Zaynah lost 26 pounds

Zaynah lost 26 pounds. She gained a lot of weight while she was depressed and stressed out. With hard work and dedication, she used the power of fitness and healthy habits to transform her body and her lifestyle.

What was your motivation?
I gained a lot of weight. I was depressed and drinking heavily. I was stressed and didn’t even realize it until I was no longer in that mental space.

I was looking in the mirror and not even noticing myself. In, 2017 I stepped on the scaled, looked at the real me, and decided to do something about my weight. I didn’t drink teas (no shade), take weight loss pills, have surgery, or any quick fix. This journey was straight hard work, consistency, dedication, and literally GROUNDwork from the inside. Then, everything else followed. I no longer settled when it came to friendships, relationships, other people’s opinions, finances, family, etc. I wanted more and worked my behind off to get where I’m at now.

How did you change your eating habits?
I stopped eating fast foods and drinking heavy liquor. I cut down on sweets (which wasn’t easy) and stayed consistent with calorie counting.

Tell us about your workout routine.
In the beginning, I worked out every single day. I was determined. After seeing how my body started transitioning, I wanted to challenge myself. So, I started bodybuilding. I competed in figure division NGA (National Gym Association) and won first place, might I add. This as a result of just being consistent and sticking to the plan. All-natural, no enhancements – just clean eating and a whole lot of working out.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight at the beginning of my journey was 205 pounds. Then, it went down to 179 pounds. I lost 26 pounds on my own. When I competed, I went down to 163 pounds, which was WOW! Currently, I’m maintaining a healthy 180 lbs.

What is your height?
I’m 5’9 1/2″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my workout journey in 2017. It took me until 2018 to lose 26 pounds, and I started competing in 2019. That process took six months.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I learned is to be patient with myself because losing weight doesn’t just happen in 30 days; it happens over time. Think about it, we gain weight throughout the years but expect to lose it all in 30 days. Crazy right? So I tell myself often, “This is a lifestyle, not a quick one.” I’m constantly a student to my body.

What advice would you like to share with women who want to lose weight?
My biggest advice is to enjoy every single moment of your process. Don’t let social media rush you. Let it motivate you instead!

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