Lovely lost 70 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Lovely lost 70 pounds with healthy eating habits, portion control, and exercise. She not only changed her habits, but she also changed her mindset. Although she suffered an injury during her journey, she never gave up. She adapted, remained consistent, and reaped the benefits of her hard work.

I would love to share my weight loss journey. I have lost a total of 70 pounds and still counting. I use my Instagram page as a kind of diary to share and motivate others. 

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
There were plenty of times that I wanted to quit. However, once I thought about why I started, I would get motivated all over again. Never forget your Why. That is what will keep you going when times get tough. Time will get tough, and you will want to quit, so the best thing to do is to prepare your mind and remain consistent. It is all about your mindset. In the end, the body will adapt and overcome. Just keep going. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I used to eat out a lot. Not only that, but I didn’t know how to eat or what to eat. I definitely wasn’t measuring my food. I was overloading my body with a whole lot of unnecessary food and junk. 

Throughout this journey, I learned a lot about portion control, and have made some adjustments. I became a pescetarian and slowed down on the chips. While I still eat what I want, I’ve learned to control the portions. I’ve included lots of fruits and veggies into my daily intake as well. I look up recipes online, set up reminders, make a schedule, and meal prep. I also use supplements from @1upnutrition and have participated in their weight loss challenges to keep me motivated.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you workout?
I used to hate working out. I didn’t know what I was doing. I was shy and embarrassed to walk into a gym. I started walking with my baby in a stroller early in the mornings around 5 am. On the first day, I did 0.25 miles and was exhausted. I went up the hill and looked down like, “Omg, I have to take my baby back down. I can’t quit now.” lol. I went back the next day, and I’m still going today. 

I tried going to the gym and injured myself severely in June 2018. I dislocated my patella, and then I got depressed. I couldn’t run, and I had to wear a brace and crutches. I did physical therapy for ten weeks and then went back to the trail. Over time, I started walking faster, then jogging to now running. Now, on a regular day, I run 2-3 miles in the morning and more on the weekends. I even have a part-time job at the gym. (Lol, I know right. I never thought I could.) 

I want to encourage everyone and let them know to just keep going. Consistency will play a big part in your journey. Just start and leave the doubts behind. If you can’t run, crawl. If the 10lbs dumbbells are too heavy, start with 1 pound weights. We all start somewhere. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 236 pounds, and my current weight is 167 pounds. 

What is your height?
5’7″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I weighed 169 pounds in 2018 and gave birth to a beautiful baby girl on 07/2018. I started my journey shortly after that, in January 2019, at 236 pounds. As I said before, I dislocated my kneecap in June 2019 and did physical therapy. Now, I’m back to my daily activities and still working out. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I learned is that you have to want to make the change. You have to want it more than anyone else. You have to be willing to put in the work and commit, even when times get tough. 

What advice do you have for people who want to lose weight?
Don’t worry about not having the right tools or equipment to start. Start, take off, and don’t look back. Remember that what you do with your time will either promote you or demote you. 

Sometimes we don’t want to hear the truth or look at it from a different point of view, but you only have one body. Take care of it. You will learn so much about yourself throughout the journey. I look at things from a different point of view now. I’m always looking to turn negatives into positives. 

This is your body. If you take the time and effort, I promise that you will see results, and your body will thank you. It may not be today or tomorrow, but if you are consistent and you start to take care of yourself, you will see results. You will also feel better and treat other people better. Be kind to yourself, be patient, always hold yourself accountable, and reward yourself.

Instagram: @isntshelovelyd