Natasha lost 26 pounds | Black Weight Loss Success

Transformation of the Day: Natasha lost 26 lbs. At 55, a challenging waterfall hike in Costa Rica left her winded and sparked a wake-up call she couldn’t ignore. She started her journey in May 2024, making sustainable changes to her lifestyle and being consistent. Six months later, she is sharing the habits that helped her succeed and the lessons she’s learned along the way.

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What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going during the tough times?
I stepped on the scale in May 2024, and it said 290 lbs. That was the highest weight that I had ever weighed in my life. At that point, I figured that I would soon weigh 300 pounds. That was very frightening to me. 

I was about to turn 55 years old the next month. I had been gaining weight the previous two years even though I had not changed any of my habits. My midsection was getting bigger and bigger. In the past, I always had a smaller waist-to-hip ratio. That was my motivation to start losing weight. 

If I ever felt like stopping, I would look at a picture of myself at my highest weight of 290 pounds. At that weight, I was tired daily. It was so much work to move around with a big midsection. 

The previous month, April 2024, I went to Costa Rica. I did a waterfall hike, and I was so winded. It was extremely difficult to finish. In my group, I was the last one to finish the hike. It was also very embarrassing to finish last when there were women older than me who finished faster. They were in good shape and average weight. That was when I reallystarted to think about losing weight. I knew I had to do something, so I came up with a plan. I had been in menopause since I was 50 years old, and that’s when I had my last period. The hike in Costa Rica was very eye-opening for me. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I started to change my eating habits in the following ways: 

• I began to use a pretty pink lunch-sized plate. 
• I began meal prepping one or two meals per week.  
• I stopped going to all fast food restaurants. 
• I cut back on sweets, flour, starchy carbohydrates, and processed foods. 
• I lowered my carbs to 30 grams per meal and 10 grams at snack time. 
• I wrote down everything that I ate. 
• I stopped drinking drinks that had sugar or calories. 
• I increased my water intake by drinking out of a pretty pink 32 ounce tumbler. 
• I increased my protein consumption. 
• I decreased the amount of liquor I drank substantially. I usually have one drink per week if I go to a party. 
• I started doing intermittent fasting from 10 AM to 6 PM. 

What was your workout routine?
I made sure I got 9000 steps per day by moving more.  I would occasionally walk one mile. I also did yoga a few times. 

I travel frequently, so I walk around the cities that I visit. I also do hikes when I travel. Cleaning the house is something else that I do to increase my activity level. 

Starting weight/Current weight
My starting weight was 290 pounds

My current weight is 264 pounds

My goal weight is 200 pounds

What is your height?
My height is 5’10”.

When did your transformation journey begin?
I started the weight loss journey in May 2024. It took six months to lose 26 pounds, which is an average of one pound per week. 

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
I had no surgery and no prescription medications. My weight loss is natural.  

What is the biggest lesson you’ve leared so far?

The biggest lesson that I learned is to be consistent. I learned that I must make changes to see changes. I learned to give myself time and grace. I also realize that these are lifelong lifestyle changes. There’s no going back to eating the way I used to eat when I was in my 20s, 30s, and 40s. Also, it seems like the slower you lose the weight, the more it stays off, and it’s easier to maintain the weight loss.  

What advice would you share with women who want to lose weight?

I would tell those ladies in menopause not to give up and to keep going.  Don’t listen to people who fall into the trap of just believing that it all goes downhill after menopause. Also, give yourself time to find what works and focus on those habits consistently. It takes time to make changes and form new habits.