Tyesha lost 26 pounds 

Transformation of the Day: Tyesha lost 26 pounds and has gone down several sizes in pants. She made a New Year’s Resolution to look and feel better, and she has been consistent for the past eight months. By weight training and fueling her body with healthy carbs and high-protein meals, she is thriving. 

My name is Tyesha, and I’ve been on my fitness journey for the past eight months. It was a NY’s resolution of mine to look and feel better, and I’m happy that I’m sticking with it.

Motivation: What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I think my discipline is the ultimate thing that is keeping me going. Motivation is what got me started, but I know that discipline and consistency are what really matter. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I changed my eating habits by eating higher protein/carb meals while keeping my fat content low. Since I was losing weight, I have to be in a caloric deficit, but I know that being in a deficit slows the metabolism down. So to combat that, I just eat high-protein meals. Every meal I eat has protein in it. Carbohydrates are our energy source, so I eat high-carb foods for my workouts. I don’t follow keto or anything like that. 

What does your workout routine consist of? How often do you work out?
My primary source of exercise is lifting weights because I’d like to build more muscle. I go to an indoor spin class on Saturdays. I work out six times a week using a split I made for myself, and I do cardio on my rest days.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My heaviest weight was in my before picture at about 210 pounds. My current weight is 184ish. It fluctuates, but I am still losing! My goal weight is 150 pounds. (I’m not sure how much I weigh now, but I know that I’ve gone down about four pants sizes and feel a lot stronger.)

What is your height?
I am 5’4″.

Is weight loss surgery or skin removal surgery part of your journey?
No, surgery is not part of my journey. 

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I’ve learned so far is it’s okay not to give 100% all the time. Being consistent 85%-90% of the time is enough. I will still get to where I want to be health-wise and how I want to look. The process will be slower but more sustainable. 

What advice would you like to share with women who want to lose weight? The advice I’d like to give to other women wanting to lose weight is to take baby steps. There’s no need to go head first in being active all the time and eating strictly healthy foods. Instead, tweak your lifestyle to where it’s more sustainable for you.

Instagram: @tyeshafree