Jilissa lost 84 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Jilissa lost 84 pounds. Since she was 13, she has struggled with obesity due to PCOS and depression. At 24, she decided to heal herself holistically and take steps to avoid a family history of illness. VSG surgery and working out at Planet Fitness are two of the tools she used.

Social Media:
Instagram: @JiJiVSG22
TikTok: jiji_cay2696 

What was your motivation?
By the grace of God, I never became diabetic, had high blood pressure, or had any disease that ran in my family. I started my journey to dodge those illnesses, take care of my body, and regain my power to become healthy. 

I have struggled with morbid obesity due to PCOS since I was 13 years old. I experienced bullying about my weight from elementary school to high school. I hated my weight and became depressed. At the age of 24, I decided that I owed it to myself to heal mentally, spiritually, and physically. On July 13th, 2022, I accepted Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) surgery as a tool to help me take my life back. The illnesses that ran in my family would stop with me. 

Starting weight/Current weight
Starting weight: 334 pounds
Current weight: 250 pounds

What is your height?
5’7″

How did you change your eating habits?
Growing up, my family only could afford processed junk. As I got older and understood my PCOS condition, I started moving away from processed foods (high sugar and high saturated fat). I started eating more lean protein (chicken, fish, and occasionally steak), more vegetables, and healthy carbs ( sweet potatoes, brown or jasmine rice, lentils, etc.). 

I also drank fruit and protein shakes that are low in sugar. I drink lots of water, diet ocean spray, or caffeine-free tea to stay hydrated. 

I have tried every diet plan (WW, Noom, keto, etc.), and they didn’t work for me. Education is key, as well as patience. Every diet isn’t going to work for everyone. My fitness Pal has helped to keep me on track. 

Tell us about your workout routine.
HIIT and strength training has done my body justice. I work with a great trainer at Planet Fitness to help me focus on shaping and molding my body.

• Mondays: Arms and shoulders 
• Tuesday: legs and glutes 
• Wednesday: rest 
• Thursday: core and back 
• Friday: 60-minute cardio( treadmill, elliptical, and home), 20 minutes each 
• Saturday: light yoga 
• Sunday: rest 

The free training teaches me to work with machines that build up my strength and mainly keep me focused on my goals. For HIIT, I use the HIIT Workouts app via the Apple App Store.