Jasma lost 41 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Jasma lost 41 pounds. Right after college graduation, she realized that she was unhappy, uncomfortable and living an unhealthy lifestyle. She’s gone from being a daily fast food customer to enjoying healthy meals and meal prepping. Check out how she took action to change her life.

What was your motivation?
Quite honestly, I just wasn’t happy. I wasn’t confident, and I definitely wasn’t comfortable. One day a light bulb went off and I saw myself as I really was, unhealthy and overweight. I started looking at photo in my camera roll and couldn’t believe I had gained so much weight. At this point, I’d just graduated college (in 2013) and weighed in at 194 pounds. This was the highest weight I’d reached in my life. All the 2am meal runs had finally caught up with me.

How did you change your eating habits?
It wasn’t until that summer that I started making gradual changes. For example, instead of having a loaded bowl (with double EVERYTHING) from Chipotle 3-4 times a week, I’d go once a week. I also started cooking more of my meals at home, as opposed to eating out everyday. Before I knew it, I started to enjoy how the healthier, home cooked meals made me feel and I had more energy.

Now, I may eat fast food twice a month, if that. I eliminated sodas and only eat things like chocolate in moderation. I remember when I use to stop at Wendy’s every single night after work and order nuggets, a medium fry, a loaded baked potato and a large sweet tea. I loved potatoes in every form known to man, but I was fed up with feeling sluggish and lazy because of all the greasy foods I consumed.

What did you do in terms of exercise?
I began working out at American Family Fitness in the mornings before work. In the beginning, I used the elliptical and jogged on the treadmill at 3.7 mph. I knew I was putting in work, but I barely broke a sweat. Then, I starting going to the classes that the gym offered, which required me to go harder than what I was use to. I’d be dripping sweat by the end of the class, but what was even better was the fact that I felt refreshed. That’s when I started pushing myself harder on the machines, actually running on the treadmill, and using resistance on the elliptical. Working out became my stress reliever and my “me time.”

What is your current weight?
I currently weigh in at 153 pounds at 5’4″. I’m the most confident I’ve ever been, not because of the number on the scale but because I feel good on the inside. I feel healthy and I feel alive.

How long did your transformation take?
It took me 3 years to shed 40 pounds. As much as we would like for it to, results do not happen overnight. Honestly, I could have achieved that goal sooner, but I wasn’t consistent and I didn’t want it bad enough.

During this journey, I learned that food isn’t the enemy. It’s knowing which foods to consume more or less of that makes the difference. It’s also about learning to say “No” when your friends and family want to indulge in meals/desserts that you know won’t be of any benefit to you. It wasn’t until the middle of 2016 that I really started to be consistent with my meal prepping and planning my workouts ahead of time. Meal prepping is a life saver and a game changer. If there is one thing I’ve learned through this journey it is that if you don’t plan, you’re planning to fail.

What advice do you have for other people who want to lose weight?
I follow quite a few fitness pages on Instagram and Tumblr that help to keep me motivated on days when all I want is my bed. I’d suggest sites like that to anyone who may just be getting started or is having a hard time staying motivated. Find pages and Instagram accounts with posts that really motivate you to get up off your butt and workout; even if you don’t feel up to it.

This journey has taught me that there is no way around hard work. No amount of diet teas (which I’ve tried), waist trainers or diet pills can give you the results that hard work and sweat can. I still have a journey ahead of me, but I’m so proud of the body I have built. Every single workout and healthy food choice has been worth it.

Instagram: @jasmadominique @jasmahaskins