Transformation of the Day: Jennifer lost 100 pounds. Over the years, her weight yo-yo’d up and down despite her best efforts and consistent workouts. Frustrated, she decided to work with a fitness/nutrition coach who was interested in training her adolescent son, who plays basketball. She shared with us that she learned how crucial eating habits are to getting results and being successful long-term.
I currently weigh 135 pounds. At my heaviest, I weighed 235 pounds. My height is 5’10”.
In 2016, after quitting my job and being unemployed, I weighed 235 pounds. The last time I saw this number on the scale was ten years before when I was nine months pregnant with twins! That number hit me hard, but I didn’t start changing anything until I got a new job.
From February 2016 to June 2019, I yo-yo dieted. For months at a time, I would hit the treadmill daily and not eat any carbs (surviving on just chicken breast and broccoli). Then, during other months, I would eat whatever I wanted but continued maintaining some sort of regular workout routine.
My weight fluctuated, and while I never went back to 235 pounds, it still felt like I had to keep starting over. I would stall at 220 lbs for months, get down to 205 lbs. Then I’d go back to 215 pounds after months of being over and under 200 lbs. It was frustrating, but I did this on and off and on my own for over three years.
I got myself down to 182 pounds by June 2019! I was so happy to finally get to that number, and I was so proud of myself. However, I went on a few vacations that summer, and after just SIX WEEKS, I was right back to 197 lbs. That’s right! I gained 15 pounds in no time, and it was depressing. It was apparent that I did not have the tools to maintain the weight I had lost, and I was scared to go back to weighing over 200 lbs. I knew I had to do something different, but I didn’t know what to do.
In September 2019, I was introduced to a fitness trainer and nutrition coach who was interested in training my adolescent son, who plays basketball. This trainer was interested in training athletes, but he also helped hundreds of people meet their fitness and weight loss goals through his weight loss program, The Blueprint. I remember being so scared and so skeptical about signing up for his program. “What if it doesn’t work? What if I waste my money? What if I don’t finish? What if I fail?” In the end, I decided to sign up because I knew something had to change, and I needed to try something different.
The Blueprint Program is a 12-week weight loss transformation program by @fonzthetrainer. (Plans include customized weekly meal plans, guided in-person or virtual workouts, 1-on-1 coaching/mentoring, and/or access to support groups.)
This was by far the best decision I have ever made in my life. Not only did I exceed my weight loss goals by losing over 60 lbs., but I have kept the weight off and developed a whole new lifestyle centered around healthier eating habits and a daily fitness routine that includes cardio and strength training.
I follow a customized weekly meal plan and work out at least five days per week. My meal plans vary from 4-6 meals per day depending on the week, and everything is measured. And I eat CARBS! I eat bread, rice, potatoes, and fruits – foods that some weight loss plans forbid.
My workouts include a mixture of cardio and strength training. I train twice a week with my trainer. On the other days, I train on my own, following a plan designed by my trainer. In the past, I hadn’t even attempted a barbell squat, bench press, or deadlift. Now I do all three exercises on a regular basis.
This program changed my life. It has not always been easy, but the good days BY FAR outnumber the bad days. The structure and consistency of the program allow me to get back on the right track if I slip off. It has been truly amazing to see my body transform while getting stronger both physically and mentally. My trainer and my family are always encouraging me, but the RESULTS keep me motivated. Even when I wasn’t losing weight as fast as I wanted, my clothes size kept going down, my stamina improved, or my strength/lifts kept increasing. No matter what it was, improvement was happening week after week.
The most important lesson I have learned is that you need to conquer your eating habits to lose pounds and sustain weight loss. So many people ask me about my workout routine. They say they need a trainer to help them work out or ask me to show them how to work out. This is just the wrong way of thinking for someone overweight and looking to lose weight.
It’s all about the kind of food and the amount of food you are consuming. Yes, working out can help, but only if you’re on a plan where you’re watching what you eat. You can work out every day and gain weight. However, you can eat the right foods and the right portions, NEVER workout, and you will absolutely lose weight! I yo-yo’d for three years while on a regular workout routine because I didn’t know how or what to eat. When chicken breast and broccoli weren’t satisfying, I binged on bad foods.
I admire people who can lose weight on their own but if it’s too hard or you’re not seeing/sustaining your desired results, get help! Don’t be ashamed to ask for help. Find someone who has worked with people who look like you. My trainer helped hundreds of women who are moms and work full-time jobs like me. It was important that he showed me he could help people who looked like me – body shape, lifestyle, even ethnicity – because I needed to see myself through his work. Find a program that fits your lifestyle. Ask questions over and over again. The right trainer/right program won’t make you feel bad for wanting to know and understand how you’re spending your money. These programs are not cheap, but it’s an investment that will continue to pay you for the rest of your life.
Instagram: @hayjen
Disclaimer: Reference or link to any specific product, diet plan, exercise plan or service mentioned in the weight loss stories we share is for the information of our readers, and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Black Women Losing Weight.
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