Latoya lost 100 pounds

Update June 2020: Shout out to Latoya! She has maintained her success and lost 20 more pounds for a total of 120 lbs gone. Check out her update.

BWLW featured me in December 2017 after losing 100 pounds. Now, I’ve lost a total of 120 pounds, all naturally, from January 2019 and still going. At this point in my journey, the scale is really not my main focus. Today, my main focus is to be healthy and fit! What motivates me is life itself! I want to live up to my highest potential.

I lost the weight, and I’ve maintained my success by having healthy eating habits and by exercising on a regular basis. I changed my eating habits change by properly portioning my food and eating from all five food groups.

It’s my lifestyle! Failure is not in my vocabulary. It’s MIND OVER MATTER!
I love to inspire and motivate others, so I document my journey on my Instagram page: @Itsmylifestyle_77

Transformation of the Day: Latoya lost 100 pounds. This Bahamian sista has become her own health hero. Self hate and a lack of body confidence did not stop her. Today she not only feels beautiful, but healthy and blessed. She shared with us how she took action by focusing on nutrition and exercise.

Putting yourself out there for people to see isn’t always easy, but I know I’ve been blessed so that my story can be a blessing to someone else.

What was your motivation?
I hit rock bottom about four years ago. It happened at my cousin’s wedding. I looked in a full-length mirror and saw my makeup on fleek and my hair looking fabulous. However, my body confidence was below zero. I didn’t like what I saw staring back at me in the mirror.

I was long overdue for a reality check. I hade a lot of self-hate inside and very little love for my body. I was unhealthy, and at times I felt like crap. Hiding behind wide skirts and flare dresses went on for far too long. I always felt like I had a beautiful face, but I didn’t feel healthy. Today, my beauty means nothing to me without my health!

How did you change your eating habits?
I started using a 1500 calorie meal plan from a Dietitian by the name of Mrs. Albury at Princess Margaret Hospital’s Food and Nutrition services department here in The Bahamas where I reside. I followed this diet plan for a few months, and it taught me how to eat better, more balanced meals.

I stopped eating white bread and fried food. I stopped drinking sodas and stopped my late night eating. I started eating three meals a day with two snacks in between. Oatmeal, fish white meat, and veggies are some of the healthy foods I ate regularly.

What did your workout routine look like?
At first, I worked out six days a week for about an hour and a half. I did cardio, weightlifting, and yoga.

Starting weight/Current weight
My starting weight was 275 pounds. Now, I weigh between 175 -180 pounds at 5 feet, 4inches tall. (No surgery, just natural weight loss.)

When did you start your journey?
I started in 2011, but my journey was a bit of a roller coaster. I decided to get serious in 2013 and started seeing small results after a few months. I felt wholly transformed after about two years.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson that I’ve learned: Love Yourself unconditionally while you improve yourself.

What advice would you share with other people who want to lose weight?
Keep pushing and don’t give up. Appreciate the process. A change will eventually come. Also, everything begins in the mind, so cultivate it, and you’re on your way.

Honestly, I am so happy that I decided to join Jemi Health and Wellness to lose weight and get healthy. I often ask myself, “What if I never took those baby steps? What if I never decided I would eat clean and workout? What if I’d kept telling myself that I was just big-boned? What if I didn’t have coaches like Rosa and Helen? What if I didn’t have an instructor like Della Thomas? What if I didn’t have a husband who supported me? What if I missed the opportunity to find myself?”

I’ve become my own health hero. For once, I can genuinely say that I love me and I mean it from the bottom of my heart! I’ve found my purpose and cultivated my mind. The great thing about it is that I’m not finished yet. This is my lifestyle now, and I’m loving it.

Instagram: @Itsmylifestyle_77

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.