Keora lost 42 pounds

Update Nov 2017: Keora lost 42 lbs in 2016 but gained more than half the weight back by May 2017. She’s worked hard since then and embraced intermitten fasting to get results. She’s now surpassed her success from 2016 and is down 54 pounds total.

In November 2016, I had managed to loose 42 pounds. I went from 290lbs to 248lbs, and then life happened. I started to go back down a familiar road and by May of 2017, I was back up to 279 pounds. However, I wasn’t hard on myself because my outlook on weight loss is that it is a lifestyle journey. I was introduced to the concept of Intermittent Fasting by the Hodge Twins (on YouTube) and I started to take back my life. Today, I weigh in at 235 pounds, resulting in a total weight loss of 54lbs since my highest weight. This is a lifestyle journey. If at first you don’t succeed, dust yourself off and try it again. And the journey continues… I share my journey on YouTube: It’sYaGirl K – Instagram: @naturallyprettybrownk

Nov 2016: Weight Loss Story: Keora lost 42 pounds. This mom reached her breaking point when she temporarily stopped breathing while playing with her young children due to the pounds she was carrying. After years of trail and error, she restarted her weight loss journey this year and has figured out what works for her. Check out how she did it.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
My name is Keora and I have lost 42 pounds. I hope my story inspires at least one person to take control of their life, because we are worth it.

We all have our breaking point. For me it was in 2013, when I was playing with my kids while lying on my back and temporarily stopped breathing. There was literally too much weight on my body. At the time, my kids were only 2 and 4 years old. I knew a change was necessary.

Initially, I began my journey in late February 2013. I started taking Phentermine to lose weight and I weighed in at 279 pounds (wearing a size 20) at the time. Six months later, I was wearing a size 11. I didn’t weigh myself, because I was focused on non-scale victories. On top of taking a diet pill, I was also replacing my lunchtime meal with a green smoothie. I would also drink a “shot” of water mixed with apple cider vinegar each morning, faithfully. Once I completed a six month cycle at the end of August 2013, I was taken off of Phentermine pills by my doctor.

I remember weighing myself later, in December of 2013, and you can bet that I gained all my weight back. I reached 290 pounds. Yes, I was bigger than when I first started… SMH! I remember feeling extremely hungry all the time and I went through a depression… a very bad combination.

What was your motivation?
I’ve always felt that I owed it to myself to get my life back on track. I moved out of state, got out of a toxic relationship and never looked back. From 2013 to 2015, I took the time to find myself and to be a better mother for my children. At the end of 2015, I weighed 279 pounds. I was back at square one, but I wasn’t discouraged.

Over the next few months, I saved my money and started to make investments that have changed my life. I bought a Bike, the 21 Day Fix program by Autumn Calabrese and a George Foreman grill. As of August 2016, I’ve adapted a healthier way of living. I’ve also been tracking my progress and sharing with others via Instagram: @naturallyprettybrownk and YouTube.

How did you change your eating habits?
I worked my way up by cutting out sodas in exchange for juice and drinking water throughout the day. I meal prep twice per week for portion control. I use the George Foreman grill so all of the meat I eat is grilled, which is most definitely healthier than anything fried. No diet pills, meal replacements, etc. This time around, the weight is coming off naturally and the first thing I noticed was changes to my face.

What did your workout routines look like?
I only workout Monday-Friday. Monday-Thursday, I’m riding my bike to and from school with my children. Monday-Friday, I also workout using my 21 Day Fix program, which consists of hardcore 30 minute daily workouts.

Starting weight/Current weight
On August 6th, 2016, I weighed in at 277 pounds and I currently weigh 248 pounds. I’ve lost 29 pounds in the last two months and 42 pounds since my heaviest weight (290 pounds). I’m never looking back. Height: 5’4″

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Be realistic with your weight loss approach, because diets don’t work. Who would want to diet for the rest of their life? NOT I. What I could do for the rest of my life is eat what I want, just in smaller portions, by meal prepping. It is very important to meal prep food that you actually enjoy eating. Add healthy food items to your meals and snacks throughout the day.

Making time to adapt a healthier lifestyle is VITAL to weight loss and keeping it off!  You can never be too busy to dedicate at least 30 minutes a day to doing some kind of exercise. Find something you love to do and incorporate your children.

We absolutely LOVE our bike rides and I feel myself getting stronger everyday. I threw away my scale and only weigh-in once a month so I don’t drive myself crazy. Be sure to take body measurements along the way because non-scale victories are important too. SLOW AND STEADY WINS THE RACE!