I couldn't have done this without God's help

We asked Theodora our set of interview questions on her weight loss journey

What led you to want to make a lifestyle change?
I have been dieting all of my life but I was going about it the wrong way. Every time I lost a significant amount of weight it was because I was following a very strict diet that only allowed me to eat fruits and vegetables and drink milk. Whenever I hit a plateau I would quit and go back to my old habits, and end up gaining all of the weight back plus more. In 2014 I decided that I needed to go about this weight loss journey the right way and learn how to eat clean!

What did you do to achieve your results? Tell us about your workout routine do you prefer gym or home workouts?
I joined a new gym and hired a personal trainer. She wrote a meal plan for me and I made sure to follow it strictly. I only worked with the trainer for a few months since I could no longer afford it, but continued to follow the diet plan. I go to the gym almost daily and my routine is usually an hour of cardio split up between the treadmill, elliptical, and stair master, followed by 15-20 mins of weight training. I’m a total gym rat and most definitely prefer the gym over home workouts, I’m just more motivated in the gym!

How did you change your eating habits?
The diet my trainer wrote up for me is like semi-low carb. A typical day for me is: breakfast consisting of egg whites and oatmeal with strawberries and blueberries, lunch consisting of quinoa, salad, and some type of fish, and dinner consisting of shrimp with mixed vegetables. My two snacks are apples with peanut butter and almonds.

What was your starting weight/dress size? What is your current weight/dress size?
My starting weight was 318.5lbs and I was wearing size 20/22. My current weight is around 232lbs and I range from size 12-16 depending on the brand.

How long did your transformation take?
I initially lost over 100lbs in less than a year. But after that I began to struggle to maintain that weight loss and I’ve been gaining and losing the same 15-20lbs the past couple of years. I’m hoping to finally get out of the 200s by the end of the year!

What was the hardest part about your transformation? How did you overcome it?
The hardest part about my transformation is staying motivated when the results are not happening as quickly as I would like. When the scale says a number I don’t like, it causes me to make poor food choices. This is something I still struggle with. I believe that I will always struggle but I never plan on giving up!

How have things changed with you in general (health, relationships, self)?
Overall I would say that I am happier because I feel more comfortable in my skin. I’m more outgoing and willing to go out to events I’m invited to. In the past I would immediately turn down all invites due to that number on the scale. I feel healthier as well! I’m able to sleep more comfortably at night and I don’t get tired from walking long distances. Now I actually want to walk so I can get more steps on my Fitbit lol.

Who or what helped you along your journey? Is there a product that helped you or anything in particular you’d recommend?
God is definitely the reason I’ve accomplished everything so far. Every day I pray for strength and the will power to stick to my diet plan (since that’s the hardest part for me). I know for a fact that I couldn’t have done this without God’s help. I also have a great accountability partner in my friend Jessica. We both have been dieting for what seems like forever so it’s always great to have someone to talk to that can relate to what you’re going through. Daily texts to each other really helps us to focus on our goals! I didn’t use any special products, just did it the old fashioned way with diet and exercise.

What might we catch you doing on your days off?
My days off are spent resting. As a gym rat it is hard to take rest days, but they are so necessary to let your muscles recover and get energy to put in work the next time you workout.

What piece of advice would you give other women looking to start on their own lifestyle change/fitness journey?
The best advice I would give to any women looking to start their journey is to first find a plan that you know you would be able to stick to. Don’t worry about what anyone else is doing, just focus on yourself and your journey. Every day wake up and work on making that day successful. Don’t think about how much weight you have to lose and how long it will take to lose it, just take it one day at a time. Whether it’s 10lbs or 100lbs, you can do it!! Speak positively and positive things will happen!