BCassandra lost 56 pounds

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: BCassandra lost 56 pounds. She was motivated to lose the pounds brought on by stress and depression. This awesome life coach told us, “You see, who I am and what I believed about myself were not the same. I was disconnected from my true identity and suffered greatly for it. It showed up in so many ways in my life and obesity was one of them.” Check out the wisdom she shared with us…

Starting weight: 250 pounds.
Current weight: 193.1 pounds and counting.
Height: 5’2″
How long did your transformation take? The transformation that you see in the pictures took 1 year but my fitness journey began over 10 years ago through education and small changes.

My name is BCassandra Thornton and I am so excited about my fitness life. As a young girl, I struggled with bulimia and it led to other problems. There’s a whole story behind my life but I want to share how important it is to work on your mind everyday. You see, who I am and what I believed about myself were not the same. I was disconnected from my true identity and suffered greatly for it. It showed up in so many ways in my life and obesity was one of them. I’m grateful that I am changing the climate of my life and it’s showing up in a very positive way in my life. Thank you BWLW! Your group continues to inspire and motivate me.

What was your motivation?
My motivation to start my fitness journey began as a result of me seeing how obese I had become due to stress and depression in my marital relationship. I filed for a divorce and set out to reclaim my life. I decided to attend a health science class given at a local church. The information given in the class really opened my eyes and helped me to understand how the colon works, the affects of processed foods, and how to take better care for my body. I could hardly wait to get home to go through my pantry, and get rid of the white rice, white bread, and white sugar. I also started a colon cleanse and began drinking more water. I ditched soft drinks and fruit juices as well because most of them are loaded with sugar.

What inspired you?
There are several people and things that have inspired me, so to name a few; (1) My 74-year old aunt inspired me to start walking. (2) In addition, my children and my sister encourage and inspire me to keep going. (3) I also started a FB group called Fit Now! 2015 Year of Transformation, which I have used to blog my way to health. I power walk, and use fitness blender videos, plus I have a mini trampoline that I use to gently run in place to get my blood flowing when I do intervals. I’m 51 years old, so I’m not doing a lot of hard jumping around, just simple power moves that count. (4) Black Women Losing Weight inspired me in so many ways because I would read the testimonies and tell my sister that one day, when I reach my 50lbs goal, I was going to share my story, so that it will encourage others.

How did you change your eating habits?
I started eating clean. Actually, I gave up pork and shellfish and I would challenge myself to go 8-10 weeks with no meat. Later, I increased it to 14 weeks and then 6-1/2 months. I practice mindful eating when I can, which simply means that I slow down enough to be thankful, enjoy taste, and smell of my food. I also started eating out of a salad plate instead of a regular plate. I’m mindful of my portion sizes most of the time. I noticed that when I went meatless I had no craving for sugar. As soon as I reintroduced meat back into my diet, the cravings returned. I stopped eating fast food and started preparing my meals. I shop mostly organic and fresh produce. I never eat anything that doesn’t look and taste great! I believe in losing the fat and keeping the flavor, but I focus on using herbs and spices, such as oregano, garlic, cilantro and olive oil.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice to others: The reason why you decide to lose weight must be stronger than your desire to quit. Always remember why you started in the first place. I have learned that it is a fitness journey, not a pit stop. It is a new way of living and being. It is an awareness of your spirit, soul, and body. It is a commitment to be kind and compassionate to yourself without making excuses to abuse yourself.

Website: www.choosing2win.com