Update Aug 2019: Check out LaKesha’s update. She’s lost 110 pounds and counting.
I’m still going strong! I’m not sure how many pounds I’ve currently lost because the scale is hit and miss at times. However, I lost more than 106 pounds the last time I checked.
Have you done anything differently to keep making progress?
Intermittent Fasting is all I’ve added to my routine. I’m doing 16-hour fasts, Mon thru Fri and only eating between 8 am and 4 pm. As far as my workouts, I incorporated jumping rope for at least 10 minutes every other day and added in walking on top of my regular workout routine. That’s about it.
LaKesha lost 80 pounds. Her turning point came when a medical professional told her that she would not live to see her son graduate from high school if she didn’t change her lifestyle right away. Check out how she took action.
What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My motivation is myself and my son. I know what it feels like to weigh close to 400 pounds. I know how hard it was to look at myself in the mirror. I know how disappointed I was in myself because deep down I knew I was doing so much damage.
My son is only 8 years old, and I want to be around for him. He needs me to be his support. Leaving him here alone would be doing him a disservice. I wanted him to see that I loved myself enough to change.
When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I have been up and down with weight loss over the years. I did it all wrong at times, to the point where I would starve myself. I ended up fainting numerous times because I was just not doing it the healthy way. Reality set in when I gained all the weight I’d lost back… and then some. I began to have heart palpitations, and it became difficult for me even to fall asleep. Someone who is in the medical field told me that I wouldn’t see my son graduate from High School if I didn’t make changes right away. That was enough for me. I was able to lose more than 80 pounds in 11 months. (Weight loss surgery is not apart of my journey.)
How did you change your eating habits?
I created a meal plan called the 5th Armor Program. This is something that I put together to give myself as visual of what is “ok” for me to eat. I was Low Carb for a while, which worked, but it leads to unhealthy habits creeping back in so I had to stop. I limited myself to eating fruit, veggies, bread, and sweets only once or twice a week, or not at all. I changed things up because once you eat certain foods over and over again, you become bored. You’ll be unlikely to stick to the regimen.
I also incorporated Intermittent Fasting. I would only eat between 8am-3pm daily. I would do IF four weeks at a time. Then, I took a little break and later go back to it. I found that this routine really helped me with cravings and also with learning to discipline myself when it came to food.
I stuck to water. No fruit drinks or pop. We tend to drink a load of sugar and calories without even pay attention to the damage it is doing.
What did your workout routine consist of?
It varied with time, to be honest. I made sure I went to the gym consistently and stood by my slogan of “#ALLUNEEDIS30MINS”. I genuinely believe that as long as you are always doing something in the gym, 30 minutes is all you need to get a good workout. I would add more time on when I could, but as long as I accomplished those 30 minutes, I was happy with myself. I would go at least 5 times a week (some weeks would be more some would be only 4 days). I did weight lifting, cardio, Kettlebell workouts, TRX, and Jumping Rope. My cardio included jogging on the treadmill (doing intervals at 10 to 15 incline), as well as working out on the elliptical, Arc Trainer, and step machine. I would also hit the track during the summer and add in some boxing as well.
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 355 pounds, and my current weight is 275 pounds. My height is 5’8 1/2″.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I’ve learned that nothing will be easy, but as long as you continue to work toward the final goal, you will get there. Anything worth having is worth fighting for. Your life is worth fighting for.
What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Take this journey ONE day at a time, because that’s what it is… a journey. People tend to hold themselves to a specific time frame. When things don’t go as planned or expected, they either give up or find themselves discouraged and feeling like a failure. Consistency is the key in life, and weight loss is no different. You have to be mentally ready for the ups, downs, and in-betweens. My motto was always, “Slow and Steady Wins the Race.
Instagram: @keeshmarie83
My fitness page: @train4life_faith_n_motion
Update Jun 2019: LaKesha is down 100lbs and counting.
Shondell M Brown says
Beautiful story❤