardio and fell in love with pilates and yoga.

Weight Loss:
My starting weight was 246 pounds and now I weigh 179 pounds (height: 5’8″). I am still losing weight and my goal is to reach 160 lbs and build muscle (which I am currently learning how to do).

How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in August 2014 and by December of 2014 I was already at 201 lbs. That allowed me to get my surgery in January of 2015.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
The advice I would give to others would be that the hardest part is getting started or deciding to make that healthy change in your life. Once you start, all you have to do is stay committed and focused on the goals that you have set for yourself. Don’t get me wrong, I had days when I just didn’t want to do anything, and days when I didn’t lose an inch. Those were the times where I wanted to say forget it and just give up, but I had a goal to reach. I would push myself to get it done, and at the end of the day I was proud of myself. You will also have a day or week that you may not lose an inch or a pound, but you did get into those jeans or that dress you couldn’t fit before you started your journey. Those non-scale victories are the best. Keep pushing, get it done and stay focused on the goal at hand. #fitness

Instagram: @cbmarie02