Monica lost 127 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Monica lost 127 pounds. With her family as her inspiration, with the support of her husband and with a willingness to adapt and find out what worked for her, she has succeeded in losing the pounds and getting off high blood pressure medication. For approximately 3 years she’s been on a mission to transform her life and inspire others with her story. Check out her journey.

My name is Monica M. I am 41 years old, married and I have 2 children. Nearly 3 years ago, I was diagnosed with high blood pressure. For the majority of my life, I can remember being a plus sized female. I just knew that tipping the scale at 330 pounds (I am 5’11” tall) was the major factor when it came to my health and wellness. I was determined to start something to get these pounds off of me.

I have to stop and thank God for giving me a very supportive husband who encouraged me along the way and told me that YES, I could do it. He always let me know either way [big or small] he loved me.

I made up my mind that I was going to start some type of weight loss regimen. I tried IT Works wraps for three months, to help tighten and tone skin. During the wrap process, I increased my water intake and I ate a lot of baked and grilled foods, veggies and fruits. I also incorporated an exercise routine which included cardio for about 30 minutes a day for at least 4 days a week. The last time I used the wraps was in 2013. They actually gave me the biggest push to keep pressing forward.

As I saw the pounds drop and my blood pressure lower, my passion for living a healthier lifestyle grew stronger and stronger. I began to challenge myself daily by doing things like increasing my veggie and fruit intake. I also switched to no starches, no sweets and nothing fried. Then I moved on to figuring out how much water I could consume. Later, I heard about JJ Smith and those incredible green smoothies, so I purchased the book and I went in.

On my weight loss journey, I never stayed with the same thing. I always changed up to keep it fun and interesting. I began to look at it all as a lifestyle change, because it would ultimately take a lifetime to commit to living this way. I did the green smoothie cleanse for a few months and then I said, “Okay Monica, ABSOLUTELY no more sweets, sodas, red meat, pork, or fried foods.” We have to realize that food is a drug, an addiction. Until we realize that our habits are bad and need to be changed we can’t begin to correct them.

I was a person who rarely drank water and now I consume nearly a gallon of water a day. I work out on a daily basis, which mostly consists of walking, riding the stationary bike and light weight lifting. I have also started sharing my videos on Youtube as my passion has grown so strong. I want to encourage our people that we don’t have to take ownership of the many diseases that take over our bodies, but rather get up and do what we have to do to free ourselves from them.

My children were my motivation.  I want to see my daughter and son become successful and grow to one day have families of their own. I also want to share a lifetime with my husband Daniel. Should I leave this earth any sooner, I didn’t want it to be because of something that I could have help to prevent.

I always say in my Youtube videos, as I’m walking, that I always have to be 100% with me before I can be with 100% with anyone else. So, I’m honest with people when they ask me how and what I am doing to lose my weight. I would have never believed years ago that I would be on this journey and doing what it is that I am doing now.

Today, I tip the scale at 203 pounds. I’ve worked so hard that I don’t have to take blood pressure medicine anymore. I do monitor it regularly to make sure that it remains at a normal rate. My transformation has taken almost 3 years and I am not finished yet. I have committed myself to motivating and encouraging others along the way and telling them, “YES, you can do this.”

I’m just an ordinary lady from High Point, NC who made up her mind that she wanted to live a less toxic life. I’m looking for others to come along with me. I take my hand, I turn it upside down and form the shape of a boat and I tell people this is our journey….we’re on a ship. We will encounter turbulence on the water, wind storms and rain storms. We may even go overboard, but don’t just drown. Jump back on board and go with me on this journey!! We can do it together. I tell people who want to transform, just like I did, that you can do it! Everyday won’t be a good day, but you have to keep pressing toward the mark for better health and for LIFE! Please go to Youtube and like, comment, and subscribe to my channel: Monica McConico

Update 2017: Monica has 13 more pounds for a total of 140 pounds gone. She also started a fitness program. Check out her update and video from a recent interview she did with a local television station.

Since my feature, I have lost an additional 10 pounds. I have learned through my journey to embrace different foods. Some of the foods were difficult for me to embrace than others, especially baked seafood. In love my seafood fried, but if changing means life for me then I have to learn to accept it. I tell people all the time, “Don’t get pushed to a place where you have no choice other but to make a change in order to live.” My prayer is that people will wise up, open their eyes and realize you eat to live. I love walking outside, but I have since embraced getting back in the gym. lifting weights and focusing on toning. I have learned that it is all mental. I can do anything that I put my mind to. If I can sit down and watch televison 3 and 4 hours a day, then I can take 30 minutes a day away from that and dedicate it to my health. I would tell others who are on this journey or contemplating this journey to just take it day by day. I fall off and some days I fail, but the one thing I will never do is give up!

Instagram: @Journey2fitwalk