Modupe lost 44 pounds

Update: Shout out to Modupe! She’s lost 63 pounds.

I went shopping for work clothes today. It was a VERY different experience from 3 years ago when I first got this job. I probably made more than a dozen trips to the dressing room because I kept picking up sizes that were too big. I’d look at something and think, “Naw, this isn’t going to fit.” And every time it did, I’d get curious about the next size down. Next thing I knew I was fitting into a size Small when I had originally grabbed a Large. Sometimes your mind takes a little longer to get there than your body. I’m still playing catch up. . . . . #bodypositive #bodypositivity #selfcare #selflove #selfesteem #confidence #throwbackthursday #tbt #flashbackfriday #transformationtuesday #motovationmonday #fatloss #beforeandafter

A post shared by 💙BBD💙 (@fit_thick_chronicles) on May 17, 2018 at 7:49pm PDT

Transformation of the Day: Modupe lost 44 pounds. She didn’t recognize herself in the mirror, her body ached and her clothes no longer fit. Hearing negative comments about her weight during the holidays was the last straw. She started her journey a little over a year ago and hasn’t looked back. Doing research, eating keto and working out has worked for her.

After gaining almost 50 pounds over the years, I had lost most of my confidence. My clothes didn’t fit and I barely recognized myself in the mirror. My body always hurt. My clothes didn’t fit. My confidence plummeted and I was always tired.

I finally decided that enough was enough. I started my journey in January 2016, after a very, very rough Christmas of hearing negative comments from my family. My starting weight was 217 pounds at 5’3″, and have managed to lose 40 pounds this year. My current weight is 173 pounds. I still have a ways to go, but I’ve gained so much confidence just from following through with something… finally. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that you have to love yourself from the beginning of your journey, not just when you reach a goal weight.

How did you change your eating habits?
I cut out breads, pasta, and rice, and focused on eating REAL wholesome foods (meat and vegetables mostly). I didn’t count calories but I did write down everything I ate. Over the course of the year, I learned how my body responded to certain foods. I eventually started following a ketogenic diet. When I first started, I stuck to 100 grams of carbs per day or less. Eventually, I lowered that to 50 grams. Once I switched to a ketogenic diet, I tried to stick to 35 grams net carbs of less per day. My ketostix seem to come out negative with anything more than that.

What inspired you to keep going during the hard times?
Having a support system was really important when I felt like giving up. I had a few friends who were also trying to get healthy, who kept me motivated when I fell off. Seeing them doing amazing things helped remind me of my goals and keep me on track. They held me accountable. They checked in on me when I needed it and gave me a kick in the butt when I needed that. My best friend was also a great help. She encourages me in whatever I choose to do, even if it sounds weird to her.

What did your workout routine look like?
I started out working out in my apartment and hotel rooms (I travel for work). I would do videos on Youtube, FitnessBlender channel mostly. I did a few dance videos and started following some body weight routines I found online. I soon moved to the gym, where I worked out on the treadmill, used free weights, etc. When that got boring, I took up Crossfit and kickboxing, which I fell in love with! I workout anywhere from 3 to 5 times a week. I give myself a few rest days to help me stay motivated, and not push my body too hard. I’ve suffered a few injuries trying to work the same body part too many times in one week.

What do you wish you’d known before starting this process?
I was obsessed with the scale. I didn’t know anything about body composition, macros, etc. I thought calories in, calories out was the only thing that mattered. I know so much more now, about how foods affect your body, about how the gym can help you build a body, about how it’s 80% diet and 20% exercise. My mind set has totally changed.

The hardest part of my journey was staying motivated and not falling back into old habits. The other hard part was not beating myself up when I did. I was so on and off, which is probably why my weight loss was so slow. Nowadays, I don’t beat myself up as much, but I make sure that I get back on track if I find myself veering off course.

What advice would you share with other people who want to lose weight?
You have to love yourself, starting NOW… not just when you reach your goal weight. You don’t have to be perfect, but you can’t give up. Having a support system will help you when you get tired or discouraged.

Instagram: @fit_thick_chronicles