Breanda lost 61 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Breanda lost 61 pounds over the course of the last year. During college, she faced weight gain, as many freshman do. After the passing of her father, the weight continued to pile on. She focused on her school work and later transitioned to a high stress nursing career. Eventually, she had focus on her own health and wellbeing. Check out how she changed her life.

What was your motivation?
Everyone has heard of the freshman 15. I think I gained the freshman 30. Adjusting as a college student was both fun but challenging. Then, during the summer after my first year in college, my dad passed away! I was devastated but I returned to school less than two weeks after the funeral. I knew he wouldn’t want me to stay home depressed and unproductive, so I hit the ground running as a new nursing major. I gained a considerable amount of weight from this point forward. I was grieving, stressed, depressed, yet still trying to juggle having a life! I tried to come across as happy but in reality I was dying inside. As they say, you gotta fake it till you make it.

It didn’t help that after graduating from nursing school I was thrown into a high stress career as a cardiac RN. I stopped weighing myself after hitting 255 pounds. (However, I still continued to gain weight) I felt like a hypocrite treating and educating patients on how to get better and take better care of themselves. I knew I had to do something. I wanted to walk the walk, not just talk the talk. So, I started with baby steps towards a healthier lifestyle. I’ve lost 61 lbs. over the past year! I’m so much happier and most importantly healthier!

How did you change your eating habits?
I didn’t use a specific plan. I actually started by cutting out soda and juice. That cut a lot of calories out of my diet alone. I also stopped eating after 7pm, which was difficult working as a night shift RN. Smaller portions sizes were also helpful. I used a tea cup saucer plate as a meal plate instead of the big plates I was accustomed to using.

What did your workout routines look like?
I started with a one hour cycle class, 3 days a week! I was consistent and I still go faithfully. Now, I’ve added jogging and weight training to make 5 days of exercise a week.

Starting weight/Current weight
My starting weight was approx. 260 pounds. My current weight is 199 pounds. My height is 5’2″ tall.

How long did your transformation take?
My journey started in Oct of 2015. It took me a year to lose the weight. I didn’t have any weight loss medical procedures or surgeries.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Embrace the journey as you continue to become a healthier you. Every pound or inch lost is a victory in and of itself. I celebrated the little victories, like being able to cycle continuously throughout an entire song without taking a break. Or getting up a flight of stairs without being out of breath. Being able to do 5 more pushup than I was able to do before. I made sure to celebrate the accomplishments along the way!

Instagram: @breelenore