Latiana lost 20 pounds

Weight Loss Story of the Day: Latiana lost 20 pounds since Oct 2014.  At 5’3″ this petite mom dealt with serious weight gain from birth control after years of being slim.  When she got engaged and started trying on wedding dresses, she got the wakeup call she needed.  Here is what she shared about her weight loss journey…

What was your motivation?

Three things specifically inspired me, the first was I had been noticing that since the beginning of 2014, I began to slowly pick up weight. This is something that I NEVER had to endure as a person that had always been under a size 5, but once I started breast feeding the effects of the Implanon (birth control) in my arm began to start up with weight gain. My clothes started to fit differently and slowly but surely, I found myself buying bigger sizes than what was normal for me. I crept up from my size 5, to a 6, then those got too tight, so it was on to an 8, then those even got to tight, so, I had to purchase a few size 10s. My office did a Biggest Loser challenge in April 2014 and I stepped on the scale to see 143 (which isn’t bad for some), but for me and what I was use to I was SO embarrassed. I basically just donated my money to the challenge and never even attempted to work out OR even change my eating and cooking habits (cooking runs in the family but, so also does Diabetes & High Blood Pressure & Cholesterol). So, fast forward to September 12^th when my honey proposes and now it gets serious because I KNOW I have to lose weight.  When I went to the bridal store, tried on dresses and they wouldn’t even zip in the back so they had to bring out other sizes, I was TOO TOO thru. I scheduled a Doctors appt for Septemer 30^th and THIS IS THE DAY EVERYTHING CHANGED FOR ME. The scale read 163 lbs. The doctor said, loose 1-2 lbs per week, that’s healthy weight loss and it’s bound to stay off this way. With that I began my mission of becoming and staying fit. Logging on to Black Weight Loss Success SEVERAL times per week was a HUGE inspiration.

How did you change your eating habits?

My eating habits changes began with me STOPPING the late night eating, not eating after 7:30pm, and if I ever happen to eat late it BETTER be a healthy choice (fruit). I cut out the fast food and fried foods. I’ve been drinking only water since I began. I meal prep (which is SO important) and I use portion control. I do give myself 1-2 treat meals per month, but it is Meal and not Treat DAY. I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner (every day), with a few snacks in-between. If we go out to eat, I’ll only eat half the meal and save the rest for later. I fill up on a little water before eating. I just recently starting doing fusion water too. I cut out rice, pasta, fatty foods (like bacon, sour cream, cheddar cheese), and started substituting these things for other stuff (i.e. avocado as a topping for my baked potatoes when I eat them). My treat meals are things like pasta (which is still in moderation), or a Rib Eye instead of a Sirloin. I tried to cheat with a meal last week at Jack n the Box (Chipolte Chicken Club), I craved it so bad as it’s a limited item that they have every now and then, but my body completely rejected it and the fries. I had to give the rest to my kids.

What did your workout routines look like?

My workout routines started with me taking EVERY break at work to walk and spending time during my lunch to walk as well. Going to the gym and getting on the step climber was the absolute BEST because of how many calories you burn. I slowly began jump roping, and I just started kickboxing this past Saturday (which is already kicking my butt), with classes being 5days a week. I am not going to the gym at this time. At home while watching my favorite shows I’ll lift my 5 lb weighs during commercials. After this month long kickboxing class is over, I’m jumping into Zumba and Pole Dancing for exercise.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?

I went from 163lbs down to 143lbs and I still have 20 more pounds to go before I’m back down to the size I was last year with me being 5’3’’. One of the things I did was buy my wedding gown to small (in the size I was before I started gaining the weight and the size I was 2 kids ago), it’s pushing me to loose the weight, I’m almost there guys!!!! I look forward to coming back on and sharing my updates.

How long did your transformation take?  What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?

I began my journey October 3^rd 2014. I’m sure that if I was still going to the gym as much as I was when I initially started it would be all off by now but, I wanted it to be a complete lifestyle change and not just a little quickie things that I would later gain the weight back. The advice I give is Faith is dead without the work. It sounds hard but, once you start, you’ll get to the point where you don’t want to stop.

As a mom of 5 this change effected my entire household, even with my mate because they miss all that extra good cooking I use to do, which I can still do but it’s just going to be a healthier options. I don’t plan to go back to eating unclean. I feel SO much better, my skin is clearer and it feels good to motivate family, friends, & coworkers. I set goals for myself, and after accomplishing them, then I give myself a treat. You can treat yourself, just make sure you’ve earned it, which you can do so with a good workout in the morning to earn burn some calories.

Stick with it. You can do it!! Just start, stopping thinking, I don’t have the money, it’s too expensive, I need a gym membership, I don’t get paid until so and so day. Those are all the excuses I made for myself. Stop the excuses!! You can start NOW!!

• Start with water only (cutting out all other drinks)
• STOP eating after a certain time
• Oven fry instead of using grease
• Meal prep with what you have
• Use portion control.
• Walk around while your clothes are in the washer or dryer for exercise. I give myself challenges like that all the time.