Shantasia lost 24 pounds

Shantasia lost 24 pounds. The Keto diet allowed this foodie to have the flexibility she was looking for and lose weight without exercise. After she hit a plateau, she started working with a personal trainer to shape her body with lean muscle. 

My name is Shantasia. I’m 29 years old and a Director of Sales at a label manufacturing company. My weight has fluctuated so much over the years. Last October, I decided to get serious about my weight loss. I knew I was getting older, and I needed to care more about my health because it would only get harder to lose weight later on. 

My journey started with the Keto diet. I never thought I would give it a shot, but I did. It allowed me to have more flexibility with my eating while not having to work out. Being the foodie that I am, it was perfect for me. I was able to get creative with my cooking and make delicious food within my desired MACROS. I also started meal prepping and ordering from the @the.perfect.plate. Planning meals ahead of time kept me on track as well. 

I lost over 20 pounds and several inches in seven months and kept the weight off WITHOUT exercise. Not to mention, I had more energy, and the joint pain I used to experience was completely gone!

In May 2020, I noticed my weight had hit a plateau, so I decided to invest in a trainer. BEST. DECISION. EVER. He was very reasonably priced and gave me workouts that were short but effective. I’m a young professional, so I found it challenging to balance working out, my career, and trying to eat healthy, but my trainer has been there every step of the way. 

I actually gained 7 lbs of muscle after reaching my lowest weight of 144 pounds, but I couldn’t be happier. My body is shaping out in all the right areas, and I’m excited to see more progress over the next few months. 

Hopefully, my story can inspire someone else who struggles with balancing work with their healthy habits. I also want to share info on my trainer: @trainwithduane, and some of the meal prep I used over the course of the year. (ALL #blackowned!!!)

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
Before I started this journey, I found myself getting winded while walking up stairs and had a complete lack of energy. I want to have children one day, and I want to be an example for them. I want to be able to play and keep up with them. 

I’ve definitely wanted to quit SO many times, but God kept me disciplined. Also, the pros of getting healthy outweighed the cheeseburgers and pizza I craved.

What did your workout routine consist of? How often do you workout?
I walked for at least an hour every single day. I also did lots of strength training, weights, squats, and burpees to keep my body moving. After I got a trainer, I did strength training 4-5 days a week. He kept me motivated and pushed me to try different exercises that I never thought I’d be capable of doing.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 168 pounds, and I got as low as 144 pounds. Since I’ve been strength training, I’ve gained muscle. Now I weigh 151 pounds. 

What is your height?
I am 5’2″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in October 2019, and it took nine months to get to this place. There were definitely ups and downs, but overall, I’m ecstatic about my progress and looking forward to seeing more improvements.

Is weight loss surgery part of you journey?
No, it wasn’t.

What is the biggest lesson you have learned so far?
DON’T BE AFRAID TO TRY. I know a lot of people suffer from the fear of failing. I know that I did. I was afraid to start and commit because I was so afraid that I would fall off or not make any improvements. I took a risk by starting Keto. Surprisingly it helped me jumpstart adopting better habits. I realized that sugar is not my friend. 

When it came to working out, I was afraid that I was too week or that I wouldn’t be able to do certain exercises. Gradually, I could do more than I imagined as long as I continued to push myself. 

What advice do you have for women on want to lose weight?
Eat like your life depends on it, because it does. Diet is so important, and I can’t stress it enough. It’s important to pay attention to your body and how certain foods make you feel. I noticed after eliminating sugar, I had less joint pain and had more energy. 

Also, just keep going! Don’t get hung up on messing up. Continue to push forward ALWAYS.

Instagram: @tasiamack4