Bri lost over 230 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Bri lost over 230 pounds. In her youth, she’d gotten use to being the “fat, funny kid” and was bullied in school due to her size. As she grew up and the stress in her life grew as well, emotional eating took over and she reached 450+ lbs. At the local health department, she met a woman who would help open her eyes to the damage she was doing to her body at just 24 years old. Now, she has truly committed to a brand new lifestyle. Check out her inspiring journey.

I have always been the very funny, fat kid. I had gotten use to being overweight and out of shape my entire life. I was picked on in high school, but still remained a B student. Throughout my life, I definitely had my fair share of disappointments. I was the product of a divorced family and was an extreme emotional eater! I use to tell myself that food would never leave me.

I eventually graduated high school, entered the college and then the working world, which added to my stress load. I allowed myself to reach 450+ pounds. After visiting several different doctors, I ended up meeting a wonderful lady through my local health department that helped save my life! Laura Schmidt is her name! I remember briefly talking to her, after refusing to weigh in the doctors office that day, and explaining to her that my knees and back hurt all the time. I also told her that I felt weak and out of breath. She told me, as nice as can be and in so many words, that I was self inflicting all of this pain on myself, and that at 24 years old and I should not have back and knee pain! She helped me see that when I would overeat, day after day, I was just adding stress to my body over and over again!

I thought to myself that every time I pick up a fork and stuffed unhealthy food in my mouth, I am cutting my life shorter and shorter! That’s what clicked for me! On October 6, 2014, I decided to change my life and change what I put at the end of my fork. It was easy at first, because I was more determined than ever. The more I lose weight, the more comfortable I get! My current goal is to never become complacent on my weight loss journey! I want the world to be inspired!

Starting weight: 450+ pounds. Current weigh: 218 pounds. Current goal: 169 pounds. My height is 5’5″. No weight loss surgery.

Eating Habits: I changed my eating habits by changing my mindset! I started looking up healthy ways to make my favorite meals. I got on Pinterest and other websites to find healthy alternatives! After some thorough researching, I found that some of my favorite foods could be made healthy and eventually it became second nature to prefer an apple over the bag of chips! I started slowly but surely eating more fruits and vegetables instead of junk food. I also started drinking more water and less soda. For the first 6 months of my weight loss journey, I removed all types of bread out of my diet! I slowly introduced wheat bread back in my diet after I lost my first 100 pounds. I only did this because bread was my downfall in the past.

Exercise: In the beginning, I did not exercise much because I was morbidly obese and I was ashamed. Eventually, I went to my local gym and tried a class called UJAM. UJAM made me feel comfortable working out. Everyone was united like a family. My workout routine eventually became exercising six times a week and doing a weekly rotation of UJAM, Taebo, Zumba, and Hip Hop classes!

The advice I have to pass on to others wanting to lose weight is first and foremost, you have to make the decision to change your life for you. No one can make that choice for you! Once you have decided to fully commit, never give up! If at some point you lose sight of your goal, remember why you started!

Instagram: @healthy_livingnow1006