Dezi lost 64 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Dezi lost 64 pounds by committing to a healthy lifestyle. This registered nurse/wellness coach shared that 2020-2021 was a truly tough time when she faced many health and family challenges. One of the tools she used was Saxenda which helped her curb emotional eating and commit to healthy eating habits.

Social Media:
Instagram: @dezired_dezi
TikTok: @dezired_dezi

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I have been trying to lose weight on and off for years, but I think 2020-21 was a tough one! I went through a very depressing time during that season. And not like I was just really sad. Nah, more like my whole life felt like it was falling apart. 

My marriage was struggling. COVID had me trying to homeschool my kids (which made me question my IQ), I had the energy of a turtle, I was overweight, and my knees and my ankles were giving me problems. Being an essential worker was overrated, to say the least, and I was mentally fried. 

I also suffered from insomnia, so I went to the doctor for exhaustion. I had a few new diagnoses when I left: morbid obesity, anxiety, and clinical depression. My spirit was broken. 

BUT GOD!! I remember so vividly laying in bed crying my eyes out one night and just saying, “Jesus, Jesus, Jesus” over and over…. That’s all I felt I had left. I was so alone. I felt so low that my self-esteem couldn’t even be called “self” esteem anymore….What keeps me going is NEVER wanting to feel like that EVER again. 

How did you change your eating habits? 
My eating habits changed drastically after my doctor started me on a medication called Saxenda. It’s a prescription medication for weight loss. It is a shot every day that causes you to feel fuller longer. The worst side effect for me was nausea in the beginning, but it helped me gradually change how much I ate and how often I ate. It also eliminated my “emotional eating” binges completely.

I started making easy swaps a little at a time. First, I added more fruits and veggies to my diet. I eat a lot of seafood (I LOVE salmon) and chicken, but I still eat red meat occasionally. The medicine works by slowing digestion. Heavy food sits in the stomach longer, and it tends to make me feel sluggish. 

I try to drink 2 liters of Smart Water a day (most days, I get to about one and a half liters). I also drink tea (actually half peach tea/half lemonade Crystal Light) and coffee. Oh, and I love the chocolate-flavored Core Power Protein drinks. 

What is your workout routine?
I’m a registered nurse and a weight loss and mental wellness coach, so I walk a lot for work. I also take a 30-minute walk in the morning around the hospital campus to close my Apple Watch exercise ring. I was in the 5 am club for a while going to the gym, but now, between work, running my coaching business, being a full-time student, and being a mom of two teenagers… whew, chile! 

Somewhere along this journey, I committed to at least 30 minutes a day, four days a week. It can be walking, going to the gym, running in place, jumping jacks and squats, or me turning on some music and giving the great Whitney Houston somebody to dance with! 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
246 pounds was my highest weight, and I currently weigh 182 pounds. 

What is your height? 
5ft 2in (extra tall)

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Dezi Adams (@dezired_dezi)

When did you start your journey? 
I’ve been starting this journey on Monday over and over again for years. Maybe 15 years of starting seriously on Monday…but my highest weight was around June 2021. Being stuck in the house for CoVid (outside of being in the depression box I called work at the hospital) and finding new ways to reward myself with food was an excellent recipe for ballooning weight. 

How long did your transformation take? 
It took me about a year to lose the first 50 lbs.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, not for me. However, I work with women who are post-surgical patients. I applaud them for making the hard decision because none of this is easy! And whoever says it is… we can’t worry about their problems cause we have our own. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
Losing weight is hard. Being overweight is hard. You just gotta pick which “hard” you want to deal with. I don’t judge people, whether they have surgery, do it au naturel, or use a combination of things. There are risks to being overweight, there are risks to surgery, and there are risks to medications. Do what you believe is safest and most effective for you! Because at the end of the day, no one knows what you go through and how you feel but you and God! 

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
My momma always says, “There’s more than one way to skin a cat.” I’m still not sure why she skinned cats or why she embarked on figuring out multiple ways to do so, but the sentiment is useful. 

There are multiple ways to diet and exercise. What works for you may not work for someone else, and what worked for me may not work for you, BUT you can find what works for you and be consistent with it to hit your goals. So run your race.