Lerato lost 40kg/88 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Lerato lost 40kg/88 pounds by adopting healthier eating habits and working out. After years and years of trying, she restarted her journey with a made-up mind in 2021 and consistently made the kind of healthy choices that produce lasting results.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My motivation was the outcome I wanted. I constantly reminded myself of how I wanted to look and feel. 

I’ve struggled with weight most of my life. I have had so many weight loss journeys from the age of 18. Unfortunately, my weight escalated in the past four years. At the beginning of my journey, I made up my mind that this time I was going to push until I reached my weight goal. 

Every time I relapsed (went back to my old eating ways), I did not see it as the end of my journey. Instead, I reminded myself of the whole point of doing this and the outcome I wanted from it. 

Also, I did not want to deal with an obesity-related medical condition later in my life or have to rely on others to do things for me. I was already struggling to groom my toenails and could not even walk a short distance without feeling/breathing like I would pass out. I breathed very heavily, and I hated it. I felt like a prisoner in my own home. I hated leaving the house because I was uncomfortable in my body. I did not want to live like that any longer, so I made the necessary changes.

How did you change your eating habits?
I made up my mind and followed through with acting on it. I tried to eat all the unhealthy food I had left in the house. (Lol, just to finish it and make room for healthy food). Whatever I did not consume, I got rid of. I decided that I would not keep anything unhealthy in the house. 

I stopped eating deep-fried foods, sugary foods, fizzy drinks, and store-bought juices. After losing a significant amount of weight, I started eating these things in moderation to avoid binge eating when the cravings hit. I also started eating more vegetables, tuna, eggs, chicken breasts, green tea, fruit, legumes, etc. I used Google and YouTube to guide me on what type of foods to eat for weight loss, and then I decided which foods worked for me.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
My workout routine consists of cardio, strength, and resistance training. I did online workout sessions with my trainer three days a week for the first six months and then increased them to 4 (sometimes 5) times a week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 120kg/264 pounds, and my current weight is 80kg/176 pounds.

What is your height?
168 cm/5’5″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I began my weight loss journey in April 2021. It took me eight months to lose 40kg/88 pounds. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
NO

What is the biggest lesson you have learned so far?
I have learned that the mind is a powerful tool for doing anything you want. I have been trying to lose weight since my late teenage years, but I could never complete any of the journeys I started. I made up my mind, and for the first time in my life, I started this journey for myself, and I am winning. 

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
I always tell people who ask me how I did it that if I can do it, they can too. Weight has been a struggle for me for the past two decades. I have been on and off diets and gyms. This time, I made up my mind—this time, I did this for me, not because of the pressure from others. 

Make up your mind, do it, enjoy the journey, and be consistent. It won’t happen overnight, so be patient and keep applying yourself. It will happen.

Instagram: @thoothelaleerato