Chenique lost 59 pounds

Weight Loss Story: Chenique lost 59 pounds. This proud mom and wife realized that her weight had gotten out of control. It was time for her to start putting herself and her health first so that she could continue to give of herself. She worked with a weight loss coach and had lots of support from her husband and friends. Here is what she shared with us…

What was your motivation?
In June of 2015, I stepped on the scale and was at my highest weight ever at over 300 lbs. I weighed 313.5 pounds to be exact. It was that same day that I prayed and cried out to God for help. That very same day you featured Coach Wiltrina on your site. I sat in tears as I read her story. I immediately liked her Facebook page, where I read the stories of so many others that she had helped. At that moment, I knew my prayers had been answered.

I was my motivation. I have always had high self-esteem regardless of my size, but I noticed that I secretly began to battle low self-esteem over time. I didn’t like who I saw staring back at me in the mirror and I knew that  I had to take control of my weight before it spiraled out of control even more. I am a giver, and have always put others first. For the first time in my life I decided to put Chenique first, and do what I needed to do. I realized that if I didn’t take care of me, I would be unable to take care of anyone else. How can you possible give to others while you yourself are falling apart?

After having three of my four children within four years, my weight continuously increased. I have been a yo-yo dieter for many years and although I lost weight I gained it all back and more. I was tired of struggling with the same weight over and over and made my mind up to do what it took to get results, but wanted it done the right way.

I was inspired by Coach Wiltrina’s story. Her story touched me to the core because here she was, at one point in her life, over 400 lbs and made the commitment to take control of her health. I knew if she could do it, then I could also. She knew what the struggle was like because she had been there, and I knew if I followed her lead, I would be successful.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started with Coach Trina’s transformation contest on August 24, 2015, and was provided with a meal plan bi-weekly. The meal plan consisted of lean meat, fish, protein, good carbs, and vegetables. No sweets, fried foods, and minimal salt.

What did your workout routines look like?
I work out 5-6 days per week. I am on an exercise plan created specifically for me by Coach Trina, and my workout consists of cardio and strength training. I burn 1,000 calories per day during workouts, in an average time of 1 hour and 45 minutes.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight on day 1 of the contest was 309.5 pounds and my current weight is 250.5 pounds. I have lost a total of 64 pounds so far.
Height: 5’10”

How long did your transformation take?
My transformation took 12 weeks/3 months, which is the length of time for the contest.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
First, My advice would be to believe that you will be successful in achieving your weight loss goals. If you don’t believe it yourself, don’t expect anyone else to believe in you. Understand that this journey may be a lonely. If you don’t realize that and you expect family friends or others to be there cheering you on the entire way, you may end up extremely disappointed and use that as an excuse to quit. My mindset going in was you cheer me on great, if not I still choose to push forward because the truth of the matter is that this journey is mine and no one else. Thankfully for me, the support I received from my husband and close friends were second to none. That helped tremendously, but if I didn’t have their support I would still continue on.

Don’t become discouraged if the weight doesn’t come off as quick as you want it to. Instead, keep pushing and showing up every day. You will be amazed at your results. If I had given up after starting, I wouldn’t have the privilege of sharing my story with you. You are worth it, and don’t ever let anyone tell you otherwise. Also, don’t think twice about disconnecting yourself from those who are poisonous to your journey. You have to love yourself more than you love them.