Stacey lost 100 pounds

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Stacey lost 100 pounds.  She wanted to avoid any obesity-related illnesses that she’d seen loved ones suffer with and she knew that it was time for a lifestyle change.  She overhauled her eating habits and started working out regularly.  Her hard work paid off and she told us all about her journey…

I have been overweight all my life. My mind was ready for the lifestyle change and to loose the weight that I have always wanted to loose. My primary care doctor stated that I was a good candidate for the Lap Band surgery being that I was 298 pounds, but I was determined to do it for myself. I said “No” to weight loss surgery.

My mind had to be ready to change or I would have not been able to achieve my weight loss thus far. My mother was my motivation. She has diabetes, Hypertension, cardio vascular disease, high cholesterol and many other obesity-related health issues. I knew that if I did not loose the weight, my body will eventually stop compensating for the extra weight and I would start to have health problems as well. I was 298 lbs at 5’6″ tall in 2013. Now, I weigh 198 lbs. I lost 100 pounds in one year. My goal weight is 155 pounds and I am still work in progress who is loyal to the demand of success. Life has me inspired to loose the weight and become the woman that lived inside me, hiding behind the adipose tissue.

When I started my “Challenge of Change 2013” in October of 2013, I initially started off with only portion control. I weighed and measured all food items that I ate. I then slowly started gearing towards healthier items such as: green leafy vegies, healthy fats, antioxidant fruits, beans, and lean protein. I mostly cooked all meals at home, that way I did not eat preservatives and I would know exactly how the food I ate was prepared. I used coconut oil spray when I would cook my fish and veggies, or I would steam all veggies. I baked, boiled and grilled meat. I would choose high protein snacks such as low fat peanut butter with a banana, raw nuts, cottage cheese, cheese, and eggs. If I had ice cream, I would eat one skinny cow ice cream twice a week. However, I did allow myself one cheat meal of choice once a week. I drink plenty of water, water and more water and I’ve eliminated soda as much as possible.

For exercise, I incorporated a workout plan in November 2013 at the gym. I went three days a week and worked out on the treadmill for 45 minutes of day for about two weeks. Then I increased to five days a week for a whole week. After that, I increased to an hour of the treadmill five days a week for about a month. I later switched to different cardio machines, doing 20 minutes on each machine for a total of one hour of cardio five days a week. I continued to change my workout routine up every 4-6 weeks to continue to shock my body and promote the weight loss during plateau stages. Finally, I started to lift weights, doing things that would not affect my back injury. Just know that lean muscle burns fat all day.

By December 2013, had lost 20 lbs and that’s when I applied my accountability strategy by posting a pic of my 20 lb weight loss on my Facebook page. I knew then I had to deliver and continue with my goal to loose all this weight. It was an economical way to ne accountable by reporting with quarterly pics of my progress on my Facebook page. I checked in at 24 hour fitness and posted every workout session. Those photos were there as documentation of my daily dose of exercise I achieved. It was also inspiring to inspire others that they too can do this.

If I can loose the weight, anyone can. You have to have the mindset that this is a lifestyle change and not a diet. A person has to be ready mentally, physically and spiritually to loose the weight. I want to inspire women over 40, obese women and women after childbirth that you can do it for yourself, it is so rewarding.

Instagram: @challengeofchange2013