Raquel lost 70 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Raquel lost 70 pounds. Her motivation came when she admitted her herself that she was depressed and unhappy. She decided to take action and make herself a priority. Weight Watchers and spin classes were key to her success. Check out her journey.

What was your motivation?
I admitted to myself that I was depressed and unhappy. At the time, I was also at the beginning of a bad break up. I’d lost myself in my relationship and gained back all the weight I previously lost, plus a little bit more.

How did you change your eating habits? 
I had a Weight Watchers online subscription, but had not been tracking my food. So, I started tracking my food intake very strictly using the program.

What did your workout routine look like?
I started attending a spin class religiously. (Mondays, Wednesdays, and Saturdays.) In the past, I started and quit. Now, I attend a BodyWorks plus Abs class (where we workout with light weights and do some cardio to music) at least once a week in addition to spin class. My goal is to increase that and take BodyWorks twice a week.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 254.8 pounds and my current weight is 184.2 pounds. My height is 5’7”.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started on June 27, 2016. I hit my lowest weight last summer at 180 pounds even. I have fluctuated in the 180s since February 2018, but I’m still a work in progress. My goal weight is 175 pounds. [No surgery involved in my journey.]

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
This is a lifestyle that cannot be pushed aside regardless of what happens in your life: relationships, work, kids, stress, etc. I’m doing this for me, so I schedule things around my workouts unless it is unavoidable… like my kids’ functions that I cannot control.

What advice do you have for other people who want to lose weight?
Stick to it! It is about progress, not perfection. You will lose and gain, but it is ok. Stick to it and you will see your hard work pay off if you are consistent and honest with yourself. There is no magic pill!

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