Petina lost 16 pounds

Petina lost another 7 pounds for a total of 23 pounds gone. Check out her update.

I’m down 23 pounds, and I now have an Instagram page chronicling my journey: @pet_gets_fit. I weighed 183 pounds last summer. Today, I weigh 160 pounds. I jumpstarted my weight loss by changing up my diet, and eating mostly pescatarian. Also, this summer I added an extra workout each day.

What I’ve learned on this journey is that it’s never too late to start. I was sure I had plateaued before and that I didn’t have the willpower to change my diet significantly. Once I did change my diet (combined with regular workouts…cardio and weights), the weight started to come off.

The devestating loss of twins due to pre-term labor led to depression and weight gain for Petina. She went on to have 2 beautiful children, but wasn’t able to be very active during those pregnancies, leading to more weight gain. As she approached 40, she decided that it was time for change. Check out how she lost 16 pounds and one dress size.

What was your motivation?
In 2012, at nearly 6 months pregnant with twins, I went into pre-term labor and gave birth to a boy and girl… too early for them to survive. I went through depression and weight gain, but went on to have 2 more beautiful children (in 2014 & 2016 respectively). I was high-risk, so I wasn’t very active during those pregnancies and continued to gain weight. (I was terrified of preterm labor.)

My heaviest weight during pregnancy was 197 pounds. As I approach my 40th birthday, I wanted to devote myself to regaining my strength, as well as looking and feeling like myself again.

What inspired you when you wanted to give up?
When I feel like giving up, I look back at the progress I’ve made so far. I’m halfway to my goal, so why go backwards when I can stay the course and push in the right direction. I want to be healthy and happy for myself and for my babies. I owe myself the gift of health and strength.

How did you change your eating habits? 
I’ve been making small, incremental changes to my diet. For example, I may have a green smoothie made with vanilla soy milk for breakfast. I have a sweet tooth and a rough time going cold turkey, so when I want something sweet, I make sure not to overdo it.

What did your workout routine look like?
I decided to work with a personal trainer (@thefitnessrep) who has me doing a mix of strength training and cardio twice a week. I also walk at least 5 miles a day. I’m competitive, so Fitbit is a big motivator for me.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 183 pounds in June 2017. Now, I weigh 167 pounds. My weight hasn’t dropped that significantly but I’ve lost an entire dress size. My height is 5’2″.

How long did your transformation take?
My body really changed quickly when I started working out with the trainer in Nov 2017. In about 3.5 months, I lost an entire dress size.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned? 
My biggest lesson is that it’s never too late to start. Also, you don’t have to feel guilty for not being able to pull off a dramatic lifestyle change overnight. Figure out what you can commit to, stick to it, and progress will come.

What advice do you have for other people who want to lose weight?
Take the first step. Don’t get discouraged if you feel like you’re not doing “enough” compared to the inspirational stories you see online. Small changes add up and every single one gets you closer to your goal.