Reina lost 123 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Reina lost 123 pounds. She had pre-diabetes and would pause to catch her breath after climbing stairs. To create a healthier lifestyle, she transformed her eating habits and worked out consistently. Her husband has been a huge source of support during her journey.

In 2013, I weighed 339 pounds (on a 5’4” frame). When I climbed stairs, I had to rest at the top for at least 5 minutes to catch my breath before I could do anything. I was also pre-diabetic. That was not what I wanted life to be. I decided that I could do better.

How did you change your eating habits?
I removed fast food, rice, fried food, and sugar from my diet. I started using an app to track calories, limiting myself to 1200-1300 calories a day. I also incorporated veggies into most of my meals. When I tracked on my first day, I learned I regularly ate over 3000 calories a day.

What was your workout routine?
I started walking 3-5 days a week.

How long did your transformation take?
It took years of working out and eating right, but by 2017 I was down to 197 pounds – A 142-pound weight loss. Since then, I have gained back a few pounds and currently weigh 216 pounds. I currently walk and exercise 5-6 days a week. I slowly see the scale change again.

What inspired you to keep going, even during the tough times?
On this journey, my husband has been a huge inspiration. When exercising gets hard, he guides me to do better and be better.

What advice would you like to share with people who want to lose weight?
It takes time to lose weight, but it’s best to incorporate exercise along with diet. It won’t happen overnight, and you don’t want it too. Losing weight too fast can lead to a quick rebound, with all the weight coming back plus more. I lost my weight at the rate of about 2-4 pounds a month and at a consistent pace.

During my journey, I also got diagnosed with high blood pressure (as high as 140/139). After consistent exercise and changing my diet, my blood pressure is currently 98/74. That is the lowest it’s ever been.

My takeaway: I learned that I can do anything I put my mind to. There’s nothing unreachable. I did it! I went from a size 26-28 to a size 14-16!

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