Kessy lost 128 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Kessy lost 128 pounds. She was tired of being hindered by diabetes and other health problems. She learned how to maintain a healthy, balanced diet, and created a workout routine that works for her.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I started my journey in April 2020. I lost a total of 128 pounds in 10 months. I decided to change my eating and physical habits to prioritize my health. I had many problems because of my weight; 

• I had pain in my legs because I was overweight.
• I often had a stomach ache because I ate too much gluten. 
• I had diabetes because of my diet. It was unbalanced. 

I never gave up, even when I was discouraged because I had one goal in mind: I wanted to feel good about myself. I wanted to stop taking diabetes medication. I also wanted to enjoy life because I deprived myself of doing so many things because of my weight and low self-esteem.

How did you change your eating habits?
In the beginning, I followed a personalized food plan from a coach that I used for five months. I completely changed my eating habits and ate six healthy, small meals a day. I stopped eating pasta and sugar, and I stopped drinking juice and alcohol.

What did your workout routine consist of?
I started training twice a week at home doing online workouts. I walked outdoors a lot, at least 30 minutes per session to start (2 times a week). Then, I gradually increased to 1 hour (3 times a week). After one month, I started training more intensely by doing a lot of cardio and some weight training on my own. Subsequently, I decided to work with a trainer once a week to add more intense training to my routine. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
When I started my journey, I weighed 298 pounds. Today I weigh 170 pounds.

What is your height?
I’m 5’3″. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
I didn’t have surgery. I just changed my diet and exercised. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I have learned so far: Never give up even when you don’t see the desired number on the scale. Also, I learned how to eat well. I eat a balanced plate, and I know how to recognize the signals that come when I am really hungry. Before, I could eat anything that came in my hand. 

What advice would you like to share with women who want to lose weight?
The one piece of advice I want to give to women who want to lose weight is to start one day at a time. Also, try not to be hard on yourself (for example, by cutting everything overnight when it comes to food). Start by reducing your consumption of pasta, sugar, restaurant food, and alcohol. Choose better foods. Then try to integrate exercise little by little. Take the stairs instead of the elevator or take a 30-minute walk each day.

Instagram: @imjustkessy