Deja lost 69 pounds by embracing healthy eating habits and working out consistently. While studying to be a nurse, she reached her highest weight. She decided that she didn’t want to be a hypocrite to her future patients, telling them to be healthy when she wasn’t.
What was your motivation?
What inspired me to lose weight was that I reached my heaviest weight while studying to be a nurse. I made a promise to myself that once I became a nurse, I would make no excuses about why I couldn’t lose weight. Also, I didn’t want to be a hypocrite to my patients, telling them to be healthy when I wasn’t healthy myself.
How did you change your eating habits?
I changed my eating habits but cutting out a lot of unnecessary carbs. I would also be more mindful of when I was consuming carbs. When I eat them, I try to have them for lunch (before 1 pm). Also, I cut out sugars, unhealthy snacks, fried foods, and soda. I always ate vegetables, but I did eat more meatless meals/vegan meals even though I’m not vegan.
I also attempted using the Herbalife nutrition plan in the past and saw results. It’s just that I wasn’t consistent with the plan until I made this lifestyle change.
Tell us about your workout routine.
I got a personal trainer. I worked out with them twice a week and did 1-3 additional days a week on my own. My workouts consisted of weight lifting, HIIT interval workouts, leg days, chest and back days, arm days, and abs days. I also did a full-body workout (I have a workout plan i designed for others to purchase.)
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My starting weight was 215 pounds, and my lowest weight is 146 pounds. My current weight is 150 pounds.
What is your height?
My height is 5’2″.
When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started and stopped my journey on several occasions, but I started this phase of my journey once I reached my heaviest weight of 215 pounds. I started in January 2018 and lost 30 pounds. However, I was in my last semester of nursing school, so it was hard to juggle it all. I ended up gaining it back.
In October 2018, I started working with my personal trainer. I really took the process seriously and was consistent. I was able to see remarkable results. From October 2018 to May 2019, when I finally reached my lowest weight of 146 pounds.
Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No surgery
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
The biggest lesson I learned on this weight loss journey is to never give up. No matter how many bad days you have, focus on what you are working towards, and you can always get back on track.
What advice would you like to share with women who want to lose weight?
My advice to women who want to lose weight that this is not a diet. This is a lifestyle change. As a Nurse and a health care provider, I encourage every black woman to reach their optimal health. Preventative care is the best (versus treatment). We literally are the foods we put in our bodies. We only get one body, so take care of it.
Instagram: @nurse_dej and @pretty.fit.nurses