Felisha lost 50+ pounds and transformed her body

Transformation of the Day: Felisha has totally transformed her body and lost more than 50 pounds over the course of several years by figuring out what works for her. From eating habits to exercise, she did the work and put in the time. This proud mother of two shared some great insights with us, so check out her journey.

My name is Felisha, I have two beautiful young children, and I’m a single mom. I started my journey in 2017 at a point in my life where I was alone and suffering from depression. On top of all that, I was a new mom. I had recently given birth to my youngest the year before in 2016.

You know the moments when you walk by the mirror, and you hate what you see, so you start to avoid mirrors? I couldn’t stand the mirror. I couldn’t stand how sorry I felt for myself. I couldn’t stand the fact that I’d rather give up on me then push through and fight for my kids.

One day my daughter told me she couldn’t wait until we would be able to travel the world together and have amazing adventures. I knew at that point that avoiding the mirror wasn’t going to solve my problems. I needed to face them head-on so I could be the mother my kids believed I was.

So, one day I started, and I never looked back. The funny thing is that during the first week of my diet, I literally thought I was about to die. I had to go back to the drawing board and rethink my approach. That was a huge lesson because so often we go to extremes and don’t stick with something. I knew I couldn’t give up, so I made a few more changes. I simply became more active via the only option I had — walking with my son. I would pack up the stroller and walk for hours. 

Now, almost three years later, I’ve lost 85 pounds of fat. I started looking in the mirror. I took the depression, shoved it in a box and dropped it in the trash.

My journey wasn’t done with a physical trainer or with any support, but what I did have was a child’s prayer to be with their mom through this journey we call life. I made mistakes, I lost too much weight, I ate the wrong things… but that’s the beauty of it because I learned every step of the way.

I want to share my story with other moms and women and let them know that it all starts with the will to do and the will to be. It’s inside each one of us, and I pray that my story motivates women to keep going.

How did you change your eating habits?
After my BWLW feature in 2018, I honestly felt that I lost too much weight. I decided to increase my caloric intake and include healthy carbs into my diet (which I had previously eliminated). I didn’t count my macros. I just went by the basic rule of high protein, high fiber, low fat, lower calories, and low carbs. (outside of the healthy carbs I added into my diet such as quinoa, sweet potatoes, bananas, oatmeal, etc.)

What did your workout routine consist of?
Plyometrics, circuit training, HIIT and weight training

How often did you workout?
Four times a week

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
Starting weight 2017: 235 pounds
Starting weight 2019: 160 pounds
Current weight: 183 pounds
Height: 5’10”

How long did your transformation take? 
My first transformation (losing the baby weight and body fat) took about 5-6 months. I dropped down significantly with doing tons of cardio and adopting a low carb diet. 

The second phase of my journey began in 2019 when I started to focus more so on increasing my muscle mass and my weight by changing my workout regimen to include heavier weights, circuit training, and plyometrics.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
Everyone is different and what works for you may not work for someone else, so you have to be patient and try different things. I compare it to hair products. How many times have you walked around and bought three different brands of hair products to see which one works best with your hair? That’s the same way I look at health and fitness. 

Some people excel when they are on a strict plan with a personal trainer, and others don’t work well under pressure or strict guidelines. You must be patient and pay attention to how your body responds to different methods, but you can’t achieve your desired results unless you are consistent with one method at a time. Give yourself 30 days and if you don’t see any results, move onto the next thing. Getting fit isn’t supposed to be a quick fix. It should be a lifelong journey where you are continuously learning — a journey of self-discovery.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Set a realistic goal along with a dreamy goal. Meaning: set a goal for something like 5 pounds and then also set your overall goal, be it 50 pounds or 100 pounds. We tend to overlook small victories like 5 pounds, but if you write it down and see that you’ve accomplished one goal — it shows progress and births motivation. 

Open your mind to the possibilities. Don’t begin your journey thinking you will never achieve your goals. Be positive, be consistent, be determined, and you will be successful. 

Instagram: @slimthickbarbz