Da’Shon lost 78 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Da’Shon lost 78 pounds. She found inspiration while watching her mother successfully release 100lbs and transform her health. By gradually changing her eating habits and working out for fitness and stress relief, she has also transformed. Check out her story.

What was your motivation?
My motivation to lose weight was my mom. Before my mom had her gastric bypass surgery, she suffered from diabetes, high blood pressure, and many other chronic illnesses. After she had her surgery, I told myself that I never wanted to suffer the way she did most of her life. Seeing her lose over 100lbs weight and hit the gym after her surgery inspired me. Without God’s guidance and her being my accountability partner, I never would have gotten through this journey.

How did you change your eating habits?
My eating habits did not change overnight. This was probably the hardest thing I experienced on this journey. I cut back overall on what I was eating. I wasn’t going for seconds and thirds anymore. I started to eat less fast food and began to count my calories. I also downloaded the free app Lose it.

Honestly, being more conscious of what I ate helped out so much. Over time, I started to eat less high-fat foods. Instead, I ate more protein and incorporated more vegetables into my diet. Now I take a week out each month and go vegetarian to get my body adjusted to trying more vegetables and eating other plant-based proteins. I think my body has adapted to eating healthier foods so much so that now my stomach does not tolerate fast food or junk food if I attempt to eat it.

What did your workout routine look like?
My workout routine consisted of going to the gym 4 days a week. When I didn’t get a job right out of college, working out was a way to keep me at peace. I worked out on my own. I increased my walking time on the treadmill and increased the weight, when needed, on machines. Since moving to the Bay Area for a job, I’ve taken it a step further by looking for places to hike. Now I love hiking. Hiking is not a common thing for black women to do.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 292 pounds. My current weight is 214 pounds.

When did you start your journey?
I started my journey back in August of 2016; however, I’m not done yet.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson that I’ve learned is to love yourself and love who you are. I didn’t lose this weight to impress anyone but myself. I just want to live a healthy life.

As black women, we have the world pitted against us. I might not able to control some of the factors that put the world against me, but I sure can make a change in my health so that I am one more step closer to living my best life each day.

My other biggest lesson learned is that all of this doesn’t happen overnight and that it is okay to have a cheat day. Yes I’ve lost weight, and I’m very conscious of what I put in my body, but I still enjoy my mother’s fried chicken, collard greens, and yams every now and then. I just don’t have it every day. It’s okay to enjoy the foods you love, just do it in moderation.

What advice would you like to share with other women who want to lose weight?
Think about who are you doing it for, why are doing it, and why not? Don’t lose sight of who you are.

I hope to inspire other black women to take this journey.