Sheryl lost 134 pounds in 3 years

Weight Loss Success Story of the Day: Sheryl lost 134 pounds in 3 years. This petite beauty went from a size 22 to a size 8 with a serious commitment to exercise and health eating.  Find out how she lost the weight…

Hello my name Sheryl Hampton. I lost 134 pounds in three years. I was diagnosed with Diabetes, High Blood Pressure, High Cholesterol. That’s three of the most deadly illness among Black people. My thoughts were it’s always been easy to take care of my family and friends. I said to myself “OH LORD!! How can I take care of me”. I tried a 2 week free trial at a local gym. (Snap Fitness). I was pleasantly surprised. I had gone for my check up and found out that I lost 7 pounds in 2 weeks. I was Flabbergasted. So, I joined the gym. During my first year, I worked out 7 days a week, 2 times a day (5:30 AM every morning. 5:30 PM every evening). I used the treadmill and elliptical machine doing 60 minutes for each workout, morning and evening for the whole year. In my second year, I implemented Zumba class 2 times a week for 8 months while maintaining my routine from the first year. I changed my eating habits by cutting out fast foods, fried foods, pasta, white rice, white bread, sodas, ice cream, cookies, potato chips and by not eating late at night. My new eating habits consisted of eating brown rice, brown bread, plenty of veggies and salads.  I also ate baked and grilled chicken, fish, turkey, tuna, fruit, and plenty of water.  I did a lemon and water detox once a month for seven days.

I started to plateau for awhile. That’s when your body has gotten use of a routine. So, I started going to a Boot Camp session for 3 months. I started seeing results again. I had gone from a size 22 to a size 12 by the second year.  For my Diabetes, I had gone from taking Insulin to taking a half pill once a day. My blood pressure was stable and I no longer required meds for Cholesterol. I approached my third year still maintaining my workout schedule from the first and second year. However, I started walking on the track 3 days a week while still working out at the gym and doing Zumba. I soon began running 6 miles a day. I was also doing the boot camp workout I learned, which consisted of 200 jumping jacks, Running in place for 2 minutes, 25 Squats with a ball, 50 Obliques, 50 Standing Crunches, 50 Butterfly Squats, 25 lunges each leg 25 and Heel toe.

This has been truly a change of lifestyle. I started at 271.8 pounds at a height of 5’1″. I now weigh 137 pounds. My dress size is an 8 today. I am still in the process of losing another 10 pounds and my goal is to be totally off of medicine. My advice to those who are trying to lose weight is that it can be done. Your dream can be reached. Take an inventory of your life ,the people who love you and the people you love for motivation. I am living a healthy, confident life now and I love it.  It’s funny…I started out having pictures of Janet Jackson and Lisa Ray as my example.  I had pictures of mega stars then and I now have pictures of me. I’m so glad Black Woman Losing weight has this platform for us to share our journeys. It has truly been a pleasure to know we are not alone.