Tanika lost 65 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Tanika lost 65 pounds. This mom of 2 suffered major emotional and financial setbacks that led to comfort eating and weight gain. When her doctor warned the her asthma was worsening due to extra weight, this Public Health Nurse reflected on her family history of other illnesses for which weight is risk factor. She knew that it was time to take action and change her lifestyle. Check out what she shared with us about how she did it.

After I delivered my 2nd child in 2012, I suffered major emotional and financial setbacks. I became overwhelmed with with the stress of being a single parent of two children. I lost the desire to take care of myself, because I didn’t think that I was worthy. I used food as a way to get comfort because of all the pain of all that I was going through.

At the time, I was at my heaviest weight of 245-250 pounds at 5’6″ tall. I visited the doctor in February 2015 and he warned me that the extra weight was worsening my asthma symptoms. At that point, I knew that I had to take control of my life. I have several close family members with diabetes and hypertension and I didn’t want to join that club. I knew that I had to do better for myself and my babies. As a Public Health Nurse, I knew that it would be hypocritical to teach people about wellness when I wasn’t taking care of myself.

I began the green smoothie cleanse in April 2015. I prayed my way through bad habits and negative thinking. I began to exercise more throughout the week. Now, I can officially say that I have lost 65 pounds. (I’ve lost 5 more pounds since the photo above) Prayer, portion control and mindful eating are very important factors on my wellness journey. I’m learning to cast all of my cares to God and not allow stress to consume me.

Eating Habits: I changed my eating habits in several ways. I was addicted to sugary treats, so I started by dramatically reducing my sugar intake. I completely eliminated soda (diet and regular) and drank more water. I also reduced the amount of fast food/carry out that I was eating and began to cook more foods at home, eating meat 2-3 time per week and increasing my vegetable intake.

I chose to do the modified version of the green smoothie cleanse so that I could still eat a healthy meal each day. It has been an ongoing process for me. I enjoyed the taste and convenience of the smoothies so I have included them in my daily routine.

Exercise: In the beginning of my weight loss journey, I would speed walk or do some kind of cardio exercise (like Zumba) for 20-30 minutes, 4-5 times per week. Now I do stability ball exercises for 20 minutes, 3 times per week.

Advice for Others: My advice for those who want to lose weight is to pray and ask God for the strength, wisdom and discipline needed to make a healthy lifestyle change. My biggest problem was the amount and types of foods that I was eating. Healthy eating habits are a big part of success. Don’t overwork yourself or beat yourself up if you go off course. Take it one day at a time and stay focused on your goal, whether it’s a specific weight, dress size or improved overall health that you want.