Jade lost 20 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Jade lost 20 pounds. She found a love for weight lifting, figured out what healthy eating habits work for her, and committed to the process. Therapy is also part of her plan because she realized that her emotional eating was connected to childhood trauma.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My motivation to lose weight was because I was genuinely unhappy with how I felt naked. My confidence was very low. I would look into a mirror and struggle with what clothes I should wear and what looked good on me. I was also tired of my legs chafing and wanted to be able to rock some wicked pair of high-waisted jeans. 

What inspired me was how I began to feel and the process. Even though it was very SLOW, there were days that I looked at photos, noticed the slightest changes, and that made me feel great. 

In the third month of my weight loss journey, I wanted to give up because I wasn’t seeing the “Ideal” changes I wanted to see. I started to second guess my program. Then within that week, everything changed, and the weight just started to fall off. I began to focus on what I loved the most about being healthy and doing what I love most: weight lifting. I realized when I wasn’t focusing so much on my body. Instead, I focused on what I loved doing, and the reward was losing weight. 

How did you change your eating habits?
Changing my eating habits was the most challenging part of this weight loss journey. Being from the Caribbean, food is everything. We use food as a celebration or to show the love of our culture. 

I also realized I’ve had some trauma from a young age and was always an emotional eater. I started therapy and was able to understand that food will always be there! 

I started to listen to my body and understand food reactions. I did a lot of research on the female body, especially on black women’s health. Certain foods, like cheese and dairy, don’t help our bodies because Casein (dairy protein) has an addictive response and causes bloating. So I began eating WHOLE FOODS and focused on mindful/intuitive eating. To lose weight, I went into a calorie deficit, slowly went into ketosis, and then transitioned out of ketosis. I learned how to track my macros, which was one of the essentials to losing weight. 

What is your workout routine?
I exercise in the morning and evening. I do cardio in the morning (30-35 minutes high intensity). In the evening, I do resistance training. 

How often did you work out?
I work out 4-5 days a week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 228 pounds, and my current weight is 208 pounds.

What is your height?
I’m 5’5″

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started on October 31st, 2022. It’s taken seven months, and I’m still going. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey? 
Weight loss surgery was not part of my journey.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
I have always been on a weight loss journey. I went from being big to small, over and over again. My biggest lesson is to enjoy the process and continue to change small habits every day. Enjoying the process has made this easier because you start to notice wins, losses, and places for improvement.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
The best advice for losing weight is to have a positive and right mindset before you start. There are going to be wins and losses, sometimes more losses. However, consistency is key. Remember, everyone’s journey is different, and everyone’s body is different. 

Instagram
Health and Wellness page: @beyondtheblackneticmind
Personal page: @theactualjade