Have you ever dreamed of something so many times that it just seemed real? (as if it’s a sign from God himself?) I have, more than 5 times. That dream was about shedding the extra pounds that I allowed to mooch and take over my body for the last 10-12 years. Like many other people, I tried every new weight loss fad I heard about. Yes, I got results from some of these diets, but some how, some way, the weight always seemed to come back. Sometimes, it came back just as fast as I lost it.
After having the same dream over and over, I decided that it was time to make a change, mentally and physically. With a made up mind, I prayed daily and asked God to give me the strength, obedience and discipline to really make a change this time. While browsing the web one morning before work, I came across a friend’s before and after pictures from her weight loss journey. I was blown away! Without hesitation, I reached out to her and she provided me the details of how she did it. I used the contact information she gave me and within minutes, I received detailed information from Terry Starks, The Diet Doctor, about the details of his weight loss program.
I felt as if it was now or never. Once again, I realized I just committed to yet another weight loss program, however this one was different. I told my husband about the plan, what I had in mind as far as my weight loss goal and the details of the program. We both were excited. My husband being what some would call a “gym rat” himself, he assured me that I could do it.
We would meal prep on Sunday for the week, pray together and work out together. What motivated me to stick with the program was myself, my husband and my children. My children gave me the strength to keep going even when I didn’t feel like working out. Hearing their sweet little voices say inspirational things gave me the motivation that I needed to get through another day on the meal plan. My daughters even started working out with me and my husband in the afternoons. With their support and love, I was sure that I would reach my goal in no time.
Each morning at 4 A.M., my husband and I would get up and start our morning with prayer. From there, we’d head straight to our home gym to workout. I must admit, some days are harder than others. There were times that I felt like quitting, but I always remembered that there are so many women my age and my weight who are not able to walk out of their doctor’s office year after year with a clean bill of health (as I did so many times). Yes, my doctor always advised and stressed the need for me to lose the weight. However, besides the weight, I have no other health issues. I realized that losing the weight was a decision that I had to make, regardless of who advised to me to lose it. In the past, I knew I had to change my diet, exercise more, eat more veggies and drink more water, but I felt like I would always have another opportunity to do so. That’s not always the case. As with any other situation, when you’re tired of something constantly being a hindrance to you, that’s when you do what it takes to let it go. That’s how I felt about my weight loss journey.
Each day I followed the meal plans that Terry designed for me, eating 5 small meals a day. I worked out 7 days a week, doing 30 minutes of cardio. When I started Terry’s 35-day plan, I weighed in at 244 pounds at 5’6″. Currently, I’m down 32 pounds. It was hard to believe that I lost so many inches. Having the ability now to just reach into my closet and grab dresses, shirts and jeans I haven’t worn in years is such a great feeling.
As the weight began to drop, I began to pray even harder and try even harder. Terry insisted that I gradually increase my cardio to one hour per day. That’s 30 minutes in the morning and 30 minutes in the evening. I cut out soda and replaced it with water. I ate more fruit and fresh veggies. I also purchased a Fitbit to help me keep track of my steps and the calories burned. I even traded in my heels at the office for gym shoes, and walked whenever I had free time (even if it was for only 10 minutes). I would take the stairs instead of using the elevator all the time. In this situation, every moment mattered!
Terry was there every step of the way to answer any questions I had. He sent daily motivational emails to give me that extra support. One thing he stressed was that if I followed the meal plans exactly as he presented them, I would get the results I wanted. He was right!
My advice to others seeking to drop the pounds: First, believe that you can. Believe in yourself and know that you can reach your goal, whether big or small. Patience is needed, discipline is needed, and you definitely need a great support system. Reward yourself accordingly each time you reach a personal goal, regardless of how big or how small it is. Each step in the right direction is good, even if it’s a small step.
You have to be ready for the change… really ready. Your mind and mouth have to be in sync. That means, you can say you’re ready all day, everyday, but if you don’t the mindset that you are ready to drop the pounds, then you won’t.
Although my 35 days are up, I’ve made the decision to continue on with Terry’s meal plan until I reach my desired goal weight of 190-198 pounds. Please feel free to reach out to me via social media with any questions you have regarding my weight loss journey or even if you need support or words of encouragement. We all need someone to push us in the right direction to be healthier than we were the day before! I hope my story inspires someone!
Instagram: @hairai12
Tranier/Coach: Terry Starks
@thedietdoctor
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