Cicely lost 45 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Cicely lost 45 pounds. This mom of three experienced weight gain due to a number of factors over the years, including pregnancies, 12hr shifts and the stress of losing both parents within 3 years. 18 months ago, she decided it was time to change her lifestyle for good. She has worked hard to change her habits and her mindset. Check out her transformation journey.

Age:42
Max weight: 190ish
Starting weight: 188
Current weight: 143
Lbs lost: 45 in 18 months
Inches lost from waist: 14 (42 inches to 28 inches)
Occupation: Registered Nurse

My weight loss journey has been a long, arduous one. Growing up I was a dancer and a tumbler. I was always very fit without even monitoring what I ate or having to add exercise intentionally. With my first daughter, I gained about 25 lbs, going from approximately 120lbs to 145lbs. I was still young at 24 years old, and I had a strong metabolism. After she was born, I gained about 10 more pounds.

At 25 years old, 155lbs was my “Oh, HELL NAWLL” weight.  Following the Weight Watchers program, I quickly and easily lost the weight. I tapped out at 118lbs, but more easily maintained a weight between about 125 and 130 pounds. 6 years later, I had another baby… then another 2 years after that. Between those short-spaced babies, my increasing age, decreasing metabolism, my busy life with 3 babies, working 12 hr night shifts and the stress of losing both of my parents within 3 years, I ballooned up to about 190 on my 5’2” frame. My “Hell Nawll” weight became my goal weight.

For about 7 or 8 years, I went back and forth losing and gaining weight. This was mostly achieved through unhealthy, unmaintainable methods, like starving on about 1000 calories a day, exercising obsessively/INCESSANTLY and very strict diets of about 5 foods. Even at my lowest weights, I felt depressed, tired and generally unhealthy. I could never keep the weight off. As I gained the weight back, my depression, anxiety and general apathy about everything felt even more overwhelming than it had before.

About a year and a half ago, at 188 pounds and 40 years old, I decided it was time to take control. I told my sister I was going to buckle down and finally lose this weight. I was always sharing before and after pics from the internet with her, and I told her my goal was to be featured on Black Women Losing Weight. I wanted to inspire others like I had been inspired by all the pics and stories I saw there. I started seeing a weight management doctor who discovered that my A1c was borderline diabetic.  He told me that if I didn’t get things under control NOW, he would be forced to put me on insulin, and the health consequences of Type 2 diabetes would be mine to live with. My dad died from complications of uncontrolled Type 2 diabetes at 63. That was NOT the life (or lack thereof) I wanted to live.

So I started using MyFitnessPal and counting calories. While that helped, it wasn’t giving me the results I wanted. I felt like I was starving to death.  I rejoined Weight Watchers, and I think that’s the step that helped really set my weight loss back into motion. Up to that point, I had been reluctant to rejoin WW because I felt like I already knew what to eat. There were indeed things I had forgotten, and the accountability helped me stay focused. Being able to eat a variety of things I wanted when I wanted (within reason of course) was liberating. I was finally able to stick to a plan, a lifestyle change, that has helped me shed the weight.

My biggest problem was (and still is) my sweet tooth and my ravenous appetite. Under the direction of my weight management physician, I was prescribed metformin and later phentermine. I debated about putting this part of my story in this narrative, but after a lot of thought, I feel like it’s necessary to say. I often felt (and still feel) judged by others when I say that I made the decision to take prescription medication to help me lose weight. I feel like others sometimes minimize or dismiss my success the second I say phentermine. They say, “As soon as you get off of it, you’re going to gain all that weight right back.” Phentermine didn’t lose the weight for me. Some people take it and GAIN weight because they think it means they can eat whatever they want. I have had to learn to STAY aware of what I am eating and why I’m eating it. I’ve had to learn and execute the self-control to say “You’re done now.”

SO MUCH of my weight loss has been mental. I am so much more aware of my portions and my emotional eating. Growing up, I was taught never to waste food. I always felt like I had to finish everything on my plate and felt guilty when I didn’t. Now I know that’s not true. It’s ok not to eat something if you are listening to your body, and it says “You’re full now.”  I’ve learned to eat from small plates, and buy kids meals when I go out to eat. I’ve also learned to recognize that I still feel full. I’ve determined what foods satisfy my sweet tooth but don’t break the calorie or sugar intake bank. I always eat SOMETHING for breakfast and eat my dinner before 8pm. I’ve learned to love vegetables and only eat my nemesis, ice cream, once a week as a treat. I also drink A LOT of water. It sounds so simple, but AWARENESS was KEY for me. Food journaling and noting my feelings/emotions helps me stay aware.

I have lost 45 pounds in about a year and a half and would like to lose about 15-20 more. I would also like to work on my muscle tone as well. Always having a goal (and a vacation where I will have to wear a swimsuit planned lol) keeps me motivated and excited to continue my transformation! My goal of being featured here is one of the goals that has helped me make it this far in my journey! My next goal will be to be one of the success stories with the header “We featured Cicely a year ago, she’s lost those last 15lbs and kept them off!”

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going?
My motivation was wanting to look and feel confident. I have two daughters, and I want them to learn to feel comfortable in their bodies. I want them to learn to feel and look healthy before they have to undo a lifetime of bad habits. I was inspired by knowing they were watching me and taking my cues and wanting to show them that you ALWAYS have control over your own life and how you handle your situation.

How did you change your eating habits?
Honestly, a lot of weight loss success is SHEER WILLPOWER. Mind over matter. Dealing with emotions without food.  I changed my eating habits by being mentally aware of my emotions and differentiating them from the real physiological cues that I was actually hungry. I decreased my fast food by planning a day’s worth of food ahead of time. I increased my water intake. Always keeping a cup with a straw next to me really makes a difference. I used to drink a lot of diet pop. I’ve almost cut that out completely (even diet pop makes you gain weight as it causes your brain to think you’re hungry). I have decreased my carb and sugar intake significantly and increased my protein, but there’s nothing that I’ve cut out completely. I eat a piece of fruit every morning at breakfast and keep preportioned snacks like popcorn, baggies of baby carrots, cheese cubes, fruit, cashews and beef sticks at my desk for snacks throughout the day.  Planning my food, pre-portioning snacks and journaling my food are HUGE and mean the difference between losing and gaining for me.

Tell us about your workout routine.
I don’t “work out” perse, but I take about 5 hours per week of ballet which really helps build my core, improves my posture and keeps my muscles feeling long, lean and flexible. I recently got an exercise bike and would like to add online home spin classes to my routine. I also do little easy everyday things, like focusing on my posture when sitting at my desk (builds core), parking in far away spaces to encourage walking, and taking the stairs whenever possible.

What advice do you have for other people who want to lose weight?
Learn what works for YOU. Take successful people’s weight loss advice, but build your OWN program at the same time. Nobody’s body is the same, and the same things don’t work for everyone. Take the time to figure out what works for you and don’t be discouraged when one thing doesn’t work because there’s ALWAYS another way to do it. Find an accountability partner, be it a friend, a doctor, a therapist. Find someone you are committed to who will celebrate your victories and hold you accountable for your backslides.

The week before you start your new lifestyle, write down LITERALLY EVERY SINGLE THING you put in your mouth for one week. I promise it will be eye-opening and inspire you to change your life.