Natasha lost 100 pounds

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Natasha lost 100 pounds. She began her journey at 25 years old, weighing 300 pounds. Thru years of yo you dieting, she saw her weight go up and down. That all changed in 2014. She sought out the help of a personal trainer to get her eating on track and to get a workout regime that worked. She’s excited about the lifestyle change she’s experienced and committed to keep going. Read all about her journey…

At the age of 25, I was in a size 26 and 300lbs. I never had health problems but I was tired of being out of breath and out of shape. I started by changing my eating habits, but could never keep the weight off longer than a year. I would always gain more back than I lost. So, this past year I changed my lifestyle with food and fitness. I am now in a size 12 and weighing 200lbs. Let me add that this has been an all natural process without any type of surgery.

What inspired me? To be honest, I inspired myself. I have always been plus size, but after I graduated high school and was no longer participating in band, the weight just seemed to pile on more and more. In high school, I probably wore a size 22/24, and by 2004 I was in a size 26/28. Enough was enough. I wasn’t 25 years old yet but I wore a 26/28, which was very devastating. I also desired to look good in my clothes and not have to try on everything before I bought it. I know now how depressing that was because as I try to go back and find pictures I cannot find very many.

From 2004 to 2012, I lost almost 80 pounds with my yo-yo dieter methods. At one point, I was down to 195 pounds. However, by the end of 2012, I’d gained most of the weight back due to stress and losing hope. In 2013, starting out at 260 lbs (5’6″), I went on the Slim Fast diet for my New Years Resolution: two shakes and a meal. I also joined a local gym. I’d never worked out before, so I figured walking the treadmill for an hour twice a day would do the trick. It did for a while and I lost 20lbs but I slightly injured myself and fell off the bandwagon again. I felt like I was never going to get to where I wanted to be and I didn’t want to give in to having surgery.

On November 10, 2014 starting out at 240 pounds, and 2 weeks before my favorite holiday, I invested in a trainer, Ms. Tia Floyd. My trainer is amazing and really “schooled” me about my eating habits and the type of workout plan I needed for my body type. I immediately cut out take-out, fried foods, sodas, and juice. She sat down with me to go over my daily calorie intake and broke down how many grams of protein, carbs, and fats I needed. I have a new lifestyle, not a diet. I always hear people say that people eat when they are depressed. I was the type of person that would eat for any occasion, happy, sad, reward, and just for the taste. I have now changed my association with food, now when I feel like rewarding myself I’ll go shopping or treat myself to a spa/massage day.

I started out working out 3 times a week for an hour with cardio and lifting weights and now I workout every day. I am still doing my personal sessions 3 times a week, targeting my problem areas. I also participate in hour boot camps, 2-3 times a week. My workouts usually last for at least an hour. I start on the elliptical with the resistance on high for about 15-25 minutes. I use the rest of my time on weights, abs, arms, and legs.

This journey has been some type of roller coaster. Technically, it started in 2004 with many failed attempts. I really don’t count this time because I really gained all the lost weight back. However, since my new lifestyle has started, it’s been almost a year. I still feel I am still within my transformation. I have already met my goal of weighing 200 pounds and wearing a size 12/14, but I want to tone up loose skin and rid myself of the love handles.

Advice for others who want to lose weight: Don’t compare your results to others and have patience. Set realistic goals and stay consistent. Don’t settle for “quick fixes”, put in the time to get healthy. Free yourself of people who do not support you. Sometimes the lack of support hinders your results. I always get the people who would say, “I like you better fat”, “you look better bigger”, or “that’s enough, you don’t need to lose any more”. It’s not about anyone but YOU, and getting to a healthier state.

Instagram: @QueenBanks84