Shavone lost 87 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Shavone lost 87 pounds with healthier eating habits and lots of cardio. Her primary motivation is self-love, but she told us that it is beautiful to know that her boyfriend loves and supports her no matter her size. 

What was your motivation?
My motivation was MYSELF! I started gaining a lot of weight when I met my boyfriend. I guess you could call it HAPPY WEIGHT, Lol, but I wasn’t happy with myself. I would look in the mirror and say, “WOW, I gained so much. I really need to lose weight.” I was so insecure about myself, but having someone who loves you no matter what size you are is a GREAT feeling. 

I wanted to make MYSELF happy! I wanted to feel more confident. I was always tired, had no energy, and felt lazy most days. I wanted to feel like MYSELF again. I decided to make a change in May 2018. I still have more weight to lose, but I strive every SINGLE day to become the best person I can be!  

How did you change your eating habits?
When I started, I threw everything out of my house that was unhealthy. I love to eat junk food. Who doesn’t? LOL! I stopped eating chips, cake, candy, fried food, and pasta. I even cut out beef for the first couple of months. I also stopped ordering out, and instead, I began to make more home-cooked food.

I brought a food scale and I started weighing my food. I also tried to count my daily calories by using an app called Lose It and made sure I was taking in a lot of water each day. 

For breakfast, I’d have ½ cup of oatmeal. (Old fashion oats with cinnamon and no sugar) with fruit and egg whites. If I didn’t have that, I would have a protein shake. For lunch, I tried to eat 3-5oz of protein (chicken/fish/ground turkey) with veggies. I would have a ½ cup of brown rice only 3 times a week. For dinner, I would do the same. However, if I had brown rice for lunch, I wouldn’t have it for dinner. 

I snack on fruit, only mainly apples and strawberries, and I stop eating after 7 pm. If I get hungry later, I have some fruit! My hardest struggle when it came to changing my eating habits was cutting food at 7 pm because I would usually eat late and go to sleep.

What was your workout routine?
My workout routine would consist of a lot of cardio. I would do at least 45 minutes of cardio 4-5 days a week. I used the treadmill (walking/jogging), the elliptical, the Stairmaster, or took a boot camp class where we would do stepping aerobic. After cardio, I would focus on abs, legs, or arms. My entire workouts lasted for an hour or two.

Starting Weight/Current Weight
This journey has been such a rollercoaster for me. My heaviest weight was 285 pounds, and I couldn’t believe it. I slowly started dropping weight over the years. 

The picture on the left was taken in May 2017 [pink shirt]. That’s when I started working out and eating better. At the time, I weighed in at 252 pounds. Now, I weigh in at 198 pounds. 

Sometimes I’m inconsistent, and I don’t hold myself accountable as should. However, I always try to bounce back and get back on track. I’m not perfect, and one thing I’ve learned is that it is not a race. I’m doing things at my own pace. 

What is your height?
5’4″

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned is that this is a lifetime journey. This journey is not easy. You will have days when you are not motivated, and that’s okay. Get back up and get back on track. Keep fighting towards your goals, and you will succeed. Once you see the results, it becomes addictive. 

What advice do you have for people who want to lose weight?
My advice for people who want to lose weight is don’t give up. The results may not be fast as you want them, but keep aiming for your goal and do it at your pace. It’s YOU vs. YOU. No one is perfect, and yes, we all mess up, but every day is a new chance to try again.

Another thing: TRY to STAY AWAY from the scale. Take pictures and put them side by side. If you don’t see the results yet, it’s okay. KEEP GOING and DON’T STOP.

Just remember what works for me may not work for you and vice versa. Find what works for you, stick to it, and the change WILL come! When you feel like quitting, think about why you STARTED.   

I want to inspire and motivate people who are going through the same struggle I go through every day with weight loss. I don’t know where this journey will take me this year, but one thing is for certain: I do not want to go back to weighing that much ever again. 

Instagram: @justqueenies_journey