LaTonya lost 77 pounds
Author: BWSS
Transformation of the Day: Latonya lost 77 pounds by making healthier food choices and working out consistently. She is a proud mom to four boys and has a grandchild. After facing several challenges, including being diagnosed with fatty liver disease, she decided to put her health first and get healthy before reaching 44 years of age.
What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up? A number of things all at once told me enough was enough. First, in August of 2020, I went to my doctor’s appointment for my annual physical. I was told I needed to lose weight, and I was pre-diabetic.
This was not new to me. I am a mom of 4 boys, and I have a grandchild. My boys play competitive sports, and I was out of breath when doing simple things like walking up the stairs in the stands at their sporting events. So I knew at that point that enough was enough.
My final breaking point came when I looked at myself in the mirror. Before that, I would not look at myself when passing by a mirror. That day I did not like what I saw. I was approaching my 43rd birthday and knew the older I got, the harder it would be to lose the weight. That’s when I decided to try AGAIN!
Of course, as always, I failed numerous times. But this time was different. I had decided I did not want to look the way I looked any longer. So I set goals for myself and rewards along the way. I was determined to lose 60+ lbs by my 44th birthday. Again, I failed along the way, but I promised myself that regardless of how often I failed, I wouldn’t give up!
Fast forward a few months later, I went to the doctor for sharp stomach pains. They ran a few tests, and long story short, they could not find the cause of my stomach pain but found an issue with my liver. They told me that I had fatty liver and that if I continued on my path, I would experience liver failure. I told them I rarely drink alcohol (not even once a month). They concluded that it was from my weight. This was all I needed to hear to continue the journey I had already started.
How did you change your eating habits? The first thing I did was cut out all sodas and fast food. As mentioned earlier, my boys played travel baseball and competitive sports, so we LIVED on the baseball, track, football fields, and basketball courts. We ate fast food 3-4 times a week.
I drank 2-3 16-20oz bottles of Coke Zero or Diet Coke A DAY. I did not drink any water nor eat any vegetables or fruit. I would go days, sometimes weeks, without fruit, vegetables, or water. In the past, I tried JJ Smith’s 10-day Green Smoothie Cleanse. When I completed it in the past, it helped kick my soda addiction and sweet cravings. So, that was the first thing I turned to. I failed repeatedly but stuck to my promise and did not stop! It wasn’t until October that I finally completed the 10-day modified version. I was no longer craving sweets or soda. Now I have not had a soda in almost two years.
I learned to make better choices when eating on the go, such as grilled chicken vs. hamburgers, or even foods that are high in protein (such as almonds, protein shakes, raw spinach, strawberries, boiled eggs, apples & peanut butter, and cheese). I also drink green smoothies to help my body get the proper nutrients it’s missing.
I snack throughout the day on things that are low in fat and sugar. I eat only healthy carbs; however, I do not deprive myself of anything…I LOVE MEXICAN FOOD! I have learned to eat things in moderation.
What is your workout routine? When I first started in August 2020, I began with Xtreme Hip Hop Aerobics with Phil. I also walked when my sons were at baseball practice 2-3 times a week.
By January 2021, I had lost about 30 pounds but noticed I needed to tone. That’s when I started strength training three times a week with a personal trainer whom I still work with to this day. In the beginning, I was doing great with weight training three times a week and doing high-impact cardio 2-3 times a week. Now some weeks are better than others with getting the cardio in.
How often did you work out? My routine now is strength training three times a week and cardio two times a week (some weeks are better).
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My heaviest was 272 pounds, and my current weight is 195 pounds.
What is your height? 5’4″
Is weight loss surgery part of your journey? No, I did not have weight loss surgery.
When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take? I began in August 2020, and it took about 16 months. Since then, I have gained a few pounds, but then I change up some things and try to stay below 200 lbs.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far? My biggest lesson so far is to give myself grace and not be too hard on myself if I fall off the wagon. I am also learning that non-scale victories are just as important because the scale is forever changing.
What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight? Losing weight is more of a mental battle than a physical one, so be mentally prepared. Whatever you do, DON’T STOP! DON’T QUIT!