Laura lost 108 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Laura lost 108 pounds. This young lady decided that her health was worth fighting for. Her motto has been, “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. She shared with us how she lost body fat and dropped dress sizes with healthy eating and exercise.

April 10th, 2015 marked the day. I decided my health was worth fighting for. I was scared, but I was also very determined to turn my things around. Petrified as I was, I stepped into Les Mils about endure my first training session. I decided then and there that my mantra throughout my journey would be “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. Fast forward to more than a year later. I’ve had a whole lot of laughter, tears, and moments when I felt defeated, but I’ve also had moments where I felt triumph. This journey has been nothing easy, but everything that I’ve endured has been oh so worth it!

I’ve always been a big girl. I being African (from Zimbabwe), I really thought I was destined for thunder thighs, a big booty, boobs and curves in all the wrong
places for the rest of my life! I hated how I felt about my body and was desperate for change!

In April, I had a massive desire to regain my health. I had tried to lose weight by myself countless times but never kept the weight off. I lost motivation within weeks but I knew something had to change, and that I could no longer go on the way I was going. Initially, my main motivation was my 21st birthday that was fast approaching. I used that milestone to keep me motivated and it was a goal I could work towards.

I was scared to join the gym, let alone seek the help of a personal trainer, but again my mantra through my journey has been “Feel the fear and do it anyway”. So, I started going to two 30 minute personal training sessions each week and going to group fitness classes. Whilst the exercise no doubt played a massive part in me losing weight my biggest hurdle was my diet.

Prior to my journey, I loved sweet things. I could eat a whole block of chocolate in one setting. When I  started losing weight I knew my eating had to change dramatically! I followed a strict Paleo diet for the first 6 months. No refined sugar, grains, legumes, diary and alcohol. I focused on healthy macronutrients;  carbs, proteins and fats. After a strict Paleo diet, I corrected the portions of my meals and ate in moderation.

At my heaviest, I weighed 117kgs (257.9 pounds) and now I weigh 68kgs (149.9 pounds). I 163cm tall (5’3″) and went from a New Zealand size 22 to a size 12/10 (US size 18 to 8/6)!

If I had to give advice to someone trying to lose weight, I would say, “It’s A Journey.” It won’t happen overnight, but every step in the right direction will add up! Every healthy meal, every mini workout… it all counts. Any progress is better than no progress!

Instagram: @giggles_journeytohealth