Transformation of the Day: Nerita Yvette started her journey at 223 pounds. She now weighs 171 pounds, down 52 pounds. With the support of a great trainer and fitness community, she’s also inspiring others and has her eyes set on doing a bikini competition in 2016. Now, she is able to fit in to her high school cheerleader outfit that she hasn’t worn since 1996 (photo below). Check out what she shared with us about how she did it.
What was your motivation?
My motivation to lose weight had to do with my desire to get back to being the best physical version of myself. What inspired me to get started was me visualizing and remembering myself at a much smaller size. I could remember having a ton of confidence, comfortably wearing any style, not having to try on clothes before I bought them and not constantly pulling and tugging at my clothes. My memories inspired me to return to a state of being completely smitten with what looked back at me in the mirror.
How did you change your eating habits?
Changing my eating habits was a slow and gradual process because healthy eating was a very foreign process for me. It literally took for me to be challenged for me to ultimately change. Being challenged put me in a state of being told that I couldn’t do it and I desperately wanted to prove that I could, so I did. After eating clean for a month and seeing the kind of results it offered (18 lb loss, tons of inches lost and feeling much lighter throughout the day), sticking to eating healthy became easy.
What did you stop or start eating?
Talking about what I stopped eating is always funny to me, because I pretty much gave up everything. I stopped drinking sodas and juice. I stopped eating fried food. I gave up beef, pork and any food high in sugar and sodium. I cut out processed food, processed seasonings, and lots of carbs. Yet, if I’m honest, I indulge in most of them at least once or twice a month, but that is a huge accomplishment because it use to be the only thing I ate, several times a day. I started eating all of my meats baked and/or pan fried, using fresh herbs for seasoning. Miss. Never-Eat-Vegetables actually found that veggies actually taste good.
What did your workout routines look like?
Oh, the wonderful world of exercise. To say that my workouts are very intense would be an understatement, because I have never been athletic. When I first started just running from one end of the block to the other made me feel like I was going to pass out. It literally took about 3 months before my mind adjusted to the physical strain I was putting my body through. I would have to mentally encourage myself not to cry or give up during the entire workout. Then one day it started to click. I found myself focused on my breathing techniques, maintaining correct posture and pushing myself to do the routine in a timely timeframe, verses constantly focused on how out of breath I would get and the pain it was momentarily causing.
Starting Weight/Current Weight
I started fitness journey at DAM Sport Fitness on May 1, 2015 weighing in at 220 pounds On December 26, 2015, I weighed 168 pounds. I am approximately 5’6 1/2″ tall. My transformation took 8 months.
What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
In order to lose weight you have to want it and believe that you can do it. Generally, our desire to lose weight is really high, yet our belief is really low. What was 100% full proof for me was joining a community that was able to help me believe that it was possible. It is my personal belief that it is imperative for anyone struggling to lose weight to join an environment where you see others transforming right beside you. A place where everyone is on one accord, striving to reach the same goal of being the healthiest and physically fit version of self.
I would also encourage you to never let a dollar amount keep you from investing in transforming your body. Why? Because a physical transformation is so much more than just losing some pounds/body fat. The journey teaches you how to set goals and do everything possible to reach them. From that, commitment, discipline and consistency are birthed within. In the midst of all that, you can find a deeper level of love, joy, peace and purpose. If you fall in love with the process, you find yourself making fitness (healthy eating and exercise) a lifestyle and vowing to never go back to neglecting your body and withholding the love it needs. You’ll find that you no longer need others to believe for you because you now believe in yourself. You’ll be able to help others believe that they can transform too.
Instagram: @MsNYFit
Her Trainer: Andre Ammons at DAM Sports Fitness
Lentina says
amazing!!!!!!!