Dr. Assita Diallo lost 34 pounds with healthy eating habits and exercise. After her doctor warned that she could be at risk for detrimental health issues in the future, she began her transformation journey.
What motivates me?
When people ask me why I love working out or how I stay so motivated, I usually give them a simple short answer: “It makes me happy.”
When I say that “It makes me happy.”, I mean it erases all my troubles. It makes me feel whole again. It’s the one thing that will never disappoint me, it’s my medicine, and it’s all I had even at my lowest point. As I take a look at that ‘before’ picture, I cannot help but feel a bit of sadness for that girl—a girl who felt hopeless and angry at the world. A girl who lacked the confidence to be herself, crack jokes and do what she desired. She hid behind other people’s laughs and hid her own emotions from the world.
In the current photo, I look at myself and smile. I smile at the beautiful young women I’ve grown up to be, both physically and mentally. Every day I grow, I learn, and I become one with myself. The world of fitness has opened up doors for me. These doors have allowed me to get to know myself, forgive myself, indulge in self-care acts, and, most importantly, love myself.
So yeah, when people ask me why I work out so much or why I love fitness, it’s honestly a way of living. It’s a lifesaver, healer, guider, mentor, and teacher. It’s all the beautiful words I cannot find to describe fitness.
How did you change your eating habits?
When I first started, I did not change my eating habits. It didn’t happen until I got to college and was exposed to how it feels to eat healthier. I started realizing that the better I ate, the better I felt. I cut out most of the sugary junk (soda, candy, chips, etc.)
What did your workout routine consist of?
I did a lot of cardio training when I first started. After a while, I got bored and started doing weight training. As most women know, weight training can be very intimidating because it’s usually only men in the area. But heading over to the weight section was the best decision I could have made.
How often did you work out?
I worked out six days out of the week. I was literally addicted to the feeling I got when I worked out. Would I recommend this for people who are just getting started? Probably not, but for me it worked.
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
I weighed 178 pounds, and now I weigh 144 pounds.
What is your height?
5’5″
When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey at 14-15 years old when I weighed 178 pounds. I remember being at the doctor’s office and her telling me that I was on the road to future detrimental health conditions, like diabetes, high blood pressure, and cardiac issues if I did not slow down.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I have learned that the secret to achieving anything in life is commitment and consistency. This can be used in every aspect of one’s life.
What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Stick with it. It will be hard, but remember that this is all a mental game. Your body is more than capable of what you think. Do not limit yourself to what you think you can do. Try the unknown.
Instagram: @trainwithdrdiallo
Nene says
What a powerful story! Keep it up Queen 🤎