Tera lost 107 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Tera lost 107 pounds. Health issues began to emerge as the pounds piled on and she was diagnosed with high blood pressure and arthritis. Knowing that she has a family history of many weight-related ailments, she knew that she had to change her lifestyle to live a long, healthy life and be there for her children. Check out how she released the weight.

My name is Tera W. I am originally from Elyria, Ohio (25 miles west of Cleveland), but currently reside in Louisville, Kentucky.

What was your motivation?

About 15 years ago, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. Obesity, asthma, hypertension, in many cases, diabetes, and arthritis are all pretty prevalent in my family. There is also a large number of my family members that smoke and eat very unhealthily, so for a while, I wasn’t really exposed to another way of life. The heavier I got and the more health challenges I encountered. I went through the phases from denial to an acceptance of the fact that I had to really change my eating habits. When I initially began dieting in 2012, a great friend of mine finally motivated me and assured me that I could still have bacon and wine! But it wasn’t until after an injury and a 20lb. re-gain, that I finally buckled down late last year. By then, I had developed arthritis and was in danger of having to take additional meds for high cholesterol and potential heart problems.

My true inspiration whenever I wanted to give up was my children. Who would be there for them? As a single mother, it is important to me that I’m around to support them and to see my grandchildren, if I have them in the future. Additionally, any time I wanted to deviate or give up, I would immediate begin to think about how far I had come and start to really focus on how much better I would feel down the road.

How did you change your eating habits?

During my first go-round, I was on Herbalife’s all natural/herbal shakes/products that served as meal replacements for 2 years. 40 lbs. total weight lost. I limited calorie intake and portion sizes. I also increased my water intake, but didn’t completely give up juice and soda. I have always had a diet rich in vitamins, vegetables, and lean meats, so it wasn’t a huge leap too keep doing that.

In January 2016, I began seeing Dr. Jessica Dowe at Med Life Fit. She is physician specializing in obesity. She conducted a full health panel and did an assessment where the plan for me was 800 calories per day including 4 meal replacements and a lean meal at dinner. More vegetables, less fried food, and no sugar were easy for me as I had already had good practice with Herbalife. I was limited to 50g of carbs per day. I could drink water, coffee, tea along with the meal replacement shakes. I drink a min of 64 oz. of water per day.

What did your workout routines look like?

When I started in Spring 2012, I worked out 2-3 times per week, mainly doing cardio for at least 30 minutes. Currently, I work out a minimum of 2.5 hours per week (3-5 days a week), doing cardio (Zumba), resistance exercises, ab work and weight training.

Starting weight/Current weight
My heaviest weight was 278 pounds. My current weight is 171 pounds and was down to 169 pounds last week. I am 5’9″ tall. No surgery. I have always been terrified of surgery, but may have to consider some cosmetic remedies for my arms.

How long did your transformation take?

Roughly 4 years. When I got a knee injury in 2014 I essentially gave up and gained 20 of the 40 lbs I had lost back. When I got news of worsening arthritis in December 2015, I decided to subscribe to the Med Life Fit program and began in January 2016. I am currently in transition on that program.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?

I would say never lose sight of your goal and do not get discouraged if you deviate from your plan. Just dust yourself off and keep moving. I would also say that you didn’t get where you are overnight, so you should never expect that your behavior will change overnight. Chart and celebrate smaller goals along the way. Lastly, never view what you’re doing as a diet–diets are temporary fixes. Healthier eating is a lifestyle and should be viewed as a permanent, long-term solution.