Saundra lost 30 pounds

Update: Saundra wrote in to share that she lost an additional 30 pounds, for a total of 60 pounds gone.

This photo reflects transformation with The Diet Doctor Terry Starks‘ clean eating program. So far, I have lost a total of 60 pounds. I feel so much better and much healthier now. I am happy about life again.  Now, I don’t tire as quickly during aerobics/strength training. Thankfully, I enjoy eating healthy.The program has helped me out tremendously. My family has also decided to join me on this journey, which brings me great joy!

Hopefully my story will brighten someone’s day and give someone the encouragement to just start where they are and not give up. It’s a process. If you are interested in learning more about how to lose weight, there’s plenty of information on social media. Personally, what I found to be the best best was reading personal stories from the beautiful women who speak honestly about the process on the BWLW website. (BWLW, Thank you for providing the much needed information to help us all succeed.)

I am not where I want to be yet, but I’m thankful that I am not where I use to be. To hear people say, “Wow, you look good.” is so reassuring. It lets me know that what I’m doing is working. We are our own worst critics because we cannot see the progress. I totally understand that. I’m right there myself. Believe me when I say a picture speaks volumes! Or is it that a picture is worth a 1000 words? 

Nonetheless Queens, Remember that you are beautiful and worth more than you may know. Know your worth. Be healthy.  Live happy.

Saundra lost 30 pounds. She wanted to avoid a family history of illness and found inspiration after the passing of her beloved grandmother. Checking out a post on this site, she found the information she’d been looking for. She gives the Glory to God for sending her amazing people who have helped her get results. Check out her story.

What motivated me was losing my grandmother in August 2017. She has always looked after our wellbeing and wanted the best for all of us. Also, I lost my sister 3 years ago and in the same year I got married. So, I’m not really sure if I started gaining weight due to depression from my lost, or being in a comfort zone of marriage. When it came to the weight, I was not dealing with it or noticing it. I am grateful to my family and husband for being there for me during this time.

I lived with my grandmother during my teenage years and she taught me so much, like how to dress and how to act. I could hear her saying, “You are gaining that weight back, again.” I always struggled with my weight, but she looked out for me. I would lose and gain… lose and gain.

She was a very beautiful woman and it totally surprised me to find out she died from liver disease. She was always mindful of her health. My mother has also dealt with several ailments, (high blood pressure, sleep disorder, diabetes and breast cancer). Her health issues, unlike my grandmother, don’t frighten me as much. I think it’s because I already know about my mother’s health, but didn’t know what was ailing my grandmother. Of course, I don’t any of these health concerns to happen to me, so I decided enough is enough.

I started exercising in July, but I was not seeing a difference within 3 months. I changed my eating some, but still no difference. I tried many different ways to lose weight, including the Military Diet, the Only Salads diet, an all veggies diet, a high protein diet, etc. None of the results lasted very long.

One night, while strolling on this very site that I came across something very interesting and I am so thankful to this day that I did. (I have been so motivated in so many ways.) I found the information and said, “Okay, this is my last shot to making a difference.”

I started clean eating! I also reached out to Terry Starks, aka The Diet Doctor, for a meal plan for my body type. I needed a plan to address the stomach bulge, the hips, thighs, booty, and even the cellulite.

In October 2017, my starting weight was 220 pounds, standing at 5’0″. Now, I weigh 190 pounds. I know 30 pounds is not a whole lot at this point, but when I look back at how I looked and most importantly how I felt, reaching this success in 4 months is a big accomplishment to me. I am not finished yet! My goal weight is 160 pounds.

I continue to go to the gym and grind really hard. I have a trainer for specific exercises. I do weight training for strength and circuits for endurance. My trainer stresses the importance of nutrition, which I didn’t exactly understand until I met Terry. Terry is encouraging, motivating, and patient, just like my grandmother was. Perhaps that’s why I am making progress now.

I believe God gives you what you need when you need it. I give God all the glory for putting amazing people in my life while I’m on my journey. You never know where the things you need will come from. I no longer look at it as hard yet challenging and my confidence is blooming.

The biggest lesson I have learned is that progress takes time and the scale does not define who I am. What motivates me to keep going is the fun and excitement. I even smile to myself when I know that I made it through another great day of clean eating and working out. Shamefully, if I could afford a body lift, I probably would do it… but then again, I would have missed out on meeting great people and having all this fun.

Sometimes, I think about those two beautiful women, my sister and grandmother. I know I want to live and be around longer for my mother. Hopefully my story will inspire someone else to face their fears and overcome using whatever helps them to succeed.

Instagram: @sbaby73

Disclaimer: Reference or link to any specific product, diet plan, exercise plan or service mentioned in the weight loss stories we share is for the information of our readers, and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Black Women Losing Weight.