Joie lost 25 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Joie lost 25 pounds and gained lean muscle. During her journey, this proud educator learned the consistency in the gym is great, but healthy eating habits truly make the difference.

Hello! My name is Joanna, but everyone calls me Joie. I started my journey in 2018 and never looked back. At first, I thought it was just about working out. But the main thing I realized is that you cannot out work a bad diet. I focus on my eating and my consistency in the gym. I have lost a total of 25 pounds and gained a lot of muscle. This is just the beginning. I am no where near done.

Social Media:
Instagram: @Joie__fit

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I’ve always struggled with loving myself. In my 20’s, I was over very overweight and even more insecure. I was the girl who wanted to be in the background and not seen.

As an educator, I teach my students to love themselves and put their best foot forward. I realized I was not practicing what I was preaching. I decided to make a change! When I started to lose weight, it opened my eyes to the fact that I could really do this. Some days, I wanted to quit, but I would look at how far I had come and knew I needed to see this through. 

How did you change your eating habits?
My eating habits changed because I did not allow myself to keep my “happy goods” in the house. In the past, I would wake up and eat a snack in the middle of the night. I realized I didn’t need to buy the things that would tempt me.

I also became a pescatarian. This helped me A LOT. Since I stopped eating meat, I wasn’t going to the nearest drive-through for a quick meal. I had to actually meal prep plan out my meals. I recently returned to chicken after five years of not eating it to add more protein to my diet. 

What is your workout routine?
I started with a personal trainer to help kickstart my journey. Then, once I got the hang of it, I did a lot of HIIT cardio on my own. I went back and forth between having different trainers and working out on my own. I became certified as a cycle instructor and started teaching Zumba classes. 

How often did you work out?
I work out six days a week, and I take a rest day where I am still active. I may take a walk or clean my house just to ensure I’ve reached 10k steps. There are weeks when that number decreases, and that’s OK! Not every week is perfect. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 225 pounds. I currently weigh 202 pounds and still losing. I am also building a lot of muscle.

What is your height?
I’m 5’5″. 

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in 2918. There were some highs and lows. My body has transformed in so many ways since being on this journey. I am now focusing on toning and building muscle. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I learned is that you cannot out work a bad diet. There were many times I was going to the gym and still going to eat terrible afterwards. I realized it definitely what you eat that will make the difference.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Give yourself grace! Allow yourself to have the ups and the downs. This is a marathon not a sprint. The more consistent you are the better you will feel.