Latoya lost 42 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Latoya lost 42 pounds with healthy food and exercise. After she began working at her first job, she had no time for fitness and meal prepping. Her unhealthy eating habits and mindset led to weight gain. Last year, she decided to recommit to a healthy lifestyle and work out her relationship with God.

For the last four years, I have been working on my fitness. Then, in 2019, I got my first job, and everything changed. I was more focused on work and less on my workouts. That’s when I started to gain weight. I couldn’t meal prep, I was always at work, and I work at a gas station, so all I had was fast food. 

Last year, I reached my highest weight of 226 pounds. On June 9, 2020, I decided to make a change after crying in the mirror and seeing how I looked. I was so hurt, and my mental state was deteriorating. 

Fast forward to June 2021: I have lost 40+ pounds. I’m more focused and in tune with my workouts. My mental state has greatly improved as well. I’m working on my relationship with God, and I thank him every day for pointing me in the right direction of making a change for the better.

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I knew I had to keep going for my mental state. Working out was my way of releasing my anger and frustration from life. I had to learn to channel my anger into my workouts instead of eating to feel better.

How did you change your eating habits?
At first, I went a whole month with no eating out. I work long hours, and meal prepping at home was hard, so I would buy pre-cooked salmon at Publix. I would also buy four packs of the minute jasmine rice and eat that as my lunch or dinner. I’d buy the microwaveable birdseye veggie pasta, a bag of shrimp, and make some magic, lol. All in all, I had to be very creative with my eating. 

I made water my favorite drink with breakfast, lunch, and dinner. I can’t stress that drinking lots of water plays a significant role in your weight loss journey.

What did your workout routine consist of?
I started out using the spin rooms at @24hrfitness. I would work out at 5 am so I wouldn’t have to be in there with anyone else. I would do online spin classes for an hour. I really had a big fear of people seeing me struggle in the gym. Now I don’t care. I have learned to get over that and that people in the gym are just like me (trying to figure it out). 

After two weeks, I felt like myself again. So I would do 30 minute HIIT workouts after spin class to get that extra calorie burn in.

How often did you work out?
I started with four days a week and went up to 6 days a week.

What is your current weight?
184 pounds

What is your height?
5’8″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started before in 2017 and fell off. I came back in 2018 and then fell off. As I noted earlier, I got a job in 2019 and fell all the way off. Finally, in June 2020, I decided that I was tired, and I got my gym membership. It took me a year to stand here today, 41 pounds lighter.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, I didn’t have weight loss surgery. I’m very happy with the results that come from consistency in the gym. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
I realized that I am human and that life happens. I had to learn to embrace my journey and know that with every curve ball life throws at you, you have to get back up and keep going. Never give up on yourself. 

What advice would you like to share with women who want to lose weight?
Don’t play yourself and keep saying, “I’m a do it tomorrow.” Just do it. The longer you wait, the longer you sit there feeling sorry for yourself, looking at everybody else doing what you wish you could have done.

My biggest tip to every female who wants to lose weight: Don’t do it for anyone but yourself. Remember to love yourself throughout your entire journey. I live there.

Instagram: @bhaddiefitness