Betina lost 124 pounds

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Betina lost 124 pounds.  At 415 pounds, she broke free from an abusive marriage and changed her life.  She was motivated by her love for her children.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

Hello, my name is Benita and I use to weigh 415 pounds and I wore a size 34 pants. Through healthy eating, lifestyle changes and exercise, I now weigh 291 pounds and wear a size 22 pants! This journey started in 2010 and is still an on going life change. My children motivate me and keep me going! This has not been easy. I love Chocolate and come from New Orleans, LA where we Love to eat. So, this has been a challenge but it’s so worth it. I encourage anyone and everyone to get on the path to a healthy lifestyle cause it’s worth it!

My two Children Kyle and Whitney motivated me because I didn’t want them to have to go through the struggle of fighting obesity their whole life. Even though I was married to their dad at the time, that marriage later ended do to abuse and adultery. I knew one day I would have to have the strength and energy to leave, and there was no way I could do that at 415 Lbs. Not because of the weight it self, but because my body had become like a WALKING COFFIN. There was a younger, happier and healthier me inside with a sculptor’s knife trying to chisel her way out.

One night when my ex-husband stayed out all night and kept the keys to my vehicle. I had no way to get my babies to school or to get myself to work. Feeling ashamed and broken, I didn’t call any of my family because they had warned me about marrying him. I got up that morning and got a Winn Dixie Grocery Basket and left at 5 am walking. My children’s school was about four miles away and I got there right at 8 am. Hair wet and sweaty, my children made it to school for breakfast and their teacher didn’t ask questions. She got someone to cover for her class and brought me to work. From that day and that moment I knew that if God had given me that strength to push them to school he would get me much further. I started regularly walking and haven’t stopped.

The first month on my journey I removed carbs and sugar completely out of my diet. That worked and the weight fell off fast. 10, then 15, then 40 pounds. I soon realized that how you loose it is how you must maintain it.  I yo-yo’d for a while, but finally after two years I learned to eat in small portions and practice moderation with the sweets and carbs.  I also learned to incorporate some form of exercise daily if no more than 30 minutes a day. Now, I weigh 291 lbs and I can wear a size 20-22 pants comfortably, with no girdle or waist shrinker. I am 5’9″ tall and yes, the Doctor still says that I am Morbidity Obese by the health guidelines that they have been using for over 100 years and REFUSE to change.

Now, I do Zumba two-three times a week with Dr. Kendra Mayes and I walk at least 30 minutes to 1 hour every day with a coworker or on my treadmill at home. My diet is a life change and each month I challenge myself. Last month was MeatLess May and I allowed myself to have salmon, shrimp and veggies.  Now, I have sherbert instead of ice cream and crystal light instead of soda and diet soda. I recently got off MONSTER energy drinks. I teach school and was convinced I needed more ENERGY! Luckily, I have kicked that habit and didn’t gain weight do to my sugar intake with that.

My advice to any and everyone is “Your Body is a Temple from God and he sees the Size of the Heart not your Body. Let’s get Heart Healthy so we can please God!” As you focus on him, not a man and not trying to be his size her size or that size, your weight will fall off. Thank you and God Bless. Let’s All Get Moving!