Merial lost 155 pounds

Shout out to Merial! She’s down 161lbs, and she’s featured in the June 11th issue of People Magazine. Check out the article.

So…the princess made the cover again….But there’s a QUEEN inside this issue!!!! 😂😂😂 Will hit stands on Friday!! 🙌🙌🙌 Thank you all soooo much for being such amazing inspirations to me! Getting rid of a lifetime of weight is hard, but having a STRONG POSSE makes it possible!!! 👊👊❤❤ I never imagined wn I set out on this journey that it would lead to being featured first in @weightwatchers magazine, then being flown to Miami for a full on photoshoot with People Magazine! This is mind blowing! I am extremely grateful, and will never forget this. True fuel for my fire! I’m at the gym right now on the arc trainer crying like a baby! 😂😂 Dreams do come true…even Dreams you didn’t even know you had. 💗 Thank you, @people for this Amazing opportunity!!! When you’re ready to quit…DON’T. You’ll thank yourself later. 💗 #weightlossjourney #weightwatchers #wwambassador #oprah #158LbsGONE #Freestyle #peoplemagazine @people *People following Weight Watchers typically lose 1-2lbs per week. I lost my weight on a previous WW program and am continuing on Freestyle.

A post shared by Merial 🌟 WWAmbass/People Mag!🌟 (@learnfromme7) on May 30, 2018 at 6:41am PDT

Transformation of the Day: Merial lost 155 pounds with Weight Watchers. I love that she said… “I’ve learned that patience and perseverance are the most important tools you can have on a weight loss journey. Wanting the ‘quick fix‘ only gets you the ‘quick gain‘.” Check out her story.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up? 

I began this journey at 343 pounds. I could barely walk, and had a horrible cough that would not go away. My doctors knew that weight was the reason I was experiencing knee problems, which is why I couldn’t walk. However, the cough was unexplained and it was constant. I went to several specialists and no one could figure it out. I began Weight Watchers and as I slowly began to lose weight, the pain in my knees went away but that cough remained.

My motivation to keep going was the many before photos that I kept handy in my phone to remind me where I didn’t want to be. My inspiration to keep going was the day I hit 100 pounds lost. That was 4 years into my Weight Watchers journey. When they recognized my accomplishment at the meeting, one member said she noticed that my cough had been gone for a few weeks. That’s when I realized that this journey was healing my body from the inside out. I refuse to quit!

How did you change your eating habits?
I’ve learned how to look at food differently. Food had always been a comfort for me. I reached my heaviest weight after the loss of my dad. Because Weight Watchers is not a diet, it helped me to see that I can enjoy the things I love without depriving myself. I learned that food is there to nourish my body. I also learned to accept a slow weight loss, as this is not a quick fix. The program only provides a weekly weigh-in and support… No medicines, no diet pills, no required meals… so it puts ME in control of ME.

I gave up fast food more than 3 years ago. Not because I had to, but because I realized I was a closet eater. Most of my damage was done in my car coming from a drive thru. I began grocery shopping much more. I eat more vegetables, lean meats, brown rice, cauliflower rice and seafood. My sweet tooth is very often satisfied with Halo Top ice cream. I still visit restaurants with family, but I tend to stay away from creamy or fried foods. My air fryer does the trick when it comes to my cravings for fried foods.

What did your workout routine look like?
I workout at Planet Fitness at 4am, 5 times a week for 1 1/2-2 hours per day. I use the Arc Trainer for my cardio, and I do free weights for toning and strength. I just recently added the stair climber to my routine. I go to the gym early in the morning and get it over with. As a school teacher, I don’t feel like going to the gym after work after dealing with 30 3rd graders all day.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 343 pounds and my current weight is 188 pounds. My height is 5 feet, 4 inches tall.

When did you start your journey?
I began my journey in April 2012. My goal weight is 157 lbs, so I’m still on my journey. Times passes regardless of what we do, and I love the way I’m spending my time.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
I’ve learned that patience and perseverance are the most important tools you can have on a weight loss journey. Wanting the ‘quick fix‘ only gets you the ‘quick gain‘.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Surgery is not the only answer when you have a large weight loss goal. It can be done naturally if you Take Your Time. You learn so much more along the way. When you’re ready to quit… DON’T! You’ll thank yourself later.

Instagram: @learnfromme7

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A post shared by Merial 🌟 WWAmbass/People Mag!🌟 (@learnfromme7) on Jul 9, 2019 at 8:14am PDT