Queen lost 51 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Queen lost 51 pounds. A friend shared a 100 day workout challenge with her that sparked her transformation journey. She faced depression, emotional eating and bad eating habits. Today, this proud mom and wife who wants her life to be an example to others that true lifestyle change and lasting weight loss is possible.

My name is Queen Truearth. After having 8 children, my weight climbed up and up. I weighed 140 pounds before my first child. By the time I had Jakim, my 5th child 14 years ago, I weighed 254 pounds. My weight juggled up and down through-out the years, never getting higher than 254 pounds.

223 days ago, I accepted a Facebook challenge from one of my friends challenged who’d herself to a 100 day workout challenge. As I watched her progress thru the 100 days, I was inspired by her results and said to myself, “If this sista can do it, so can I!” I went to the doctor and she said I was healthy, with no sicknesses, high blood pressure, etc. However, she did say I was obese.

For years, I brushed that point off. I would say that the doctors’ obesity scale is not made for black folks. I thought, “I’m 5’8 and I’ll look like a crackhead at 125 pounds”. However, now they have a healthy overweight and obese chart. Obesity starts in the 197-256 range for my height. On day one of this journey, I weighed 247 pounds. The fat was pretty well proportioned, so it didn’t look like I was that big. Mostly carried my weight at my stomach. However, we all know that most sick people who get heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, etc. carry fat at their midsection. My maternal grandmother died in her 50’s with many ailments and we had similar body types.

My motivation: I must live because I have so much work to do. So many lives to inspire and empower. Living is a big part of my life’s purpose. Many people rely on me and I have so much to give to the world. Longevity is the goal. Though, don’t get it twisted, I want to be fit and FINE too! Yes, I’m in it for the look as well. I didn’t want to shop in the plus size section anymore. The selections are smaller, the clothes uglier, most of the clothes are dark to conceal your fat and the shirts are frumpy. I don’t like frumpy! I want to be able to shop at Forever 21 again. Ironically, I haven’t been able to shop there since my 20’s so I rationalized that by saying, “I can’t be 21 forever”.

As I was traveling along in this journey, I got really reflective. Of course when you start working out frequently your food choices come into play. Why work out if you aren’t going to change the eating habits that have helped to make you fat. I became more mindful and I actually eat more food now. Before, I never ate a lot. I would never eat breakfast, maybe eat lunch and always eat dinner. Then, I would always have my comfort food at night. After putting everyone to bed, finishing off things for the day and seeing the house was settled, I’d be in bed,snacking on cake like substances, or drum-stick ice cream cones. Now, I eat a small breakfast, small lunch, small dinner and a couple of snacks through-out the day. I love apples and peanut butter and I eat grapefruit cups regularly as a snack.

A year ago, I became vegetarian/pescatarian, so many of my eating patterns had already changed and sugary snacks weren’t as prevalent as they’d been in years past. During the 100 day workout challenge, I stopped drinking soda completely, started drinking water with most meals. I rarely eat things now that contains sugar. However, if I want a sugary snack, I will eat it. I don’t really deny myself.

I don’t eat much bread or carbs anymore and I avoid white foods. I check the calories of snacks and decide whether I will work the calories off or I eat half. If me and my husband go out to dinner, I will not eat everything on my plate and I don’t eat until I am stuffed, just until comfortable. I know that my stomach has adjusted to the smaller portions because I feel full faster.

Water drinking is still my biggest challenge. I’ve figured out how I can drink more water than I was used too (still don’t drink as much as they suggest). I drink one water bottle starting at 4:30 am before I go to work. Then on the car ride to work, I drink another. Before lunchtime, I finish another, and on the car ride home from work I drink a bottle. Right before bed, I work on the last water bottle. Hey, that’s 5 per day, whereas before I’d struggle to drink one per day.

I worked out at least 30 minutes to an hour each day. During the second set of 100 days, I went to the gym at least 3 times a week. I worked out mostly at home using Youtube videos. I walked with my babies, worked out at the park with the entire family, jumped rope and went to my children’s high school and ran the bleachers. I made use of what I enjoyed and I made the time work. How? By taking care of my duties and stealing time. If I had to get my workout in at home or at work with my students (I’m a teacher), I did it. After about a month, it became habit. Even if I was tired, I got my butt up and worked out.

I didn’t reach my goal of getting into the 100’s again in the first 100 days, but at day 203 I was 199.5 pounds. I lost 34 pounds in 100 days. I wore a 2X/ size 20 before I started the 100 day challenge. After the first 100 days, I wore a large shirt and size 16 pant. Today, day 223, I weigh 196 pounds and wear a medium shirt and size 12 pant. I feel and look healthier. I always thought I was fine, but you can’t tell me nothing now! I can climb, stretch, run longer and run faster. I have muscles poking out and I can do 100+ sit-ups in a minute.

On this journey, I started researching online and reading about healthy weight loss. I have tried all the diets, diet pills, fasts, juicing plans, and nothing worked for me like consistent daily workouts. I also started thinking, well damn, all this time I could’ve lost all this weight, SMDH. However, I couldn’t  at the time because really I was depressed. Being overweight or overeating is many times due to anxiety, frustration, fear, and/or depression.

We face things that we can’t work through, and instead of dealing with it, we turn to eating. I was in a space in my life for many years where I just didn’t have it in me. I was depressed and didn’t love myself or the situation I was in. I knew I wanted out of the relationship I was in, but I was too afraid to get out. So, I let myself go, eating without regard and had no desire to work out. I was so consumed with what was causing me to feel depressed. Sure, I wanted to be thinner/healthier, but I couldn’t muster up the willpower to change, because I was consumed with fear, doubt and depression.

It’s my time now! I am not without issues or problems today, but now I see there is a way out of every negative situation if you really want to be happy. It is ok if you fail, all winners fail… it’s part of the process, Baby! I know now that I can defeat anything! Ain’t no stopping the shine! EVERYTHING I do now is in an effort to be successful and to achieve via. excellence. It’s about giving your all to something with no half-stepping. Full steam ahead. My mind has shifted.

Consistency is key to successful weight loss. You must stick to a plan of action every day. My children and husband are proud of me and I am proud of myself. In everything I do, I know I am setting an example for someone, so I strive to be the best example that I can. I want to inspire, motivate, build, and empower. Let my success be your success. You can do it too!

I started a FB page called Original Women for Wellness where we encourage and support one another. During my journey, one of my sista friends (Nrich who lives in Texas) started the challenge with me and she is still with me on day 223. She has made tremendous gains as well.

Instagram: @beautifultruearth