Transformation of the Day: Ronieka lost 73 pounds. Despite up and downs of losing the pounds and gaining them back, this young lady never gave up. Ultimately, she decided to have Verticle Sleeve surgery and her mom was a big influence since she also had weight loss surgery. She has changed her eating habits, her exercise habits and her overall mindset to get results. Check out her journey.
What was your motivation?
My motivation began after I graduated with my undergraduate degree in 2013. I was watching one of those weight loss shows and saw two twins, around the same age as me, who had extreme obesity issues. At the time that I was watching this show, I was also eating some good ol’ soul food.
After finishing the show, I told myself that I was not going to do this anymore. From that point moving forward, I worked out 5 days a week for a month straight. That was the start of my weight loss journey. I have always been an active person (I was as on the dance team in high school), but struggled with obesity since childhood.
What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
My mom, my friends and my followers on social media. My mom was big influence and motivator towards me deciding to have Vertical Sleeve weight loss surgery, because she herself has had the surgery. Since starting my journey in 2013, I gained a great group of followers and friends who have inspired me to keep pushing. I know that many people are watching me and because of that, I continue to stay motivated.
How did you change your eating habits?
After having surgery in June 2017, my diet had to change completely. Physically, I cannot consume a lot of food. With the gastric sleeve surgery, you basically have to be on a high protein diet. I usually stop drinking any liquids 30 minutes before a meal. Then, I take 30 minutes to eat a meal and wait 30 minutes to have any liquids after my meal. Before surgery, I stopped eating pork and beef, so for the last few years the only meat I’ve had has been poultry and seafood. Being honest, I still have my moments when I don’t eat correctly, but hey… I am only human.
What did your workout routine look like?
I try to workout between 4 to 5 days a week. After surgery, I started running because it was something I always struggled with when I was heavier. I ran outdoors until it was too cold. Then, I got a gym membership and began running on the treadmill. I trained all winter by running, and was able to run my first 5k in April 2018. I always weight/strength train with my trainer (@moeknowsmuscles) twice a week.
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
When I began my journey in 2013, I weighed 272 pounds which was my heaviest weight on record. During that time, I worked out, changed my diet and was able to lose about 70 pounds. At that time, my lowest weight was 198 pounds.
After starting graduate school in 2014, I began to gain the weight back, and by the time I finished graduate school in 2016, I was back to 250 pounds (give or take a few). On the day of my surgery, I weighed in at 242 pounds and my current weight is 177 pounds. I have lost a total of 65 lbs since the gastric sleeve surgery. I am 5’4″.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
“You cant out exercise a bad diet.”
What advice do you have for other women who want to lose weight?
- Become so fed up with your un-healthy lifestyle that your willing to do anything to make a change.
- Clean your diet up before trying to go hard in the gym, because you won’t get results if your eating habits continue to be poor.
- Stay consistent, and never give up.
- Do it for YOU!
- Don’t become obsessed with the number you see on the scale.
- WEIGHT TRAIN like there is no tomorrow.
- Have fun with the process.
I am one year post-op after having Vertical Sleeve Surgery. My actual surgery date was 6/2/17. Words cannot explain the amount of emotions, feelings, and changes I have experienced since having surgery. One thing I will say is that I DO NOT REGRET having this surgery. It helped me both mentally and physically get to a place that I never thought I would be able to achieve.
From that obese elementary school girl, who was always in last place for those elementary school fitness test, to being an adult who was incapable of running for 1 minute without being out of breath, and to the obese female that allowed my insecurities about my weight lead me to make bad choices and decisions about men… this was my YEAR to break free of it all!
This one year journey has been one of the most exhausting times of my life, but every squat, push up, mile, lunge, and lack of ability to eat full meals (lol) has been all WORTH IT!
Instagram: @missme_moore
Deondray Watson says
Dec. 18, 2018 is my time to shine the new healthy me!
I am so proud of you and Thank You for sharing.
God Bless You
Keep up the Amazing Werk!!!