Kierra lost 28 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Kierra lost 28 pounds and sculpted her body with weight training, HIIT workouts, and whole food. On her journey, this Alpha Kappa Alpha soror realized that restrictive eating habits don’t work for her, so she applied the 80/20 rule for balance, eating clean 80% of the time.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My “end goal” has been and still is my daily motivation. I know the plans that I have set for myself, and I don’t plan on stopping because fitness has become a part of my lifestyle. Even after I reach a particular milestone in my fitness journey, I don’t stop. I continue chasing excellence. Knowing that I can always wake up and be better than I was the day before keeps me going. I’ve also learned to celebrate the small wins along the way!

How did you change your eating habits?
My eating habits have changed tremendously. I stopped eating many processed or fast foods and replaced them with whole foods. I also incorporated carb cycling. 

I got out of the mindset of being on a “diet” and just made small changes daily until my eating became 80% clean and 20% “still having the things I enjoy”. Feeling like I was restricted with my eating habits wasn’t helpful to my journey.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
My workout routine consists of a mixture of HIIT and strength training. I work out five days a week and rest for two. I strength train daily and incorporate cardio around three times per week.

Consistency played a significant role. Even on the days that I’m not feeling motivated, I still push through because, once again, I always keep my “end goal” in mind. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 183 pounds, which was the heaviest I’ve ever been. I currently weigh between 155-158 (Depending on the time of day, lol). 

What is your height?
I’m 5’3″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in June of 2019 and began seeing changes shortly after. October 2020 is when I started noticing major and more visible changes. I started out losing body fat, and now I am at a point where I’m toning. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
Surgery was not a part of my journey.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
I’ve learned to appreciate the process. I stopped beating myself up when I didn’t see a drastic change over a small amount of time. I started to celebrate and appreciate every single milestone, no matter how big or small. 

You don’t get results overnight, but you also won’t get results if you give up! The mental battle is DIFFICULT! You won’t always feel motivated, but keep going anyway! It’s not always easy for me. I still struggle, but I’ve found my desire to want to be better. That alone outweighs the lack of motivation that I may feel. I want to look good, but I also want to feel good. The only way to do that is through discipline. I’m more determined now than ever.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
The hardest part is getting started, but you have to really want it. Wanting to look good is not enough to keep you going every day. You have to really, really want it! This journey is way more mental than physical, so it is important to be strong. It’s not always fun or easy, but it will forever be worth it. 

Looking in the mirror and being proud of a body that you actually worked for is undefeated. That is a feeling that no one can ever take from you. Set a goal for yourself and take off to reach it. If you have a bad day, brush it off and wake up the next day stronger and ready to attack. 

Instagram: @kierra.larhon