Transformation of the Day: Tasha lost 90 pounds. 14 years ago she started a fitness and wellness journey that led to her becoming a certified personal trainer and fitness studio owner. She was dealing with high blood pressure, back pain and her weight was slowly creeping toward 300 lbs. Check out how she took action, changed the life and has maintained her success.
My name is Tasha Turnbull and I am the owner of T2 Fitness Studios in Va Beach, VA. I’m a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor. After losing 90lbs, I have made it my mission in life to assist others in reaching their fitness goals. As of today, I’ve decided to lose those last 10lbs, adding up to a total of 100lbs lost!!
I realized early on that this is one of the toughest challenges we will ever have to face in life. Whomever said losing weight is easiest was dead wrong! I have committed myself to this lifestyle; this is all I know. I have established habits and routines that force me to make the best decisions possible; regardless of any personal issues, drama, business concerns, family issues that are going on around me. I have learned to put myself; my body and my feelings first. That includes choosing the healthiest food possible and making an effort to workout 5 days a week, even though I train clients from 5am – 8:30pm 5 days a week.
My starting weight was 265-270 pounds. My current weight is 165 pounds. Height: 5’6 1/2″ tall. I started my journey about 14 years ago. It took me 2 years to lose a significant amount of the weight and I have been able to maintain this weight loss for the last 13 years.
My motivation to start on my fitness journey was when the scale started to tip over the 250+ pounds range. Every time I went to the doctor, I found out that I gained weight… never lost a pound. I started to develop high blood pressure, back pain, and I simply could not fathom weighing 300 pounds. As I started inching towards the 300 lbs. mark, I knew I had to make a serious change in the way I was living and it scared me to my core.
What inspired me to keep going when I wanted to give up was that I became mesmerized by how much our bodies can change once we commit to living a healthier lifestyle. I was absolutely shocked that I could start to see my midsection changing and more definition in my legs. I would have never thought something like that could happen to me. So. once I started seeing my body change, I knew I was on to something and I could not turn back now.
I did not want to get overwhelmed with the food part of this journey, so I started simple. I started to only eat baked or roasted food (I didn’t have access to a grill). I fully committed to nixing any type of junk food as well. I was completely over eating chips, cookies, and brownies. I was sick and tired of doing that to myself. Instead, I drank more water and cut out juice. Those were the 3 food changes I started out with. Then, as I saw more changes in my body (over the course of 6-9 months), I changed up more of my food regimen, such as eating my carbs at certain times of day and increasing my veggie
intake.
My workout routines consist of weight training, high intensity interval training, running, and cardiovascular machines. My workouts always include a combination of resistance training and cardio; never one or the other. I workout 5 days a week for about one hour on those 5 days.
For people looking to lose weight I would suggest you assess your patience, discipline, and willpower at this time. You have to be able to forego short term gratification (from food and seeing quick weight loss results) in order to be successful with reaching your long term goals (reduction in body fat, weight loss). You have to be able to resist temptations and be able to deal with stress, drama, and busy schedules without looking to solve those problems with food and stay consistent with eating healthier
and working out on a consistent basis. Once you get into that zone regardless of what is going on around you; there’s no stopping you with how much you can achieve. The biggest lesson I’ve learned is no matter how many times you’ve failed, you can always start over and make that next meal or next workout that shift that can set the tone for your body’s biggest transformation yet.
I encourage any one who is on their own fitness journey to stop fighting it and embrace all the struggles that come along the journey each and every day. The more you embrace the struggle, the more you will find ways to overcome those hurdles and reach your body’s deepest potential. Don’t stop… keep going!
facebook.com/Tasha.T2.Turnbull
Instagram: @t2_tasha
Debra says
Thanks for the encouragement. I really need it
Monica Wade says
Staying motivated when I get tired and bored. What are some good exercises.
Vickie says
What an accomplishment. You are an inspiration to me and others in the beginning of my life changes. Being healthy thru clean eating and exercise is my new way of life. Stories like yours are my extra motivation. Thank you for sharing your story
Chole says
Thanks for the inspiration and representing Hampton Roads 🙂
Sheila says
I needed this. I am through with resolutions but you reminded me that it’s okay to start over again. I’m starting over again and again if necessary because I can do it. Thank you Tasha!
Sheila