Transformation of the Day: Julia lost 56 pounds. While living abroad, she let go of healthy eating habits and stopped exercising regularly. When she returned home, none of her old clothes fit and she grew tired of hiding her body. For motivation, she joined a challenge at a local gym and posted her progress online. Having a strong support system was key to her success. Check out her story.
What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
I was living abroad for a couple of years, and I lost my way with poor eating and lack of regular exercise in general. When I moved back home to California in November 2018, I barely recognized myself in the mirror. None of my old clothes fit and I was tired of having to hide my body when I really just wanted to be a carefree, 24 year old girl.
To stay motivated, I posted my gym check-ins on Facebook every day as a part my gym’s challenge. This ensured that my community knew what I was trying to do. Not only did it hold me accountable to keep going, but it in turn gave them a platform to encourage and support me. Strangely, the image of my “old self” was massive motivation to keep going. I wanted to get as far away from the sad, uncomfortable girl who has started this journey, and every step away from that made me feel even stronger.
How did you change your eating habits?
I decided to sign up for a gym challenge with Results Transformation Center, where they challenge you to lose 20 pounds in 6 weeks. They require you to keep “rolling over” challenges until you hit a healthy body fat percentage, so I ended up going for 3 consecutive rounds.
They supplied me with a meal plan. It includes a list of the proteins, carbs and vegetables I was allowed to eat, as well as the measurements and schedule for each meal. I purchased and prepared my own food, which forced me to stand on my own two feet and learn how to cook for myself in a healthy, sustainable and REALISTIC way. I cut out sugar completely,
maintained a low-to-no salt diet, stopped eating wheat-based foods, stopped drinking alcohol (sad face), and drank a TON of water. I also began adding supplements to my diet, such as protein shakes, BCAA’s and EFA’s.
What did your workout routine look like?
I worked out at least 5 days a week, 1 hour at a time. My gym does group personal training sessions (or as I like to call it, CrossFit ‘Lite’). The training ranges from Tabata/Cardio, weight training and body weight exercises.
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 250.4 pounds, and my current weight is 194 pounds. I hope to make it down another 30 pounds (to roughly 165 lbs) in the next 6 months. My height is 5’7”.
How long did your transformation take?
I began my weight loss journey January 2018. It took 5 months to lose 56.4 pounds. (Weight loss surgery was not a part of my journey.)
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
I’ve learned that consistency is key. Weight loss is an accumulation of a bunch of little things you do to shape your lifestyle. Only when you put those little components together does it create a bigger, more identifiable result. In my experience, if you start to cheat here and there, it’s so easy to just spiral out of control and lose the progress you worked so hard to achieve.
I also gained deeper insight into my own resilience and strength. This journey was not easy by any means, yet somehow I kept going even when the “old” me would have given up. To me, this indicates a change that goes further than the physical.
What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
I would recommend making a plan with a specific goal or deadline in mind. This gives you something to work towards instead of aimlessly going at it. Then, when you hit physical or emotional setbacks, you’ll still have a strong sense of motivation to keep driving you forward.
I’d also recommend having something or someone to hold you accountable. Whether you are making your journey public or having a trusted friend to encourage you, I think it helps to not have to go it alone.
Instagram: @jayeni
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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