Meet Classy Fit Gal ~ Melissa

SW: 243.6 |  CW: 198 |  GW: 170

"How does one overcome a lifelong weight battle?"

So many women want the magic pill to that answer. We want the quick fix to bad habits that we have spent a lifetime building and reinforcing…over…and over! 

Food has always been my source for everything…you name the emotion…food went with it.  Over 10 years ago, I was introduced to a weight loss program that taught me how to only eat when I was hungry, stop when I was full, and determine what areas in my life I was running to food instead of running to God when it came to my problems.  

I lost close to 30 lbs and of course gained it all back like all of the other times.  But the concepts I learned never left me and that is when God and I began to have ongoing conversations throughout the years regarding my weight and why was I running to food instead of running to Him? 

"It would be years later that I finally reached
my breaking point."

Don’t get me wrong, throughout all of the years that followed I lost weight…plenty of it…I would lose 10 lbs…gain it back…15 lbs…gain it back…EVEN 20 lbs and GAIN…IT…BACK!!! Ugh- somebody shoot me!  

I got so sick and tired of seeing the same goals on different sheets of paper, and in my journals, over and over again that went back years!!! I couldn’t take it anymore.  I knew there was a call and vision for my life that would not allow me to just be a goal setter.  I needed to be a goal achiever in order to inspire other women. 

So one day I decided, I wasn’t going to give up, not matter how long it took, no matter if I messed up or not, I WAS NOT GOING TO GIVE UP!!!! I lost the "I need to get it all off in 30 days" attitude and in August 2012 after already maintaining a 15 lb loss for some months, I went for the, “How do I change my lifestyle?” and "How do I learn how to eat in a way that is sustainable?” Not a quick a fix, not a fad, but a long-term solution that would stick with me forever! 

So here’s what I did and here’s what I do in hopes to help guide you on your journey.

I surround myself around people that live the lifestyle that I want and I learn from them.  By watching them they taught me skills to eliminate excuses. By watching and learning from them, they have taught me the skills needed to elimiate excuses. 

1. Take my lunch to work
2. Plan my meals for the entire week
3. Prep my work  AND work out clothes for the week
4. Pack my work out clothes the night before AND put them in the car
5. Plan a workout schedule for the week - this eliminates guess work

I always have a fitness goal ahead of me! Whether its learning how to swim to do a sprint triathlon, training for a half marathon, or doing any other type of race throughout the year.

I have a wellness coach.  Not everyone needs one but I did.  After I lost about 20 – 25lbs, I wanted the accountability and needed some more help on the nutrition side 

I cut out fast foods and even for a while could not eat at restaurants until I had enough self-control to order healthy items off the menu like a salad or a protein and veggie instead of my normal burgers, fries, and soda 

I gave away my scales and came up with a weigh-in system that worked for me.  After playing this game for years, it was no longer about the number, I was determined not to get discouraged if I didn’t have a loss, if I went up by 1lb or only down by 1lb.  I wanted and needed a lifestyle change not an emotionally-filled weight loss game with the scale.  

I often times workout with others  and have accountability partners that know my goals and we can call/text others all the time. 

I watched documentaries like forks over knives and fat, sick, and nearly dead to learn how to “eat clean”.  

So as I write this over 40+ pounds lighter than when I first started this journey, I can honestly say that I have learned lifelong skills that will be with me forever.  

I am at the smallest I have been in over 10+ years and it’s the longest I have kept any amount of substantial weight off.  I am still on my journey, still excited, still encouraged, and look forward to seeing your post about being in the gym or on the pavement on Classy Fit Gals.  

Believe God for the impossible! 

The very issues, thoughts, and emotions that cause you to eat or overeat…God is ever so patiently waiting on you to share with Him so that He can fill those voids the same way he filled mine.  

Stay connected with me on Facebook and Twitter - I look forward to walking on this journey with you! 

Meet Classy Fit Gal ~ Chilitia

SW: 270.4  |  CW: 214.4  |  GW: 170-175

October 22, 2011 was the day I got tired of being sick and tired instead of continuing to cry to my friends...I decided to do something about the situation.

I walked back into my local Weight Watchers Meeting and got back on the scale to face to music.

I was very unhappy with what I saw. I hated looking at myself in the mirror and I hated taking pictures. I was so upset with myself; I would always ask myself why can I never stay committed to something?!?

"It was like the light bulb went off and suddenly I was focused and have never stopped since that day."

I have always had gym memberships in the past and could probably count on one hand how many times I actually went. This go around it was going to be different. I joined my local YMCA and said to myself it takes 21 days to create a habit. I knew I could not count on anyone else to get this weight off but myself.

I started going to my local YMCA every morning before work for at least 5 days a week and surprisingly, it felt great!

I was shocked that I actually was working out and ENJOYING IT!  I had the attitude that I can’t be stopped. I went back to my Weight Watchers meeting the following week for my second weigh in and I was down -5.8 lbs. I was screaming I GOT THIS!!! 

July 2012, I joined my local Black Girls Run! (BGR) group because I really want to switch up my workout routine and plus I always wanted to run like others on the green way. So being determined I remained committed to my local Black Girls Run group.  I joined the C25K (Couch to 5K)  group and I completed my first 5K September 2012 at the first Inaugural BGR Race weekend in Atlanta, GA.

 

After the race I was very emotional and had a proud moment like WOW I just completed a 5K!  I was not to concerned with my time, I was just glad I finished and got to celebrate with my other BGR sisters at the finish line!

Today I still remain committed to my local BGR Group and am now the new Running Coordinator for BGR! Charlotte - talking about excited.

I have completed the Diva 5K race which was held in Myrtle Beach SC. I am now running up to three days a week where the longest distance so far was 6.2 miles! What a major accomplishment for someone that was taking 20 minutes to walk a mile almost a year ago.

On September 8, 2013 I  completed my first 10K with my BGR sisters and let's just say - I am so excited for what is to come for me.

My goal in my weight loss journey is to continue to inspire others to do the same thing.

You may hit bumps in the road along the way but realize that this journey is a process, and process that is not going to be easy.

Just keep pushing and surround yourself around positive people to keep you lifted.

One of my favorite scripture is Philippians 4:13 every time I do something new I always say this in my head, "I can do all things that Christ strengthen me."

I am still on my journey and I hope I have inspired you to want to join me - connect with me on Instagram @missmccoy.

Meet Classy Fit Gal ~ Kim

SW: 307  |  CW: 228  |  GW: 175

"I had been chunky for most of my life. My mom said it started when my sister and I were little."

Our family said "they're too skinny, you need to feed those kids!"
Being young parents, my mom and dad listened to our family and started to "feed us." I was around 8 or 9 years old. My eating habits spiraled out of control as I was able to make choices on my own. I never ate a lot but I ate a lot of the wrong foods. My mom was never that parent who made us eat all of our food or foods we didn't like. She gave us the choice to eat or not eat what was cooked. As we all started to learn to eat better we realized that she was not wrong in allowing us to choose but, that we should have been limited in our options.

I started my weight loss journey when I was in the 10th grade. If I remember correctly, I weighed 250-260 lbs. My mom, sister, and I joined Curves for women and I thought oh this is it, I'm finally going to be smaller. But I did not realize the research that I needed to do to help with my success. I also didn't realize my mindset about food needed to change.

"So, as many people who try to lose weight, we paid for a membership that didn't get used!"

While in high school, 11th grade I believe, I lost 30 lbs because I cut out eating junk food and I had some physical activity in gym. I quickly gained that back when I started my undergrad program, around the time of my parents' divorce. I'm not sure if it was the stress from the divorce or not that made me eat but my mom had to work longer hours and my sister and I chose not to cook or eat healthy so we ate out! It wasn't hard to gain the weight (30 lbs and more) with me eating out 3-4 times/day and eating 3000-4000 cals/day!

I became more serious about losing weight early 2006. Honestly, I didn't want to lose weight for health purposes, I just wanted to lose weight so that I could wear clothes from wherever I wanted them from! So I did A LOT of research on how many calories I needed to consume and burn in order to lose weight. I "stopped" for a while, about a year, and started back up in 2007. I've been off and on the bandwagon but each time I started back the "rest time" got shorter and shorter. Working out and eating right became more of a lifestyle. I'm not perfect now but I surely don't eat 3000-4000 cals/day like I used to!

"I owe my weight loss results to God and the mindset He's given me to do the research!"

I prayed and still pray for His supernatural weight loss and not only the will to workout but also the follow through! My journey has taken 7 years (on and off) but yours doesn't have to! ;)

I'm not done with my journey, I have 50 lbs left to lose. I will continue to push through and pray! If you are reading this and feel like you cannot lose weight because you're "too big" don't give up on the thought! I know what it's like to feel hopeless and being on the top end of the journey. But trust me day by day week by week and prayer by prayer you will get stronger and more hopeful!

Life for me hasn't changed much with the exception of me being more conscious of what/how much I'm eating. I still weigh myself daily because it helps me to monitor my progress if I don't do so well on a day. But I am able to shop in stores that I hadn't been able to in the past!

I must say THAT ROCKS

Connect with Kim and the Red Glass Sisters

Twitter: keys2luxlife & RGSisters

Facebook: keys2luxlife

Instagram: keys2luxlife

Blog: RGS-fashionology

YouTube: redglassessisters