Veronica lost 31 pounds

Weight Loss Story: Veronica lost 31 pounds. This 42 year old mother of 3 was motivated by her spirituality, her children and her career. She wanted to avoid a family history of illness, and as a therapist she knew that eating right and exercising provided not only physical but mental benefits. Check out what she shared with us about how she lost the pounds.

Veronica T. – 42 years old, single mother of 2 adult children and 1 teenager.

What was your motivation?
My motivations are my spirituality, my children and my career. I want to live a long healthy life to see my kids get married and have their own children. As a woman of God, I want to be first partaker of everything I preach. I’m 42 years old and I feel better now than I did in my 30’s. I really enjoy exercising. I am a mental health therapist and studies show that making time for exercise and eating healthier provides some serious mental benefits. My main focus is lowering my BMI and reducing my risk for high blood pressure, diabetes and cancer (all 3 run in my family).

What inspired you?
I have a huge influence on the people around me. It inspires me to lead by example. I lost weight over 10 years. I weighed 299 pounds. My goal was to get out the 200’s. In the past, I never got of out the 200’s, but I got to 250 lbs. When I got divorced in 2010, my weight went up and down. I am a first generation college graduate, and after receiving my Master’s degree in 2013 (a three year degree) in 11 months, I decided to re-focus on my weight loss journey. I love healthy foods, my struggle is my sleeping pattern. For years, I worked the 3rd shift while in school, and with my schedule being very hectic, my sleeping pattern is chaotic. So, I’m trying to train myself to get more sleep, along with having healthy eating habits and exercising.

Eating Habits:
I didn’t really give up any foods. I stop eating pork years ago, I don’t eat a lot of carbs and I don’t like too many starchy foods. However, I like bread and I love pastries, so I have discipline when eating them. I juice weekly and drink smoothies. I love kale and spinach in juices and smoothies. When I do eat meat, it’s only fish and chicken.

Exercise: I joined the gym and I workout 3 days a week for 45 minutes.

Starting weight: 268 pounds
Current weight: 237 pounds
Height: 5’7″

How long did your transformation take?
10 months.

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
I would say get to know your body. Speak with your primary physician and nutritionist. I learn that losing weight is a mind thing mostly. I work my mind with the word of God, I eat clean (fruits and veggies daily) and I workout regularly.