Denise lost 69 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Denise lost 69 pounds. Two years ago, she promised herself that she would release the weight. Having recently turned 30, she wanted to be on the right path going forward in life. Becoming a pescatarian, intermittent fasting, and sharing her journey online are just a few ways she took action.

Social Media:
Instagram: @iamdeniseking_ 
TikTok: Mskurvydee

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My motivation hit on April 22, 2020, when I looked at myself in the mirror and said, “It’s time, Denise.” I was tired of being the excuse for why I could not stay consistent with getting this weight off of me naturally. So I promised myself I would keep moving forward and never look back. 

I had just turned 30 in March of that year and wanted to start my 30s on the right path. For years, my weight has been up and down, but I noticed I was at my heaviest one day at a doctor’s appointment when the scale read 298 lbs. I could do nothing but ask myself how I could let this happen. 

I remember being a little under 210 lbs in the summer of 2015 when I moved from North Carolina to Texas. At the time, I promised myself I would stay consistent with keeping my weight down. Sadly, in the fall of 2016, I lost my lovely mother, who raised me after losing both biological parents by the age of 11—losing her put the adult me in a dark place which caused me to become depressed. I lost myself and started to regain all the weight, plus more. My husband always loved me at any size, so I never thought anything of it until seeing 298 on the scale. I did not want those numbers to increase, nor did I want to leave this earth after watching so many loved ones pass due to health issues.

Once I started my journey in 2020, I knew I needed to find ways to keep myself inspired. The pandemic had us all on lockdown, and even if I wanted to go to the gym, I could not. In May 2020, I created a fitness platform on IG so I could inspire and motivate others as well as myself. Creating this platform truly inspired me daily just by watching others on their journey. 

I also started journaling, which helped me create a daily routine and stick to it. When I did not believe in myself, my husband believed in me more and would always say, “I know you can do this. It’s in you.” 

I started taking as many pictures as I could throughout my journey. In the beginning, I was too ashamed to take any videos, but later started taking them and was finally confident enough to post them on social media. Whenever I felt like giving up, I had to go back and look at how far I had come because I no longer wanted to be closed up and unhappy with myself.

How did you change your eating habits?
In June 2020, I became a pescatarian giving up all meat except seafood. I stopped eating fast, and fried foods and completely gave up junk food. I also do intermittent fasting because it helps me avoid eating so much around the clock. I have a set time to eat and use an app called ” WeFast”. I also make sure to drink lots of water throughout my day.

What is your workout routine?
I work out 5-6 days a week. I start my morning by getting up at 5 am or before to do in-home cardio (jogging in place, jumping jacks, jumping rope, etc.) Weight lifting is also included in my routine, so I try to do workouts that include some weight to build strength. 

How often did you work out?
I made sure to get some type of workout Monday thru Friday. Depending on my schedule, I may work out on a Saturday as well.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 298 pounds, and my current weight is 229 pounds.

What is your height?
I am 5’10”.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started in April 2020 so that makes a little over two years now and over 60 lbs gone.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, I didn’t have surgery to lose weight. (Everything was done naturally.)

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I learned is that it starts with your mindset. Once I was able to change my thinking and believe in myself, my life began to change in all areas. I learned to be patient, make my journey fun, keep God first, and never let any distractions cause me to give up on myself.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Whatever you do, keep moving forward and go full throttle. Never let the scale discourage you in any way, and make YOUR journey fun. Believe in yourself always. Know whatever you put your mind to, you can do it. 

Once you can change the way you think, it will make your journey less stressful, and you will start to see the results you envision. You are your only limit, so never give up on yourself. You will only know your full potential if you keep challenging yourself. Keep in mind that your future self will appreciate all the hard work you did to get there.