Transformation of the Day: Valencia lost 40 pounds. She knew it was time to change when her weight reached 512 lbs and she began to have mobility issues. God showed her a vision of a healthy version of herself and how she will achieve it through through good nutrition, exercise and faith. Check out her story.
I started my journey in Oct 2017 and I’ve currently lost 40 pounds. My starting weight was 512 pounds at 5’7″. I pray that sharing my story can both motivate and inspire others, as well as give me a boost of motivation as I continue my journey.
In 2014, I started working out, eating better and begin to see results. However, that success came to a halt. I was almost derailed from doing what I now know I must do. I discovered that I had endometriosis and that it was an extreme case. Soon, I was unable to move around without severe pain.
I had a full hysterectomy. After surgery and recovery, I felt like I would never accomplish my goal of getting to a healthy weight. This mindset caused me to gain weight and ballon up to the 512 pounds I found myself at in Oct 2017. At that weight, I began to lose mobility and knew I had to make a change.
God showed me a vision of a healthy version of myself and told me that weight loss surgery was not the way I was going to get there. I have to get healthy through good nutrition, exercise and my faith in God. He will give me the strength and endurance to accomplish my goals.
I began (with baby steps) by cutting back on one thing at a time that I knew would bad for me, like refined sugars. I ate more healthy foods, like cantaloupe, spinach, mushrooms and protein shakes. Then, I started doing water aerobics, which was easy on my joints. Later, I incorporated Zumba, strength training and calisthenics. I work out 3-4 days a week. My
goal is to work up to 5 days week, 30 minutes of exercise a day minimum.
The biggest lesson I’ve learned: Never quit. If you don’t quit, no matter what stumbling blocks you hit, you will never have to start at the beginning again.
I am not doing fad diets or extreme exercises. I am making changes that I can stick with for the rest of my life. I love encouraging other people who have as much weight to lose as I do and telling them that they can do it too. Our size does not have to limit us from moving. We also have to love ourselves RIGHT NOW, at any weight! By doing so, we will love ourselves enough to make a change.
We can support each other through the process. You can follow my journey on facebook at Graced2Win Weight Loss and on Instagram at @_graced2win
Emma says
So encouraging. I too have mobility issue because of my weight and osteoarthritis. I had given up…but im back in the fight and your message spoke to me. Thank you.
Kiesha Collier says
I started out strong and lost 20 pounds in two months just by walking on the treadmill for an hour five days a week and doing squats. I felt horrible because I’ve stopped exercising now for about a month and have gained five of the twenty pounds I lost. Your story was inspiring to me because I don’t have a health issue that cause my joints to hurt and if you can fight through and keep going so can I. Thank you so much for your story and you look great!!
Barbie says
Thank you for your story. Which has motivated me to begin again. I told myself that I would be fat no matter how I tried to loose weight. Reading your story has motivated me to begin my journey again. Thank you.