Shermaine lost 115 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Shermaine lost 115 pounds. A year ago, she began her fitness and nutrition journey after facing several medical challenges related to a hormonal imbalance. She invested time and effort into learning how to fuel her body and figuring out the right mix of exercise, healthy food, and other lifestyle changes.

Social Media:
Instagram: @Informwellnessvc 

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I was diagnosed with PCOS in 2008, which was my first attempt at losing weight so I could conceive. I was able to conceive in 2014 and 2018 just by eating a low glycemic diet and exercising in the gym, and that was a great routine. 

I gained 100lbs during each pregnancy and lost about 70 pounds after each pregnancy. My lowest weight was 145 pounds in 2013 before I conceived my first, and 170 pounds in 2018 before my second pregnancy. After the second, I maintained my weight at 190lbs with my diet and exercise routine. 

However, when Covid 19 struck, the lockdown and stress as a teacher coping with online school were too much, and despite eating well, my PCOS was terrible. I couldn’t go to the gym either, and in 6 months, I was at 270 pounds. 

It took 44 days straight of excruciating migraine and thoughts of suicide, aches, and pain to make me realize that Covid-19 cannot be my breaker. So I developed an at-home workout routine where I did yoga and breathwork. I woke up at 5 am and walked in the sunlight daily to get my hormones regulated. 

For the other weight loss journeys I have been on, I tried Tae Bo, step aerobics, IFBB bikini weight training, HIIT, and Crossfit. These all were effective; however, they required some gym or trainer, and I never was motivated to work out at home. 

While getting CT scans and blood work, I was scared, wondering what disease I would now have to fight and anticipating the worse. Even preparing my last will was a really emotional time. I was shocked and relieved but also very disappointed to find that the maladies were only the effects of a severe hormonal imbalance. I knew then it couldn’t be food and diet alone, but I had to change my lifestyle. 

I started journaling more and meditating. I began being more mindful of how I speak about myself and to myself. As a result, the weight kept melting. Intermittent fasting was also an excellent addition to my low glycemic diet, as well as sea moss and herbal teas. 

How did you change your eating habits?
In 2018 I got a diploma in Nutrition that really informed me factually about food composition and meal portions as well as how phytonutrients from nootropics and adaptogens are helpful in healing the body. This is common in the Ayurveda diet. However, the information I got from doing that program helped me create my own program and programs for people who often ask or follow my Instagram. 

I would advise anyone who is struggling with weight to sign up for a free nutrition diploma online. Alison and Coursera both have free diplomas and certificates that give the information nutritionists and coaches use to tailor diets to suit individual needs. Many fad diets and meal plans are designed for weight loss but are also designed to keep you as a client. Don’t just rely on professionals. Become your own nutritionist. 

What is your workout routine? 
Each day I do yoga for 30 mins on YouTube, Wim Hof breathwork on YouTube for 30 mins, and run 5k a day. Also, in my personal downtime, I love to put on some music and dance or skip, but nothing timed or structured. If it’s the weekend, I dance while doing chores. Sometimes, I even do breathwork while folding laundry or doing dishes. 

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight? 
My starting weight was 270 pounds, and now I’m at 155 pounds.

What is your height?
I am 5’7″.

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started on August 4th, 2021. So it has been a year.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, it is not.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I have learned is to do it for you. Do it the way you feel best and research the facts. Also, listen to your body. Many times we do stressful workouts that harm our body more because of inflammation and oxidative stress, and thus our body loathes the journey. 

Sometimes we eat food and follow people who are not struggling with our issues, nor do they have our lifestyles. The best thing you can do is do it the way your body tells you to, no matter if it looks weird to others.

Trust God and ask him to guide you along the journey. Lean on God and not people. The maker knows you more than you know yourself. Work on fostering a closer relationship with self. Drown out the noise of the outside world and do the work that you need to. Listen to that voice inside as you pray for health.