Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Michelle lost 72 pounds. This amazing lady changed her mindset, changed her actions and worked hard to release the weight. Her message is that you don’t need any supplements, special programs or quick fixes to lose weight. Here is what she shared with us about her weight loss journey…
I wanted to share my weightless story and my continuing journey with this group. There is 8 months between both photos. The first was taken in Aug 2014 and the 2nd one taken just April 2015. Look at the INCREDIBLE difference 8 months made in my appearance….and you are only able to see the outside. I feel so great, so energized, so motivated and completely worry-free. I feel like I emerged back to ME! When I dropped the weight, I dropped a lot of other stuff too that was making me tired too.
I do not take diet pills or diet aids of ANY KIND. I did not have surgery of any kind. All of this was accomplished without any metabolism “boosters”. Even though I am 47 years old and this type of transformation at my age and in the time frame I accomplished it is considered near impossible without boosters [supplements]! Ha. Weightloss is pure science. Eat less. Eat more whole foods as opposed to processed foods and exercise at least 4 days out of the week for an hour.
So…yes, I CHANGED MY MIND and my body followed. I changed my mind…
- about food and exercise
- about overeating
- about sugar binge-ing
- about being lazy
- about processed foods
- about fast food
- about SUGAR
- about a sedentary lifestyle
- and about inactivity.
Yes. I changed my mind and in turn, I changed my body. Pound by pound. Now, close to 70 pounds have been released into the air, never to return. My starting weight was around 250 pounds (I am 5ft 9in tall) and I was wearing a size 18/20W. I am now in a size 8/10 and I weigh 178 pounds. I am on a mission and I am so excited to see what the next 7 months is gonna look like on my body! I have made new habits and they suit me. I run 4 days a week….5 to 7 miles per day. I cross train with weights and pilates on the other 3 days!
To anyone who is trying to lose weight, get fit, and who may be considering trying some “quick fix” method to accomplish their goals: There is no quick fix. You will be bombarded by people on Facebook or other social media sites trying to sell a dream just to make a quick buck. They may do this either by pushing excessive exercise programs or bootcamps without ever addressing your major nutrition issues. They never tell folks that belly fat is made in the kitchen! All the sit-ups and crunches in the world won’t rid you of that belly fat if you don’t change the way you eat! Or they tell you to do the opposite…eat like a bird (or here, take these miracle pills), and you lose weight and stay slim. They will say there is no need to exercise. After all, who wants to mess up their hair or get sweaty or worse, get that heart actually pumping! Who gat time for that?? There are 1440 minutes in a day! You mean you can’t find 20 of them to enjoy some physical activity?
Ignore them ALL. Find a CLEAN and WHOLE EATING PLAN (there are many good plans that teach you how to cook and eat healthy using wholesome ingredients) and an EXERCISE regime that works for ýou and stick to it. My weight loss is not miraculous. I worked hard. I worked really really HARD!!!! My average loss of 10 lbs per month falls 100% in the guidelines of safe, proper weight loss. There is nothing fast about it. I simply STUCK to it. I was determined to get my body back!
Bridgett Hurst says
YOU LOOK AMAZING! Your story is so similar to mine so I am inspired to read your story every day. I’m going to cut it out and post it on my fridge and on my desk at work. I’m even going to carry it in my purse and pull it out whenever Satan creeps into my head.
I, too, am 5’9″ and I weigh 247 right now…down 4 pounds over the past two weeks since beginning this latest (and last) weight loss venture. I’m starting slow this time and doing everything the right way…no surgery, no pills, no gimmicks. For the most part, I think I have my proper eating habits in check, although I’m sure I’ll have those occasional slip ups (I’m human, okay). I’m only doing 30 minutes of cardio on the treadmill right now but plan to build up to more and incorporate weight training within the next few weeks. Hopefully and prayerfully, I’ll look and feel a lot like you do 8-12 months from now. Thanks so much for the inspiration.
Roseveld says
I’ll join you girl!!
Patricia Bolden says
Hello I’m 5’6″ 233 just lost 3lbs walking daily 4to 5 miles maybe 4times an week. I feel a lot better since I started to walk more.I don’t feel sluggish any more, actually I feel better than I’ve felt in awhile.. My only thing I like to have some sugar once in awhile can some one please give me some suggestions.. Thanks
Teana says
Thank you for sharing & girl you look amazing!
I’m so embarrassed that I’ve allowed myself to gain so much weight.
I can’t seem to stay motivated and lack willpower..
chandra says
All I can say is wowwwwww. You look fabulous.
Honey says
Amazing! We are so close in your beginning height and weight. How did you first start off? Did you drop pounds before you could start running?
Jessica says
do you have advice on lose skin how to keep from having it. I’m the same hight as you and weight. I’m just scared about having lose skin. this wont stop me form reaching my goal,but it is something I’m concerned about. How long were you that size before losing weight?
Michelle Curtis says
Hello there, thanks for reading my story! Yes, loose skin is always a fear when losing weight especially as much as 70 pounds or more. So while I appreciate your concern of loose skin, for me, it was much less important than carrying around the excess weight that I knew would eventually lead to serious health problems as I got older. THAT I was truly worried about! I am no expert, or nutritionist, or trainer, but I have done tremendous self study over the past 11 months and what I have learnt is that losing weight gradually is the key. Which means that gastric bypass surgery, or lapband surgery can lead to very swift weightloss and oftentimes lead to the sagging skin that requires surgery. Additionally, using diet some diet aids, potions, and “liquid” diets particularly some that are now being peddled by many can also be detrimental to longterm success because once you return to regular eating, those pounds pile on again. Another really important factor is the gradual implementation of daily exercise. I began my exercise WALKING…and I will admit that I didn’t even own a pair of running shoes!!I began walking in crocs, in the evenings after dinner. And I walked right in my neighborhood because I hated the idea of joining a gym or walking on a treadmill! I found that incredibly off-putting and I knew if I couldn’t enjoy the activity, I would quit. So in a nutshell, I lost a total of 78 pounds to date and I am still on a very intensely rigorous training programme to tone my body. I began running consistently after losing the first 20 pounds because it felt like a natural progression. It was so scary at first but when you really think about it, isn’t running as natural as walking? When you were a child, wasn’t running one of the things that brought you tremendous joy? Getting back to the loose skin, I have some loose skin around my lower stomach because it is one of the weakest parts of most women’s bodies, particularly after childbirth. And if you haven’t been active for as long as I did, then it might be a source of concern. Mt waist went from 41 inches to 28 inches! I also have some loose skin on my upper arms. But it isn’t obvious unless I hold my arms at certain angles….but I am so focused on working my arms until I have seen results beyond measure in these shorts months that blew my mind!! I carried this excess weight for about 15 years…gaining gradually thru my 30s, and getting really out of hand in my 40s. I absolutely HATED buying clothes!! And I avoided mirrors at all costs. Nowadays, buying clothes as the ultimate pleasure!! And even though when I look in the mirror naked, I see my loose skin, I still smile…GRIN really, because it is a sign, a true symbol of how far I have come and the happiness is REAL girl!! As for my eating, I began my programme and journey using a detox for the first 20 days, and this was probably the most difficult part for me!! I drank a green smoothie for breakfast, made from fresh fruits and spinach or kale, blended wth water. I got the recipes and plan from a book called the 10 Day Green Smoothie Cleanse by an author named J J Smith. I always encourage people to try this detox because it really works to get your weightloss jumpstarted. Plus, it gives you 2 options of using a “modified” version that includes a healthy, low carb meal, with 2 smoothies each day. Obviously this type of detox is not for everyone as some people have certain health issues that should be under a doctor’s care before starting any type of eating plan such as this. For me, it was so necessary as I had a real sugar problem! I had to find a way to stop the cravings for sugar filled drinks and foods. And this did the trick! My facebook page has many excellent recipes and pointers for clean and whole eating. Which, in a nutshell, simply means a way of eating that avoids processed food MOST of the time. We ALL live in a real world so it is virtually impossible to say that one eats this way 100% of the times. But it is the best guide I have ever found.
I am going to give you a typical day of meals for me over the past 10 months, after I completed the Detox:
Breakfast at 7:30am – 2 boiled eggs, with 2 slices of oat bran toast with a tblspn of Ghee (a type of clarified butter..I love it)and black coffee with stevia
Midmorning snack at 10am: One gala Apple with a tblspn of almond butter
Lunch at 1pm: Massive green salad with a piece of baked chicken breast and a side of baked sweet potato.
Midafternoon snack at 3:30pm: Greek yogurt (with fruit)
Dinner is super small and sometimes I only have a piece of fruit, like a pear or half of a cantaloupe, with a handful of almonds or other nut.
I drink ALOT of water all day long, usually as much as 10 to 12 glasses, along with 2 to 3 cups of hot green tea.
Now, that is a typical day but I often mix it up for variety because I still like good tasty food, and I experiment with healthy ways of cooking, just to keep it interesting. I am a LOVER of bread, potatoes, pasta and rice….so I found awesome replacements such as oatbran bread that I often bake at home. I also DELETED white potatoes completely, and use only sweet potatoes…so delish. I also eat loads of quinoa! Both the grain and the pastas….
I truly hopes this helps as I so understand how difficult it can be to get started.
Rochelle says
I do zumba three to four times a Week not seeing any results.help.
Catrina King says
Thank you so much for being so transparent and for the tips. I am 45 years old, a kidney transplant receipant and have gained over 70 lbs over the past 5 years. My current weight is 233 (which is the most I’ve ever weighed). Because of my height, 5’9 friends and family say oh the weight looks good on you and I found myself buying in to that excuse!
Della.gavin says
Do you have any advice on how to lose belly fat. I works out at least 3×a week.
Denise Broome says
Hello all I’ve decide again…. to get myself together with this weight issue. I’ve overcome so many things in my life, abuse, homeless, divorce out of work and I’ve over come each thing. amazed at the blessings that are on my life. I’ve cried and prayed of each of those events begging and waiting on the answer. and I realize the answer has always been “Me” I can do anything I honestly put effort in.