Kandace lost 52 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Kandace lost 52 pounds. She was accepted into a 15 week, Biggest Loser-style transformation program in her hometown. From nutrition to exercise, she was given the tools and support she needed, but she still had to find her willpower and adopt the right mindset to succeed. Check out her experience.

My name is Kandace and I’m 30 years old. I have been struggling with my weight for years. I’ve always been a bigger girl. People would alwasys comment on how pretty I was and tell me how well I was dressed, so I really didn’t feel like there was a reason for me to lose weight.

Then, I had an embarrassing moment where I couldn’t fit on a rollercoaster at a theme park. I was absolutely humiliated! However, the need for change still didn’t click in my mind. I ate more and more to hide the pain. It wasn’t until I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and high cholesterol that I knew it was time for me to make some changes.

In April 2017, I became a contestant in a program that was going on in my hometown. It was kind of like The Biggest Loser, but the people who started the program were very caring and loving. Out of hundreds of applicants, they chose me to be one of the 25 people participating in the program this year. They supplied me with nutritionists, trainers and the tools I needed to succeed.

It was a 15 week bootcamp and I found out so many things about myself during this program. I found out why I ate so much and why I ate toxic foods. I also found out that I felt unworthy. I felt like I wasn’t good enough to do certain things and that wasn’t true. All this time, I’d let fear take over my life. I was my biggest enemy.

The program encouraged me to eat from all food groups, but in reasonable portions, and to stay between 1200-1400 calories a day. I also lowered my salt and sugar intake, and stayed away from processed foods. At first, it was very hard. After the 2nd week, my body started feeling good. I worked out twice a day for 15 weeks, 5 to 6 days a week. I tracked my food with MyFitnessPal.

I wanted this so bad! I’m a single, so I had to wake my babies up early in the morning to take them to my mother’s or some days they would come to my workouts. There were all types of things that went wrong in just those 15 weeks in my personal life, but I kept fighting and pushing through it. The average person would have quit, but I was tired of living average! During the 13th week of the program, I ran/walked a half marathon (13.1 miles). Before the program, I couldn’t walk around the block.

I started off at 263 pounds. Now, I weigh 211 pounds at 5’3″. My goal weight is 170 pounds. Now that I’m out the program, my mindset hasn’t changed. I refuse to go back to old habits. I eat clean and every once in a while I may eat something out the way, but I never get carried away. I keep it simple. My plate always has a lot vegetables on it.

My kids are definitely my motivation. I wanted to be around for them. I didn’t want to die from something I could avoid. I recently went to my family doctor and I was taken off blood pressure medication and high cholesterol medication.

My advice to anyone would be surround yourself with positivity throughout your weight loss process. People who you think are your friends will show you who they are during this process. I’ve lost 2 friends because they want the old Kandace back and she’s gone forever! Also, I suggest seeing a therapist. Losing weight is all in the mind. You have got to be prepared mentally in order to lose weight. I had to! If you aren’t mentally ready, you WILL FAIL!

You can follow my journey @iamknichole on Instagram and Snapchat @queenkandi87