Transformation of the Day: Brandy lost 107 pounds. Over the last three years, she has released the weight despite various challenges, including hospital stays and injuries. Working with her trainer, taking cycling classes, and figuring out what healthy eating habits work for her has been essential to her success.
View this post on Instagram
Updated Photo – April 2020
What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
My motivation for working out and eating right does not come naturally for me, but it had to be done. I’m 32 years young, and I’ve lost a little over 100lbs naturally. I’m all of 5’1″, and when I started, I was pushing 300lbs at 293 pounds.
I was pretty confident, but the weight was always on the back of my mind. In October 2016, while on vacation with my grandmother, I went for a run, and I have not stopped since. It was the best decision I have ever made. Of course, it was hard, and I absolutely HATED it. However, knowing that I saw a difference in my body is what really kept me going.
In the last three years of working out, I have dealt with natural disasters, hospital stays, and injuries… along with the usual aches that we all have. Those things did not keep me down.
How did you change your eating habits?
I was just like anyone starting from scratch, with little to no knowledge about how essential eating habits would be on this weight loss journey. I did the normal thing of eating healthy during the week and having a “cheat meal” during the weekend (really a cheat weekend). This behavior would kill all the progress that could have made a difference.
It was not until I got a personal trainer, @seangotti_ of @train2gain.htx, that I was able to wrap my head around how important my food choices would be to getting to my goals. I kid a lot about how much I love potatoes. I must say that Sean understood and did not take potatoes away from me. He made me understand the importance of balancing your eating habits. He did not take carbs away either. Instead, he made sure I understood how to incorporate them and make the best decisions on when to eat them. The goal was making sure I was establishing lifestyle habits that I could actually continue. I am carb-cycling while practicing intermittent fasting. It is hard some days to stick to, but if I make a mistake, I do not let that kill the rest of my day. (When I say mess up, I’m talking about not making it through my fasting time.)
What did your workout routine consist of?
Before 2016, I always tried to lose weight. I’ve yo-yo’d with the best of them. During the many trial and error phases of this journey, I fell in love with indoor cycling. I used indoor cycling as my go-to exercise until I started with my trainer, who helped me realize the importance of strength training. I still do cycle, but a lot less since I dropped the majority of my weight. I’m focusing on strength training to tone up.
The first two years were extremely strict. I worked out 5 to 6 days a week, and two of the days were two-a-days. I still do about 5 to 6 days a week, but I rarely do two-a-days with my schedule. In the beginning, I had several workout partners who helped keep me motivated. Now, the majority of the time, it’s just my trainer and me… unless I’m with my cycle family.
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 293 pounds, and my current weight is 186 pounds.
How long did your transformation take?
So far, this has been an all-natural three-year journey. I’m still on this journey. I’m not done yet.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I learned is patience and discipline. I gained the patience to realize that this is not an overnight success. Every journey is different, and there will absolutely be obstacles. It’s up to you how you handle them. As for discipline, this means not going out with your friends, and saying no to gatherings so that you wouldn’t be tempted with drinking and eating out late. No more fun lunch dates with my friends. I did this for sometime until I was no longer bothered or truly tempted enough to indulge. I may attend a shindig or two but still pretty selective.
Another big lesson that was taught by my trainer is, “YOU DON’T GET A CHEAT MEAL EVERY WEEK.” Heck, I go months without a cheat meal. At first, I thought he was crazy, but I see the benefit now. I’m super selective on my cheat meals when I get one. Not every “good” food item is worth the calorie intake. I have learned to say, “I have had that before, I know what it tastes like.”
What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
My advice to those on the journey: Use this time wisely. I remember looking at people for years and seeing them drop huge numbers on the scale. I remember seeing that they did it in 10 months or less and trying to compare my journey. I wasted a lot of time trying to find a quick fix. Once I stopped making excuses and trying to find the easy way out, I truly made progress (slow as it may have been). I’m positive that I will work hard to maintain and keep the weight off.
Oh yeah… don’t be a slave to the scale. It’s not your friend.
Instagram: @fiercebeauties_fitgang
Comment Via Facebook