Martine lost 55 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Martine lost 55 pounds and four dress sizes. Her journey began after losing her father. She’s a member of our FB group, and we asked her to share how she used healthy eating habits, exercise, and pure determination to change her life.

What was your motivation?
The motivation that keeps me going is losing my father to diabetes, kidney failure, and cardiac failure. Seeing him suffer for so long put the fear in me to get my health back after I had a long bout of illness.

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My inspiration comes from being tired of wearing a “fat suit.” I didn’t feel or look like myself anymore, which made me so depressed. After my labs came back from my physical and my glucose and LDL were 1 point over the normal numbers, the alarms went off in my head. I am now committed to living a healthy and active lifestyle as I get older. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I never liked vegetables or salads, but now, I eat them on a daily basis. I also drink 80 to 100 ounces of water a day with lemon. 

I cut back on sweets and carbs, which was the most difficult change. I am an emotional eater, and sweets (like cake, donuts, and pies) and bread, especially warm bread, give me “comfort.” Of course, it is all in my head, but as I grieve my father’s loss, I control my craving by substituting my favorite comfort foods with fruits, like apples, blueberries, bananas, grapes, and raw trail mix.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
I am not following any specific program. I spend 30-45 minutes on the treadmill daily and do some free weights. A lot of my exercise ideas come from YouTube. 

I also enjoy Caroline Girvan’s YouTube videos, but most of the structure is coordinated by my girlfriend, who is a certified trainer. Her support and guidance have helped me to firm up. Now, I am starting to see some muscle definition which is another source of inspiration. 

What was your starting weight?
I started at 220 pounds during the start of my illness which began in 2012. After getting off a cocktail of steroids and antihistamines, I managed to lose 20 pounds. However, I was still obese, according to my primary care doctor. 

From 2014 to 2019, I was still in the high 180s to 190s. No matter how hard I tried or how I little I ate, I still could not lose more weight. Of course, being cooped up in the house due to the pandemic didn’t help either. 

Fast forward to 2021: The magic happened when I changed antidepressants in March. Since then, my weight has been consistently dropping. Implementing my exercise routine has also been a great help. 

What is your current weight?
My current weight is 165 pounds! My goal is to get to 155 pounds and build muscle. Carrying all that weight for so long caused cellulite and loose skin on both my thighs and upper arms. Since I’ve been running and lifting weights daily, the cellulite and loose skin are almost no longer visible in both areas. Lifting weights and doing squats, lunges, etc., gives me muscle definition, which makes me very happy and motivates me to keep going.

What is your height?
I’m 5’8″.

When did you start your journey?
2014

How long did your transformation take?
It took almost ten years.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
Every pound I lost was through sweat and tears. I did inquire about the gastric bypass, but I was not a candidate. I am glad that it didn’t work out because I proved to myself that I could do it myself, which leaves me with a sense of pride. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
Persistence and hard work will pay off. Also, never give up on yourself regardless of how hard it gets. Self-love is all about taking care of your body, mind, and soul.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Keep at it, and don’t give up on yourself. Surround yourself with people who support you and inspire you to keep on. 

Also, don’t be discouraged if you don’t see the change right away. It took me ten long years to lose 55 pounds, but I couldn’t give up because I had too much to lose. I would sometimes cry myself to sleep because I felt so ugly. Shopping for clothes was the most depressing thing for me, especially when I couldn’t find my size. 

With perseverance, I went from buying size 16 to now buying a size 8 or 10 (depending on what it is). Gosh! It feels great to see me again. You will feel the same too if you stick with it.