Transformation of the Day: Lekeisha lost 109 pounds. Not only did she prove to herself that change is possible and that she could do the work to transform her life, but she also beat cervical cancer. After months of chemotherapy and radiation, she is currently in remission. Check out her awesome, inspiring story.
I hate sharing these before photos, but they are a part of my story. I’m living proof that change is possible! The woman in the first photo never, ever believed that she could get to the second photo. Never! She just kept showing up and giving it everything she had!
My starting weight was about 300 pounds. I think I weighed 298 pounds. I wasn’t even at my heaviest weight in the first photo. In the after photo, I’m healthier than I have ever been. My current weight is 189 pounds at 5’10”. I’ve even beat cancer and I’m in full REMISSION! I know for a fact that the chemotherapy and radiation would have been even more difficult than it was if I was still obese!
On 12/17/2013, I decided that I was going to start a mind, body and spirit makeover. I remember looking in the mirror and crying, because I didn’t even recognize myself. I had just let myself go. I was a fat mess and that’s just my truth. There is no need to sugarcoat it. I knew that it was time to take my life back, and it is best decision I ever made in my life.
I started by joining Weight Watchers’ online program and counting points. I used that program for several months. It really works and I loved it, but unfortunately my body got used to it. I wasn’t losing weight after about 6 months. So, I changed things up by doing some research of my own and switched over to lowering my carbs. I’m definitely not eating low carb, because I love fruit and I’ve eaten fruit throughout my entire journey. I have just really reduced my complex carbohydrates. I rarely eat bread, rice, pasta or potatoes, and I stay away from starchy carbohydrate filled foods. Eating clean, simple foods works for me. I also try to shop from the outside perimeter of the supermarket. Very simply, that is where most of the simple, clean and unprocessed foods are, like produce, dairy and meat. Those foods make up the bulk of my food intake. I’m not perfect but I try to eat healthy 90% of the time.
In the beginning, my workout was walking. I would walk 6 days a week, for as long as I could. Walking 2 miles a day eventually turned into 6 miles a day. I didn’t join the gym at first, because honestly I felt like I would be out of place there. I’d never been to a gym and was nervous about going. Once I got further into my journey, I realized that the gym was exactly where I belonged. I signed up at Planet Fitness, watched people workout and then I would copy them. I also started going to a boxing gym and working with the trainer there. That’s when I can honestly say my body started to really take shape. I would go to Planet Fitness in the morning, 5 days a week and to the boxing gym after work, 4 days a week. Most days, I would still go for a walk at lunch as well. I was really, really active!
I reached my goal weight and then came cancer. Sadly, I was diagnosed with cervical cancer last year and I had to undergo chemotherapy and radiation for months. It was the most difficult time of my life. My body was too weak to workout. I had to use all my energy to battle cancer. I picked up about 18 pounds during that time. By the grace of GOD, I’m blessed to say I beat cancer! I fought like a girl and I won! I’m in complete remission and fighting my way back to my goal weight of 175 pounds. I lost a lot of muscle memory and strength during my battle, so I’m working everyday on getting that back. Right now, I’m working out 5 days a week and 2 times a day on 4 of those days. I’ve been thru a lot this year but even after all that, I still feel so blessed!
Is it time for you to make some changes? Is it time for you to go on a mind, body and spirit makeover journey? Are you happy or are you just existing? I’m proof that it can be done! You can do it too! I don’t care what you have to go thru to get to your “happy” place. Trust me, it’s TRULY worth it. START NOW! You can change your life. Look at me. I did it. How bad do you want it?
It is my hope that someone will look at my photos today and decide to start their journey or decide not to give up on the journey they’ve already started. Take control of your life. You can do this! CHANGE IS POSSIBLE!
Instagram: @love_keekee
beatingtheweightgame says
You look amazing and what a wonderful testimony!!! God bless you on your journey. I’m on a journey too and have lost 38 lbs so far. I’m 5’9 and was about 230 lbs. I now weigh 185 and my body is very similar to yours so I hope you repost afterwards to let us know what your final goal is. Thanks for sharing your story.
Roshon says
Hunny you did that….
Tawanda Nathan says
You look amazing! I’m 34, 5’7 and weigh 324 lbs. I’ve spent years trying to lose weight and feel better about myself but nothing seems to work for me. I’ve tried many diets but get bored after a while and would eventually give up. My biggest problems are that I’m an emotional eater and I hate exercising. I work Monday thru Friday with emotionally disabled students and by the end of my work day I’m exhausted. I have a gym membership at Planet Fitness as well, but I’m just wasting my money basically because i don’t go. I’ve sat and tried coming up with different things I can do to get on the right track but it’s tough. I have high blood pressure and was told that I am pre diabetic. I’m currently taking pills for both issues and even watched my mom have a stroke due to obesity. She was left paralyzed on her left side and tells me often that I’m going down the same road she went down. You would think that that would be enough reason to get in shape, but I’m still having trouble with being motivated enough to get it together. I’m always tired. I keep telling myself that if I had someone to workout with I would be more successful. I’m 34, single, with no kids and feel like it’s all due to my weight. I want more for myself, but I’m having a hard time making it happen. I’m not happy with myself. I don’t recall ever being happy with myself because I’ve always been overweight. I see people jogging around my neighborhood and would always say “One day that will be me out here running and not getting tired.” I’m still trying to figure out away to get to that day.
Vicky says
I hear where you coming from just start somewhere mainly with mindset, then with learning about healthier eating you would be surprised with foods that can take the place of those old habits making them new ones when you make that move you will start to feel better then taking one day at a time can be motivating being creating with salads is really satisfying and tasty that really helped me and im still trying im working on getting myself into s workout routine which is tough working a full and partime job im looking for a partner to help motivate me further dont think of everything at one time have patience and good results will show up you will learn alot of helpful information i wish you best of journey im going for 60lbs by July i will be 54 i will celebrate to a new life changing moment because when i reach that goal after this late in my life i will accomplish that you eat to live and not live to eat come on girl you got this!!!!
Shaneka says
Praise the Lord regarding your testimony and the fight to become a healthier you! Keep going my sister and many blessings on your journey. I also want to comment on your chemotherapy. Not many people know that chemo is carcinogenic which is the reason most times cancer returns. It’s a know fact that high dosages of vitamin C cures cancer. My passion is curing the body with what God has provided us in the earth, with herbs and natural remedies. There are documentaries of other countries curing only with vitamin C through IV. Knowledge is power so I wanted to share that with you. Again, many blessings!