Zinzi lost 55 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Zinzi lost 55 pounds/25kg. After seeing the photos she took on a night out with her husband, she realized that her weight was approaching 100kg/220lbs. With her health in mind, she decided to change her lifestyle. She found her weight loss coach after reading another BWLW sister’s transformation story.

I was born and raised in Bulawayo, Zimbabwe. I currently live in Windhoek, Namibia with my husband and my six-year-old daughter.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going when you wanted to give up?
At the beginning of May 2019, I went to a poetry show with my husband, and one of my favorite poets from South Africa was in the show. We got a chance to go backstage after the show and took pictures. I couldn’t post or share a single picture because I couldn’t believe how much weight I had gained. The photos became the wake-up call that I needed.

I weighed myself, and my weight was 96kgs/211.6lbs I was devastated by how close I was to 100kgs/220.5lbs. I felt that I had let myself down as well as my family, and I wanted to become a better, healthier version of myself. I wanted to be able to run around and play with my six-year-old daughter. All of these reasons became the motivation I needed to start my weight loss journey and keep going.

How did you change your eating habits?
I could go through 3 to 4 packets of sweets in a day. I hated vegetables and would very rarely eat them. I loved to eat take out food, like fried chicken, pizza, and soda. However, I cut them all off completely. I also gave up carbs and most processed foods. Then, I started experiencing withdrawal-like symptoms. I would give up food only to go back to it in a week or so.

I remember going on Facebook while I was lying in bed feeling sick and hungry, and I found the Black Women Losing Weight page. I joined it. The following day I saw a weight loss story on my feed from your page, clicked, and read it. The woman’s story was very similar to mine. She had also tried various diets and exercise plans, but they didn’t seem to work until she tried Terry Starks’s program. I quickly looked for his page on Facebook, and I was amazed by what I saw. I decided to get on his program. He designed an eating plan specifically for me, and to my surprise, I didn’t feel hungry all the time. I didn’t feel like I was depriving myself. The plan was balanced and worked well for my body. It also shocked me how diverse the group of people he was helping are — literally people from all over the world.

What did your workout routine consist of?
I began by working out for 30 minutes a day in the morning on the Terry Starks program. I did some light cardio at home. I found exercise videos that interested me on YouTube, like Hip hop Tabata with Kiera LaShea or Strong by Zumba. At first, I couldn’t complete the full workouts, but I kept going every day. Terry sent me daily motivation, that made it almost impossible to give up. Eventually, I began working out twice a day, in the morning and evening, for 45 minutes to about an hour. I also started playing tennis with my husband again and found myself enjoying my workouts.

I’m currently in the next phase of my journey. I have joined a gym and have a personal trainer to guide me through weightlifting and toning.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
Starting weight: 96kg/211.6 pounds
Current wegiht: 71kg/156.5 pounds

What is your height?
162cm/5 feet, 3 inches

When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started on the 22nd of July, 2019. I started seeing results in about a month. It took me a little less than three months to get to my current weight once I realized that diet is 80% of the journey, and 20% is exercise.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
Consistency and dedication are key. You have to consciously make healthier food choices. I’ve made my weight loss a lifestyle and not just a quick fix.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Start today! It doesn’t matter what day it is, just start. Start by changing small things or doing the smallest things.
Examples:
Parking far away at the mall, so you walk a bit of a distance. Taking the stairs instead of the elevator.

You are stronger than you think!

Instagram: @inzi87

Disclaimer: Reference or link to any specific product, diet plan, exercise plan or service mentioned in the weight loss stories we share is for the information of our readers, and does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation by Black Women Losing Weight.