Today’s featured weight loss before and after: Tai lost 105 pounds by doing the work of working out hard and changing her eating habits to lose pounds. She has provided a LOT of detail for us. Here is what she shared with us:
“Good morning, I just wanted to give my personal thanks to you for promoting wellness, especially in our community. I’ve been on a healthy journey myself the last 15 months going from 265 to 160! It has inspired me to share my journey as a means to help others like me know it is possible to change your life. This is a really awesome page & I’m glad my friends told me to check it out. Thanks again for your contribution towards healthy living & Showing good examples for women to follow!
On July 5th, 2011, I removed my rose colored glasses and realized an ugly truth I had been hiding from for years: I was extremely overweight and unhealthy. It was during a weekend trip to Miami with friends, and it was the first time I felt uncomfortable in my own body. I had been overweight for the better part of my life, and had become numb to cruel taunts and overweight remarks; however, this weekend was different. If you’ve ever been to south beach, you know that it’s a scenery of nicely composed bodies flaunting them proudly up and down the main strip and boardwalk.
Upon returning home from vacation I decided I needed to do something about my weight. I was about 265 pounds and standing only five feet tall. At the time I was a year and a half from my 30th birthday, and I didn’t want to enter the next year of my existence with the unwanted weight. Further, I knew that it would be harder to lose the older I became. I started by joining a Biggest Loser completion at my office. It helped to keep me motivated in the beginning because I’m very competitive and there was money involved for the top two losers. I ended up coming in second place after losing 17 pounds in eight weeks; however, after a few months of working out I hit a plateau and became very discouraged. I was around 30 pounds lost when I decided to change gears and stop working out at the gym. I instead took to a female dance studio that hosted classes like Zumba, Belly and Pole Dancing. I looked like a fish out of water participating, but I kept at it. What I liked most about the studio is that there were women of all ages and sizes, and they pushed me to do better. I kept up with the classes for about two months and then decided to start working out at home to save money. I took to walking and the intense Insanity workout. This forever changed my life. The program was tough, but I pushed play every day because I knew that if I did I would get results. Eventually my daily one mile walk turned into a two mile jog and increased to running several miles later down the line. I finished two rounds of Insanity and then moved on to another home program called TurboFire. The convenience of working out at home helped me stay on track because all I had to do was walk into my living room, which gave me no excuse as to why I couldn’t work out.
What was most beneficial for me during the entire process was learning how to eat properly. In the beginning, I stuck to a 1200 calorie diet, but found that I was consistently hungry. After a while I stopped losing weight, and after doing some research I found out I wasn’t eating enough calories to sustain my weight loss. I also started to look into the actual foods I was eating. I eat a lot of processed foods like canned soup, frozen meals and boxed foods. I learned to adapt to a method of clean eating instead. It wasn’t easy; it took about 6 months of researching and trying new foods before I became fully versed in what clean eating was. The benefit of it verses my previous diet regiment was that most of the food was only lean cuts of meat, raw fruits and vegetables, eggs, fish, nuts and seeds. I started to try at least one new food item each week until I replaced most of the bad foods I had previously consumed on a regular bases.
It took 14 months, but I to date have lost about 105 pounds. My current workouts are now back in the gym lifting weights as I am down to 160 pounds and looking to gain more muscle mass. I also run daily, anywhere from three to six miles, and I’ve taken up yoga. The results I received along the way certainly helped me to stay focused. Also, the people I encouraged along the way by sharing my struggle was a major motivator. I used social media sites like My Fitness Pal, Instagram and my Facebook page to share my store and have others share theirs. Providing motivation to others and helping them see that accomplishing their goals has been one of the most rewarding benefits of this whole process. This is because when I was at my highest weight there were not many women who were where I was and had gotten to a point I was trying to achieve. This is the main reason why I find it so important to motivate women who are currently the “old me” looking to achieve their own health and fitness goals.”
facebook.com/TaiFitness
Instagram: @TaiFitness
Nicole says
YOU LOOK AMAZING! SO INSPIRING!
lakeisha says
I been working hard to lose weight with no success. I was considering having surgery done. I have been so depressed about my weight. If only i can get motivated myself..
helen clark says
Be encouraged Lakeisha! It is hard my sister but every day that you get up and do it is a day you didn’t give up on yourself! We have too many haters that we encounter in a lifetime to be our own hater. Love yourself by believing in yourself, and have faith in yourself, and God! If you chooses surgery I will pray that all goes well; and if you choose to do it the good old fashion way, I pray for your strength, and that you work your butt off literally!!! :0) Good Luck!!!
deliah lewis says
congratulations on your weight loss. Inspiring and motivating. I’ve restarted my journey to losing 35 pounds long term, but 15lbs short term
Lisa says
Tai,
Congrats on your healthy journey. You look AMAZING! No more exuses for me, instead of the pumps I was gonna purchase, I’m going to get me some new walking shoes and start today. Thanks for sharing.
Stay whole and healthy, continue to share your testimony, it makes a difference!
May blessings abound for you.
Ree says
You look great, this sorry is bringing me to tears . Because I have been on a roller coaster ride concerning my weight . Its been up and down ,i have use all kind of diet pills everything i can think of to not be fat. Right now i’m at my highs weight and i don’t know what to do , I’m so depress and I just want to give up. Pray for me..Ree
Kim says
Hi Ree
Whatever you do please don’t give up. I know how you feel. I use to feel so depressed and prayed that God would help me lose the weight and nothing happened. Problem was faith without works is dead. You have to make up your mind that you want it bad enough and literally get moving. Just start off by walking 30 minutes every other day and eating smaller portions, cut out all fast food and prepare your meals at home.And cut out sugary drinks for water. When I took a leap and just stop thinking about it and doing it, God stepped in and gave me the energy and drive to keep going. I never thought I would see myself slim again and sometimes I want to pinch myself because I can’t believe its really me. The amazing thing about God is he gives us some many chances, so the fact that you are breathing means you can reverse your situation. Its not permanent.You can do this! If I can do it, anybody can because I am telling you I have walked in your shoes and the enemy had me thinking it was no hope for me. When I started for the first month I did not even weigh myself and I did not think about whether or not I should go to gym today. I got off work,went home and ate a small meal, changed clothes and headed to the gym. I didn’t focus on anyone around me, I just did my routine and left. The next thing I knew my clothes were becoming looser, I started getting compliments and then that really motivated me to continue. I asked God everyday for strength and he gave it to me.I have lost a total of 42 pounds with 13 more to go… Hang in there, I promise if you REALLY want it you can make it happen:)I will be praying for you.
Sam says
Tai, you look great! What an inspiration. I don’t have ANY excuse now! LOL. I look at some of you all’s stories and I know I need to get it together. I currently weight 190 lbs. at 5’2″ and I would like to get down to 125 lbs, the weight I was before I had children. And mind you, that was with muscle which weighs more than fat. I am SO glad I came on here and read your story. I recently changed my eating habits drastically. I drink 2 veggie/fruit smoothies a day then get home and eat a meal. But the smoothies have been so awesome that I might drink 3 smoothies a day. It’s easy to stick to my diet at work because I’m usually running around and too busy to worry about food. It’s just when I get home that I struggle. But another thing I have learned to do is let go of stress then I won’t “stress eat/drink”. Thank you for your story. I am inspired and I look forward to being on these boards with you all one day…telling my story. Take care!
Doris Roos says
Congratulations… You look amazing and is really encouraging me to do something about my weight. I need some advise rather urgently. I need to loose 45 pounds to reach my goal weight. I have started so many diets but give up by day three. At the moment my knees are hurting and swelling. I cannot stand for too long. I am pear shape and carry most of my weight around my bum and thighs. Due to my knees, I cannot do exercises that requires jumping or putting pressure on my knees, but most exercises requires walking, jogging. Are there any exercises that will not put pressure on my knees but still help me to loose weight?
Donna says
You could do water exercises. Also Google exercises for people with bad knees etc. I did that for exercises for my back.
Barbara says
I’m 67 and have a bad right knee and have to do low impact aerobics and I still walk moderately. On You Tube you can find low impact aerobics and even some with seated exercises. I’d lost 21 pounds then gained 2 but thanks to the encouragement found here at BWLW; I KNOW WE CAN DO THIS!
Risa says
Wonderful Job! Thanks for the inspiration.
Earlice Harris says
Outstanding Job !!!!! Thanks for the Motivation and letting us know it takes time and dedication…..
Colis says
Congratulations, Tai! You have done an awesome job and indeed you are an inspiration to me and many others. Thanks and continued success to you.
Barbara says
Great Job! OMG you’ve helped me so much. Especially with the 1200 calorie information. I’ve stopped losing weight got discourage and even gained two pounds then went back to 1200 calories and still nothing. I understand better now, thanks. BTW you are beautiful in both pictures but your eyes sparkle in the after. God bless!
Starshadow says
You didn’t have a problem with loose skin?