Sheena lost 142 pounds

Update: Sheena is still going strong. She lost 22 more pounds for a total of 164 pounds gone. After being diagnosed pre-diabetic and borderline for high blood pressure, she transformed her life with a prescription diet aid, healthy eating habits and exercise. Now, she has embraced a plant-based lifestyle. Check out her update.

Current Weight: 192 pounds – I’ve lost a total of 164 pounds. My doctor has started titrating me off of Qsymia. I’ve also started a plant-based lifestyle. I decided to go plant-based after watching the documentary, “What the Health”, and learning about the Billion dollar pharmaceutical business. The information on processed foods in that documentary was enough for me. Meeting other Vegans online and in my community has made me more sensitive to how animals are treated period.

The hardest challenge I’ve faced with becoming plant-based is missing cheese, Lol. It took me a while to find Vegan cheese that taste like regular cheese. That was the only thing that made me a little cranky at first.

As far as my workout routine, I haven’t been consistent as I would like. I definitely need to get back to three times a week. I’ve been going once, every couple of weeks. I walking my dogs often, but not doing any serious gym time. I’m going to get back to three days a week of gym time ASAP.

As far as advice to others: Someone else’s path to successful weight loss may not be yours. DO WHATEVER IT TAKES. It’s your journey, not someone else’s. @sheesheeface

Transformation of the Day: Sheena lost 142 pounds. She was diagnosed pre-diabetic and borderline for high blood pressure, both weight-related diseases. Her doctor sent her to a specialist who prescribed a drug to combat cravings and hunger. That became her magic pill, combined with healthy eating habits and exercise. Check out her journey.

I started my journey in January 2017. I weighed 356 pounds when I started my journey, and now I weigh 214 pounds (height: 5’7″). When I went to the doctor in December 2016, he told me that I was pre-diabetic and I had borderline high blood pressure. He also said that it was all weight related.

Next, he sent me to a weight loss specialist. The first thing I asked this new doctor for was weight loss surgery, but he said that I was too young. Instead, he wanted to put me on a pill first. He prescribed me a drug called Qsymia and this pill has been the magic pill for me. It takes away the sugar cravings and curbs your appetite. I lost my first 100 pounds in the first 6 months. I was also working out twice a week with a trainer.

Here I am, almost a year and a half later, still keeping the weight off. The doctor wants me to lose about 20 more pounds and then he will start transitioning me off the medication. I’m no longer pre-diabetic and my blood pressure is normal. Hopefully, my story will help others. Qsymia worked wonders for me.

What was your inspiration?
What inspired me to keep going when I wanted to give up was the thought of dying because of of obesity. Again, high blood pressure and being pre-diabetic are both weight related. I was too young for any of that.

How did you change your eating habits?
I stopped eating bread and pasta. I still ate a serving of rice or potatoes once a day, but I left the bread and pasta alone. I also stayed away from fried foods, soda, candy and chips. I cut out red meat and pork as well. I only eat chicken, fish and turkey.

What did your workout routine look like?
My trainer did full body circuit training with me a couple times a week. The exercises were the kind that get your heart rate up. (Not much cardio.)

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The biggest lessons I’ve learned are that this is a lifestyle and that consistency is the key. Making healthy choices daily helps me stay on track. When I think of this as something I want to do for the rest of my life and not just something I’m doing until I’m get to the size I want to be, it helps me to keep going… and never get comfortable. It never gets easy, but it’s a lifestyle.

What advice would you share with other women who want to lose weight?
I want to tell all women who are struggling with their weight to Never Give Up! If you have bad one day, start over the next day! Keep pushing and Keep moving!

Instagram: @sheesheeface

Update Oct 2018: Shout out to Sheena. She lost 12 more pounds. “I’m now down 154 pounds.”

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