Transformation of the Day: Tayani shares how she lost 80 pounds. During her three year transformation, she worked with a nutritionist, prioritized exercise, and used trial and error to determine what worked for her. She also took time to become more self-aware and understand her triggers that were leading to emotional eating.
Social Media:
Instagram: @tayanireshae
What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
My biggest motivation to lose weight was to get back to feeling like myself again. Battling with my weight my entire life impacted my self-esteem and took a toll on me mentally and physically.
What kept me going was knowing that I had a better chance of living longer for my spouse and children. Also, I knew I was bettering myself. Every time I wake up to work out, it makes me feel great like I’m accomplishing something bigger, which I was, but at the time, I didn’t know it.
How did you change your eating habits?
I don’t believe in restrictive eating at all. I’m grateful to have a body where I can eat what I want and still lose weight. However, I did eat things in moderation and tracked my macronutrients (carbs, fat, and protein). I always made sure I got the right amount of protein daily to continue to lose fat/weight.
I also worked with a nutritionist who helped me calculate my macronutrients for my fitness goals. She said it was best to eat low-carb, high-fat, and moderate protein (not keto, though) for my specific body type and goals. I do drink less than before due to it hindering my goals.
What is your workout routine? (Cardio, weight training, Zumba, etc.)
At the very beginning of my fitness journey, I walked, jumped rope, did bodyweight exercises, and did resistance band training. Now, I weight lift and do cardio immediately after lifting.
How often did you work out?
In the beginning, I worked out three days a week. As time progressed, I weight lifted five days a week, followed by 25-45 mins of cardio afterward. Somedays, I did six days of lifting with one active rest day which is cardio only.
What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My highest weight was during pregnancy at 248 in 2019, and I consistently weighed 232 before pregnancy. I began losing weight right before I got pregnant and found out I was pregnant at 221 lbs. Now I’m at 168 lbs. I’m down 80 pounds.
What is your height?
5’3″
Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No, I didn’t have surgery.
When did you start your journey? How long did your transformation take?
I started my journey in January 2020. It took three years to get where I am today. However, that was with trial and error and learning what worked for me.
How have you maintained your weight loss/continued to lose weight?
I maintained my weight loss by being self-aware of things that made me overweight in the first place. I was an emotional eater whether I was happy, sad, stressed, or depressed. I would go to food for comfort. Knowing what my triggers are and being mindful of them has helped me tremendously. Another thing that helped me maintain was being accountable for the foods I ate. I always followed the 80% nutritional foods, and the other 20% was whatever I wanted. On the days I didn’t plan out meals, I have a healthy-ish meal option at every fast food restaurant in the area.
What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
There are so many lessons. However, the biggest one so far is that fat loss and weight loss aren’t the same thing. Most people don’t realize that the appearance they want is through fat loss. I used to wonder why I had a slimmer appearance, but the scale didn’t budge and sometimes would go up. I did A LOT of research and even worked with a food scientist who helped me understand fat loss vs. weight loss. I also learned that being consistent and never ceasing pays off, in the long run, more than people think.
What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Find what works for your body. Do not be afraid to try different workouts. Find something that you love so you can continue this journey. Also, find meals you love and can eat for the rest of your life. Stop viewing weight loss as a temporary thing – just to go back to being overweight. Instead, view this journey as a lifetime journey so you can sustain your results.
