Transformation of the Day: Miesha lost 37 pounds. She wanted to be active without limitations and create a healthier lifestyle. Weight watchers and strength training are 2 factors that helped her get results. Seeing her body change served as major motivation. Check out her transformation story.
What was your motivation?
My motivation for losing weight can be attributed to a number of factors. The most important of them being my desire to do better for myself, and to embrace everything about myself that was positive. I am a person who lives for the outdoors. Having a limited ability to zipline, bungee jump or do any other outdoor activity, wasn’t a part of the lifestyle I saw for myself. I distinctly remember going bungee jumping. I lined up and had to wait for the second to last position because I was one of the heaviest people standing in line. It did not feel good.
So, I started to started to diet. Dieting at that point meant me starving myself with little to no results. It was an effort that I soon gave up. My biggest push to lose the weight came via a comment my dad made to me while on a Skype video call. I remember sitting in my living room, feeling good about myself. Then I heard my dad ask, “Why do you look like you ate Canada?”. That literally broke my spirit. However, instead of crying, I joined Weight Watchers and began running.
What inspired you when you wanted to give up?
My inspiration came from a number of things. One factor was, and still remains, my desire to do better. I was also motivated by the effects saw and felt. I started noticing the visible physical and emotional changes. My self confidence increased. My ability to finally see myself the way I actually want to be gave me that little extra push to just keep it moving.
How did you change your eating habits?
I initially started by using Weight Watchers, which is a great program! However, I did not follow the program as consistently as I should have. What I noticed was that as I began to see results, my desire to eat right and exercise increased drastically. I use portion control to monitor and manage the amount of food I consume. I’ve mostly eliminated empty carbs from my regular meals. I now consume mostly lean proteins and dense carbs, complimented by lots of veggies.
What did your workout routines look like?
At first, I started running once or twice a week. Then, I upped my activity to running 3 times a week, no less than 5K per day. I slowly incorporated going to the gym twice per week. I began running races to keep me motivated to train. Soon after I started working out at the gym, I discovered weight training and have not looked back since. I think the majority of my weight loss can be attributed to gaining muscle rather than just fat loss. Your numbers on the scale don’t really mean much. You’ll see the definition in your body and feel the difference in the way your clothes fit, but the number on the scale won’t always reflect that. I found a great resource for those new to weight training or the gym itself: bodybuilding.com. This site offers a wealth of free, detailed information that helped me tremendously in learning how to use the all the fancy gym equipment.
Starting weight/Current weight
My starting weight was 222.4 pounds at 5’6″. Now, my weight fluctuates greatly. My current base weight is 185 pounds, but I can be at 190 lbs depending on how I treat my body during the day.
How long did your transformation take?
My journey started in March of 2016. My transformation has taken me just about a year. I’m not entirely where I want to be yet, but I’m more focused on being strong vs. being an actual size. I consider this to be a “Work in Progress”. I am not seeking a desired weight, but am seeking a fit, solid physique.
What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
If you had said to me 6 months ago that this would be my life, I would have said you were lying. People often say, “The only thing that works is work”. THEY forgot to tell you how badly you need to want it for you to even get up and put in the work. I’m weight lifting because I want to. I’m meal prepping because I see the results. I’m consciously putting it in the universe that this is what I want. No magic pills, no teas, no shakes. Just stay consistent and know that this journey will be for you. Not the man you are with or the family member that constantly reminds you of your size… but for YOU. So, here’s to continuing to be consistent and realizing that a slip is not a fail, but an opportunity to balance and refocus your efforts. You are worth every part of this journey, no matter how slow it may seem.
Instagram: @Soul4Reel
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