Kinwana lost 48 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Kinwana lost 48 pounds by committing to a healthier lifestyle. Her journey didn’t begin because she was unhappy with herself or lacked confidence. (She told us that you couldn’t tell her that she was not “That Chic”.) Tired of living in constant pain and suffering from sleep apnea, she took action to reclaim her health.

Nine months ago, I decided to do a thing. Not because I was unhappy with myself or because I was not confident or comfortable in my skin. Listen, you really couldn’t tell me that I was not That Chic… in a humble way! However, no one knew how unhappy my body was. 

I was always in a lot of pain. Before I would get out of bed in the morning, my right ankle was throbbing. My back was in pain, and my hands would frequently go numb from poor blood circulation. My knees were screaming when I walked. Whenever I sat too long, I limped as I got up to walk. 

All this was happening in addition to the fact that my body struggled to get oxygen when I slept, so I was sleeping with my arms straight in the air (I swear I can’t make this up). I felt myself doing it, but I seriously didn’t believe it until my husband called me out on it one morning and asked me why I was doing that! 

I had a sleep apnea test. The Doctor said the reason I put my arms up was very likely because the body will make adjustments as needed when it is “fighting” to get oxygen to the places that are deprived. Who knew? 

Ultimately I tried everything except having weight loss surgery, but you best believe I considered that too. The only reason it didn’t happen was that the Doctors said I wasn’t “obese enough”! (Whatever TH that meant).

At that point, I was clear (once again) that it wasn’t my health issues that were preventing me; it was a black woman. When I realized I my concerns were not being heard, I realized it was on me to get better. So here’s what I did…

• I took a prescribed dietary supplement for one month, off and on. I hate meds, and I’m not consistent with taking them. Also, The Doctor who prescribed me the supplements was reassigned to another location. 
• I reduced my caloric intake, cutting out bread and pasta. I cut out red meat and increased my intake of fruit, veggies, and water.
• I didn’t actually start working out until May of this year. I started my weight loss journey in November, but I was having so many issues with my right ankle that it just was too painful to do even minimal workouts. The more the weight started to come off, the more I realized the pain was leaving, and I began working out. Now, I work out 3-5 days a week. I’m still cautious with my ankle. I also have a bone spur, and so when I feel it becoming tender, I rest for a day or two to allow it to reset.

Starting weight/Current weight: My starting weight was 225.4 on November 1, 2019, and my current weight is 177 pounds. My height is 5’2″. I’m still on my journey, but I’m celebrating. 

I have no magic tricks or magic potion to share. I LOVE FOOD, and I still want to enjoy what I want, but I am learning to listen to my body. 

Motivation/Inspiration: My guy is my champion. In this pic [below], my husband and I were celebrating my 45th bEARTHday last year on November 1. After the party was over, I asked him to help me get moving and hold me accountable. Even though I asked for his help, I fought and resisted so hard! I was not ready. 

He finally said, “Nope, I’m not doing it. You’re not ready, and I don’t want to fall out with you over what you asked me to do.” I was even madder because I felt like he left me. However, he gently came back to encourage me when he saw that I was committed. He has gently pushed me to challenge myself to stay committed to my goals. He is consistent. His love has not wavered or changed, even when I was at my heaviest.

Biggest Lesson: I’ve learned to be gentle and kind to myself. This is a life journey, and I will always need to make adjustments to remain well.

Advice for people who want to lose weight: I share the same advice that I take for myself: be kind and gentle with yourself. Take one day at a time. There will be times when it feels like your efforts are going unrewarded on the scale, but don’t quit. Keep pushing. Your body, mind, soul, and spirit will thank you!

Instagram: @kinwanamcgrigg