Chidimma lost 94 pounds

Chidimma lost 94 pounds with a low calorie weight loss plan, by changing her eating habits and working out regularly.  Read what she shared about her journey below:

My name is Chidimma and I began my weight loss journey in April 2012. Two years ago, I was 334 pounds with knee pains, back pains, high blood pressure, and a BMI of 52.3. I never wanted to take pictures! You would never catch me at the beach. Pretty much, never wanted to go anywhere for fear of either a picture being taken or being judged for my physical appearance. I wasn’t living, I merely existed. Enough was enough! I reached out to a family member who had recently lost 30 pounds on a hCG diet. After I completed my (extensive) research, I was satisfied that I was undergoing a safe diet that would not cause me to lose any lean muscle in the process. More importantly, I was embarking on a journey to completely change my lifestyle. The diet would introduce me to new healthier ways of preparing foods and approaching food choices in general.

Let me start off by saying that before I started the HCG diet, I had already weaned myself off of soda, juice, and fast foods. I would occasionally have sweets which has and will probably always be my Achilles heel. Let me also add that I worked out about 2 days a week with a trainer and took occasional dance classes. My problem was 100% the foods that I was eating and ignorance of how certain foods caused me to gain weight. I did not know certain spices and foods had added/hidden sugars and that a combination of sugars, fat, and carbs caused me to gain weight so rapidly.

I will not delve too deep into the whole Hcg diet process, however it is a weight loss program where a person can undergo several “rounds” to lose weight. Like EVERY diet, if you do not maintain your weight loss, you will gain it back. The difference between this diet and all the other diets that I previously tried was that it encouraged me to change how I prepared foods and I found a support group on Facebook that had amazing recipes that provided me with healthier options. That was the key to my success. Some may disagree with me, but I truly believe that food is 80% of weight-loss while exercising is 20%.

I have completed 7 “rounds” of the HCG diet and have lost approximately 90 pounds. I have also lost tons of inches around my waist, hips, thighs, arms and stomach. I went from a size 24 to size 12 pants and size 22 – 14 dress. My BMI went from 52.3 to 37.6. I maintain my weight loss by eating healthy and keeping an active lifestyle. Although I am still a work in progress, I hope that I can inspire others to LIVE, be healthy, and enjoy every good thing that life has to offer! #teamfitandfabulous

What was your motivation?
– I was tired of hiding every time I saw a camera. I was tired of being the photographer and never being in the picture. I was just so sick and tired of hiding.

How did you change your eating habits?
– I started reading EVERY label on ALL food items that I purchased. It’s amazing what you discover about the foods that you eat. I stopped eating processed foods. I started preparing/cooking healthier options which included lots of lean protein and vegetables. I snacked on healthy foods like fruits, nuts, plain greek yogurt. I completely removed soda and juice from my diet. H20 became my very good friend.

What did your workout routines look like?
– I met with a trainer twice a week for cardio (treadmill, squats, burpees, plank, lunges, stair climber) and weightlifting until sometime early last year. The sessions were about 30 minutes. Once my sessions with my trainer ended, I began Zumba Fitness (dance) classes and continued with weight lifting through a Body Pump class at my local gym. The classes were about an hour long. I did weightlifting classes twice a week and Zumba about 3 times a week. I was in the gym about 5 – 6 times a week and spent roughly an hour to an hour a half working out

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
– Starting weight: 334
– Current weight: 240

How long did your transformation take?
– Roughly two years

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
– Take it one day at a time. You did not gain the weight overnight and you will not lose it overnight. Never give up on yourself. You are worth it. You deserve to be healthy and enjoy life to the fullest. Diets are a dime a dozen. If you put your mind to it, you can lose weight on ANY diet. However, once you truly make a LIFESTYLE CHANGE, you will be equipped to maintain your losses and be well on your way to fit and fabulous!