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Talk about transformations: these ladies share their biggest motivators.
Weight loss doesn’t happen just by amping up your cardio and turning down dessert.
Photo: Erica Lugo/Instagram
They also offer the simple changes they made to achieve their long-term health goals.
Find weight loss inspiration and some bigger lessons in their stories below.
“I do what I want for me, no one else,” she says.
Alyssa Greene/Instagram
How bad do you really want to make a lifestyle change?"
After trying countless workout programs, and weight-loss plans like WW and Medifast, she became desperate.
Intrigued, she tried it and saw immediate results.
Tanisha Commodore
Over eight months, Commodore lost 80 pounds and has been able to maintain her weight loss ever since.
“Just be patient with yourself.”
So, she decided to startKayla Itsines BBG (Bikini Body Guide) programto help kick-start her weight-loss journey.
Maggie Fierro/Instagram
“you might’t always rely on motivation.
Cookie Miller
Now a certified personal trainer, Cookie Miller spent years struggling with her weight.
At that point, she realized her health had to become a priority.
Cookie Miller/Instagram
What helped her stay accountable was the progress photos that she shared with her Instagram followers.
“There was no going back after that picture and it has helped hold me accountable ever since.”
Irvy
At her heaviest, fitness blogger Irvy weighed 310 pounds.
Irvy/Instagram
“I was tired of feeling tired,” she tellsShape.
Determined to make a change, Elizabeth signed up for a SoulCycle membership and immediately fell in love.
Today, Elizabeth is not only a personal trainer but is also an instructor atSLT.
Denita Elizabeth
Fitness aside, Elizabeth also switched up her food intake.
“I stopped eating unfulfilling diet foods and learned to cook morenutritious meals,” she says.
Erica Lugo
Being a mother comes with a plethora of responsibilities.
Alice Fields/Instagram
And Erica Lugo knew something had to change when she couldn’t uphold them because of her weight.
That’s when she decided to lose weight by sticking to a simple plan.
When she began to see results, Erica realized that her greatest motivator was herself.
Kassidy Riekens/Instagram
“The hardest workout you’ll ever do is in your head.
Not with a trainer or fitness guru,” she wrote on Instagram.
“It’ll be with yourself.
Katie Bolden
Alice Fields
Alice Fields spent yearsfocusing on cardio, thinking it would help her lose weight.
She also maintained a strict eating plan, but still wasn’t seeing the results she wanted.
She also took progress pictures.
Misty Mitchell/Instagram
Even after being diagnosed withpolycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS)in 2010, she struggled to make a change.
“I also wanted to start a family after dealing with PCOS and infertility.”
So, Bolden started using theweight-loss appMyFitnessPal to track her nutrition intake and began adopting healthier eating habits.
Rebecca Grafton Bardwell/Instagram
Simultaneously, she started swimming and hiking and eventually felt comfortable running and lifting weights.
She lost both her job and home then coped by drinking a lot of alcohol.
It wasn’t until Mitchell stepped on the scale that she realized how much her health was suffering.
Overnight, she quit drinking and traded in junk food for fish and veggies.
In just over a year she lost 137 pounds and now weighs a healthy 159 pounds.
Documenting her weight loss on Instagram was her biggest motivator and encouraged her to continue on her journey.
Of course, that isn’t always as easy as it seems.
Her 100-pound weight loss made her feel healthier and happier than ever.
The key is to eat right and exercise.
It may not happen super fast, but consistency is key.
Weight-Loss Resources
Shapeis an inclusive community of wellness for all.
Take on your weight loss journey with a plan catered to your specific workout likes vs. dislikes.
If you hate weightlifting, curate a workout plan that includes tons of cardio rather than weights.
You should also take a look at workouts and diet together.
If weight loss is your goal, you’ll need to pay attention to calories and macros.
Get the most out of your weight loss transformation process with the following resources, hand-picked for your perusal:
