Jasmine lost 67 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Jasmine lost 67 pounds. Faced with high blood pressure, iron deficiency, and borderline diabetes at 28, she decided it was time to prioritize her health. She has transformed by being intentional about her eating habits and working out consistently. She also became a Vegan and a health/fitness coach.

Social Media:
IG: @saayyitfitness_
TikTok: Saayyitfitness28
Facebook:Saayy it Fitness

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I wanted to be healthy and knew that my problem was bigger than losing weight. I was 28 with high blood pressure, and my doctor also said I was borderline Diabetic. I was also surprised to find out that I had high blood pressure for five years. They were just prescribing me medication for it. Also, I had an iron deficiency, but I don’t like taking medication. So I knew to avoid taking medicine, I needed to at least make a change. 

I took a lot of photos because being able to look back on where I came from inspired me to keep going. Being able to help other women with their journey was another way I kept going. It was a very rewarding feeling to help other women through a journey that’s so personal. It still is today because I became a health and fitness coach to help women achieve their level of healthy.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Jasmine Jackson | Health and Fitness Coach (@saayyitfitness_)

How did you change your eating habits?
I started to meal prep. Meal prepping was the best thing I ever did because it taught me how to create a better relationship with food. I was in a calorie deficit period. When I started my journey, I only ate 1200 calories a day. I don’t recommend anyone going that route, but it allowed me to make better changes. I stopped eating carbs as well, which is something I also don’t recommend. I’ve become Vegan through my journey, which has been so rewarding.

What is your workout routine? 
My workout routine was cardio (dance fitness), all from home. Youtube was my friend during that time. I enjoy doing workouts that allow me to move constantly. Eventually, I did start to incorporate strength training into my workout regimen. Adding weights to my cardio routines allowed me to advance my fitness level very quickly.

How often did you work out?
When I started my journey, it was only for about 15 or 20 minutes three days a week. Each week I would give myself a new goal to progress. I didn’t want to overwork myself because I knew I would give up if I did. So I would either extend the time or add a day each week. Now I work out 4-5 days a week for 45 minutes to a half hour.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight? 
My starting weight was 194 pounds, and currently, I weigh 127 pounds.

What is your height?
I am 5’2″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I have been on this journey more than once. This is actually my third time losing weight. My journey actually started in 2011. I lost 15 pounds without trying. I was enrolled in a cardio class in college, so by being active, the pounds rolled off even though I ate what I wanted. 

Eating what I wanted caught up with me. So in 2015, I lost 20 pounds. I started at 178lbs and got down to 158lbs. By the end of 2016, I had gained most of the 20lbs back. My doctor thought something was medically wrong. I gained back 40lbs altogether. 

In 2019, I started my healthy lifestyle journey and lost 75 pounds. However, it took me ten months to lose 60 pounds (a year in total). Becoming a Vegan also played a huge role in my weight loss journey. I have been on this journey for three years total and have maintained my weight loss for about two years.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
Your appearance doesn’t have to be a huge factor in your weight loss journey. The fact that my body functioning better and I actually feel better is also something to focus on. I’ve been able to make rewarding health changes by not focusing on the scale or having a certain look. Instead, I focus on how I feel and am intentional with what I’m consuming.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Go at your pace. You have your body for a lifetime. This is a journey, not a race, and this is a great time to learn about you and your body better. Have that mindset that Time is good. We must give our bodies time to do what we want them to do. 

Affirm yourself through it all. Don’t beat yourself up or talk down to yourself about things you want to change. Love yourself through it, because you will be changing through it.