Nailah lost 33 pounds

Update Aug 2016: Nailah wrote in to tell us that she’s lost an additional 32 pounds for a total of 65 lbs gone. This single mom of 2 is constantly on the go, but she is able to fit exercise into her busy schedule.

Since losing weight, I’m more active. Honestly, just being a single mom of two boys is what really keeps me on my toes. I have an 11 year old who is very active. He plays basketball all year round, so between basketball practice, games, and camps, I’m always on the go. I also have a 20 month old who has special needs, and he is very active as well. He sees 3 different kinds of therapists, 4 times a week. We go back and forth to specialists and the children’s hospital of Philly.

With all of that running, sometimes it can be hard to fit in some exercise. Just because I’m not working out in a gym doesn’t mean I don’t get any exercise. Since losing weight, I’m able to keep up with my son on the basketball court. I take a walk with the baby daily, and I also have a couple of workout apps on my phone.

I love the way I feel, not just the way I look. I love the way I feel about myself. I love how I’m smiling more and I love how I want to get dressed everyday. I just love this feeling. I’m never going back!

Sept 2015 – Weight Loss Story: Nailah lost 33 pounds. This busy, single mom of 2 now has more energy and wakes up ready to face her day. Despite having hypothyroidism and having most of her thyroid removed, she has still been able to lose the pounds.  Here is what she shared with us…

My name is Nailah and I’m a 28 year old single mom of two. I was an athlete during my early life, so I never struggled with my weight until about he age of 23 when I found out I have hypothyroidism. I had to get surgery to remove 90% of my thyroid. Thus, I gained about 50-60 pounds over the course of the last couple years.

In December, I gave birth at 25 weeks pregnant and was very stressed while my son was in the NICU. When I am stressed, I gain weight, so I gained the weight right back that I’d lost after having him. About 3 months ago, I got tired of looking and feeling the way I did, so I decided to change my way of eating. I knew since I had thyroid issues and a slow metabolism, I knew what I needed to do in order to lose weight.

I completely changed my diet; cutting out red meat, juice, soda, candy, pasta and rice. I switched to eating fish, chicken, protein shakes, lost of veggies, fruit and a ton of water (Gatorade when I wanted flavor). I worked out 4 times a week at home, doing hip hop dance exercise on Youtube.  And now I am working on trying to start a hip hop fitness class to help motivate others to lose weight.

I am now down 35 pounds and I’ve lost 11 inches from my waist (height: 5’5″, I did some waist training). My starting weight was 225 pounds and today when I weighed myself I was 190 pounds! You don’t realize how your weight affects your everyday mood. Now, I wake up and I want to get dressed, want to do my hair and want to go outside. I am constantly on the go because I have an active 10 year old. I also have a baby who has therapy and a lot of doctor’s appointments just from being a preemie. I have my hands full, but I know losing weight is helping me to have the energy to do it all. I must say that I thought I would never lose weight or my belly fat, but I did it!

The advice that I would give is never doubt yourself.  I would also encourage others to know that it’s possible. I always wanted instant gratification, but now I know that losing weight the healthy way is not instant. I love my results.

Instagram: @hairbynailah