Debra lost 25 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Debra lost 25 pounds. As she approached 50 years old, she decided to take better care of herself and prove to friends and family that she is not a quitter. She started her journey in January and hasn’t turned back. With the help of a good friend and her weight loss coach, she’s gotten great results.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 220 pounds and my current weight is 195 pounds. My height is 5’2″.

When did you start your journey?
Mid/Late January 2018.

What was your motivation?
My biggest motivation was my desire to be healthy and feel good about how I looked. Just the thought of how close I am to 50 years old made me say, “Take care of yourself lady.” – and that’s what I was determined to do. My friend was a big encourager because she kept saying that I could do it and she even planned my workout regimen for me.

What inspired you when you wanted to give up?
I was honestly inspired to give this weight loss thing another try when I saw the results that people were having on the Terry Starks’ Facebook page. I was seeing all of these transformations and I thought to myself, “You can do that too.” I reached out to Terry and started the process.

It took a great deal of willpower but I was determined to prove to myself and my husband that I was not doing a “Start on Monday and quit on Tuesday” program again. My family and friends were used to me always planning to do some type of diet plan/program, but never expected me to lose weight. I was determined to commit to a new way of living this time and prove to everyone that I was not a quitter.

How did you change your eating habits?
I absolutely love junk food, so changing my eating habits was a challenge. Trying the meal plan that Terry prepared for me was different. I kept thinking about how the other people on his pla lost the weight and I wanted to lose weight as well. Long story short: I received the plan, purchased the food, prepared the food and meal prepping became my routine.

My meal plans did not include bread, candy, potato chips, soda or any of the junk foods that I was used to eating, but I found that I didn’t miss them. I started eating more healthy foods, like fruits, vegetables, turkey, chicken, lean beef (baked or grilled) and drinking plenty of water. The fact that I was eating so many times in one day kept me from missing those other foods.

The meal plans offered me a variety of food choices each week and that kept me from getting bored. Along with the meal plans, Terry Starks also sent daily motivational emails and he was only a phone call away when I had questions or needed help. He encouraged me to stay with the plan!

What did your workout routine look like?
My workout routine included a minimum of 30 minutes of cardio each day when I started the program. However, I increased my routine to two 30 minute sessions on the elliptical and/or walk aerobics (using the Walk Away the Pounds videos). I was so pumped up initially that I worked out 7 days a week, but life happens. I eventually reduced it to 5 or 6 days minimum so that fitness would be something that I could maintain as part of my lifestyle.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I learned that I could live without “junk food” and that I had the willpower to make changes in my life that enable me to be healthier and happier. Working out wasn’t as tough as I thought it would be. It actually helped me de-stress at the end of the day!

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Look for motivation within yourself and make a decision about what is important to you. Don’t let others steer you away from your path. We often take great care of other people, but we must be diligent about what’s best for us as well. I also learned that everything I “want” may not be good for me, so I did what was “best” for me in the long run (i.e. eating foods that I thought I didn’t like).

Being active and eating healthier was definitely better for me in the long run, because I feel better and I think I look better (at least my husband likes my new look).

Disclaimer: Reference or link to any specific product, diet plan, exercise plan or service mentioned in the weight loss stories we share is for the information of our readers, and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Black Women Losing Weight.