Keisha lost 30 pounds

Keisha lost 30 pounds, going from 155 pounds to 125 pounds. She is a proud Registered Nurse who figured out how to make room for exercise and healthy eating habits while working long hours. Check out her journey.

My name is Keisha and I am 31 years old. I’ve lost 30 pounds through healthy eating and exercise. The first step in doing anything in life is to believe in yourself. Losing weight is possible because of that same belief. You must believe that you can. You must believe that you will and you must achieve it. I believed that I could and I did. If I can do it, you can do it.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going even during the tough times?
The motivation behind my weight loss was myself. I work as a Registered Nurse and my hours are normally 7pm to 7am. I normally focus on taking care of everyone but myself. As nurses, we tell our patients how important it is to take care of themselves, but sometimes we neglect doing so. I have decided to stop neglecting myself and make me a priority in my life.

The thing that inspires me to continue my workouts, even when I want to give up, is my strong faith in God. I’m also inspired by knowing that the best is yet to come. Why? I am still here. I believe that with God anything is possible and I believe I am destined for greatness. I have those days when I am so tired from working that I don’t have the energy to get up early to workout. I have to constantly remind myself of why I am on this journey.

My favorite scripture for motivation: “But they that wait upon the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 KJV

How did you change your eating habits?
I have changed my eating habits by doing the following: I stopped drinking soda, limited my sugar and salt intake, and started eating good carbohydrates. On days when I worked, I brought a 48oz bottle of water with fresh cut strawberries inside. Sometimes for a change, I would put lemon or cucumber in my water. I always try to drink 48o z of water twice a day at work. For dinner, I always made sure I had a side salad, protein and good carbohydrates. I created my own salad recipe and I let some of my co workers sample. They loved it. (*Salad recipe below)

For my overnight shift, I would bring yogurt, dry Cheerios or fruit to eat at work when I am hungry, because I eat my dinner before I go to work. For breakfast, I have oatmeal with chia seed and some egg whites. I am not following any special program I just eat clean and healthy. I eat in moderation. Sometimes I do eat unhealthy foods but I limit it.

What did your workout routine look like?
My workout routine varies from three to five days of exercise with two rest days. I workout at home using workout DVDs for cardio, strength training and kickboxing. The DVDs range from 30 minutes to 1 hour. Also, I use PopSugar Fitness on YouTube and Pinterest to change up my workouts. My workout equipment includes two 5 pound dumbbells, two ten dumbbells, a twenty pound kettlebell, a yoga mat, and resistance bands. After a 12 hour shift, I sleep from 9a-3p. If I work the night before, I would get up at 3pm and workout at home.

When did you start your journey? How long did it take to lose weight weight?
My weight loss journey began in December 2016. At the end of December, I was at my highest weight of 155.6 pounds. My height is 5’2.’ I’ve lost 30 pounds since and I currently weigh 125 pounds. I am now focusing on toning my body.

What’s the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I’ve learned that weight loss is not a destination, but a lifestyle. Also, I have learned the importance of taking care of myself.

What advice would you give to other people who want to lose weight?
My advice for people who want to lose weight is find your “why”, because there will be days when you do not want to exercise. There is no magic weight loss pill. What there is however is hard work and grinding everyday. Don’t be afraid to put in the work in because if you don’t believe in yourself, who will.

I love what Denzel Washington said, “Don’t be afraid to fail big, to dream big, but remember, dreams without goals, are just dreams. And they ultimately fuel disappointmentment. I try to give myself a goal every day …”

Throughout my weight loss journey I wrote down tips that have helped me to accomplish my goal. I cannot wait to share my fitness tips and help you to jump start your fitness journey. Be on the lookout. I have great things coming up soon. God has put this in my heart to do.

Instagram: @keisha199

*Salad Recipe: First, start with a little olive oil or organic coconut oil. When the oil is hot, put in two cloves of crushed garlic. Dice one half onion and add to oil until brown. Cut 1 red, 1 yellow and 1 green pepper and add them to the garlic and onion. Allowed the peppers to cook. Sprinkle in the complete seasoning Sazon. Add reduced sugar cranberries, 1 or 1/2 shredded beets, 8 oz can of corn, 1 carrot (shredded). Then add a dash more Sazon seasoning. Wash spinach and kale, then add to pot. Add a little cold water, sprinkle in more seasoning and cover the pot. Let it cook 4-5 minutes. Reduce fire and stir the pot. Boom! ready to eat. You can store the unused portion in your refrigerator for 3 days. (Just spray olive oil, add some salad, sautée for 3-5 minutes on you stove top and enjoy.