Lena lost 60 pounds

Update 5/2016: A year later, Lena reports that she’s lost over 100 pounds.

“It’s been a year since you featured my story and I wanted to give you guys an update. I have continued to work on myself, both physically and mentally. As you know losing weight is a mental challenge just as much as it is a physical challenge. You have to maintain some sort of discipline if you want to be successful. After years of struggling to maintain weight loss, never exercising and never participating in any athletic programs, I have officially lost over 100 pounds. I was even able to overcome military physical requirements to join the United States Army National Guard as a Paralegal Specialist. I never thought that someone who was once between 260-280 pounds would be considered physically fit enough to be in the military. I am able to run, hike, crawl and much more, along side my peers. I pushed myself past what I would consider my own limitations. With discipline and staying motivated, I have been successful in keeping the weight off and being in the best shape of my entire life. I hope my story continues to inspire those around me.” New Instagram: @ChiChi_bangs

2/2015 – Weight Loss Transformation Story of the Day: Lena lost 60 pounds and gone from size 16 to a size 8.  This young lady had been battling being overweight all her life.  During her college experience, she started to take healthy steps to lose the weight and get fit.  Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…

Hello, my name is Lena C. I am 23 and I have been overweight my entire life. I had a bunch of health issues and was told in high school that I would have type two diabetes. During college, I finally had enough of being sick and unhealthy. I started running two years ago and I haven’t looked back since. I am currently training to run a marathon in October.

What continues to inspire me is my purpose in life. I have big goals and I want to be around to fulfill every one and to do that I had to start taking care of my mind, body, and soul.  I believe that everyone has a purpose and you need to have faith despite adversity. To do that you need to be in a constant state of preparation. For example, I started off running on the weekends in the morning just in my room. I couldn’t afford a gym membership or actual equipment, and I was way to insecure to run in my neighborhood. During that time, I was 20 years old and 230 lbs. I was  just hoping to get rid of my asthma. I would run a half a mile and be exhausted. I didn’t grow up informed on nutrition and health, but I believed that the work I was putting in would yield some results.

I then went on the Daniel Fast with my church and only ate fruits and vegetables (no grains, sugars, meats, and only water, etc). I noticed that it helped with my workouts and I felt better in my body. I have since became a Pescatarian (no meats, except fish and other seafood) and over the past 3 years I have lost 60 lbs.

I run at least a mile every other day and I participate in workout challenges such as the ones you post to help with strength training like the plank, squat, push up, and sit up challenges.  My advice to others would be set a goal and know matter what anyone says, if you have faith enough in your goal to prepare and sacrifice as if you already have it, you will be unstoppable. Patience, preparation, and sacrifice.

I love what you guys represent. I look forwarded to seeing others progress because it motivates me to keep going. Also. this February water challenge is working miracles.