DeAnne lost more than 25 pounds

Losing 50 pounds by 50: DeAnne lost more than 25 pounds, going from a size 20 to a size 14/16. This Alpha Kappa Alpha soror has battled her weight for years. Visiting her alma mater and not being able to travel around campus with the same ease she had as a student, showed her that it was time for a change. Now, she is half way to losing 50 pounds by her 50th birthday. Check out what she shared about how she’s doing it.

I feel like I have struggled all my life with my weight. I have a twin sister and she has always been thin, even after the birth of her sons (who are now 17 and 20 years old). My turning point was attending homecoming at Morgan State University in 2015. I had difficulty walking across the campus. I remembered when I was able to walk around that campus with ease in my younger days. Now, 30 years later, my steps were slow and my breathing was labored. It was then that I decided I needed to change… quickly.

I did a lot of reading and tried to decide what diet plan was going to work best. The internet can be overwhelming with information and in the end, I knew I had to do this the old fashion way, diet and exercise. I realized it could not just be any diet, it had to be a lifestyle change. I needed to use portion control with everything I ate. I could not eat candy, cake and pies every day. Trader Joe’s has the best carrot cake and I would sometimes eat the whole thing! I had such a sweet tooth addiction. I realized I had to learn to say no to food. I limited my eating out at restaurants. I started to prepare breakfast, lunch and dinner at home. I realized food preparation for the next day was key. I cut down on my carbs and started drinking more water. I also learned to enjoy food in its natural state.

My exercise routine consisted of walking 2 miles five days a week. I also incorporated strength training 3 times a week. There are various workout videos ON DEMAND that I used. Some days, I would wake up and exercise in the morning before work. At first, waking up at 5 am was brutal, but it started to get easier. I started to sleep better and really did have more energy after the 1st month.

I joined a weight loss group online called Healthy Living. Their daily posts and encouragement gave me that extra boost that I needed. When I lost my first 13 pounds, they had a social gathering in my honor. I was so honored and motivated to continue on my journey. I am turning 50 years old this year and my goal is to lose 50 pounds by 50. I feel that I am well on my way with a great support system. My birthday celebration will happen this September and it is possible to lose more than 50 lbs by then.

I’m 5’5″ tall and at one point I tipped the scale at 255+ pounds. I try not to pay attention to the scale, because I was becoming obsessed with weighing myself every day. Now, I measure my progress by a favorite piece of clothing that I have been saving and I weigh myself every two weeks. My starting size was a 20. I’m now in a 14 – 16 depending on the clothing item and designer.

I would encourage others to find what works best for you. The journey is yours, you have decide how you want to take it. I realize that slow and steady wins the race and I am well on my way becoming a WINNER!