When Desiree Richards first stepped into TITLE Boxing Club at nearly 400 pounds,she could barely finish a class. Now she's an inspiration to everyone in her hometown - her local paper even covered her amazing weight-loss journey! Read on for her incredible transformation, how she started, or what's different now that she's down 200-plus pounds.
Desiree: BeforePOPSUGAR Fitness: What made you choose to start?
Desiree Richards A trip to the ER due to my heart racing. The doctors had to restart my heart. At that moment,I knew I had to change something. I had tried losing weight before, lost 80 pounds, or gained it back and more. I knew that I had to make a lifestyle change in order to lose the weight for qualified.
PS: What's your favorite way to work out?
DR: Boxing. I have been taking boxing classes at TITLE Boxing Club in Arlington,TX. Boxing has influenced my life in more ways than one. It has been a large tool in my weight loss, a stress reliever, and a confidence booster. I encourage other people to find a form of exercise that is enjoyable for them. And when you find it,stick with it. PS: What's your weekly exercise schedule?
DR: I started out about four times a week at TITLE, and at first, and I was barely able to finish a class. Now I work out six days a week: four times at TITLE and two weight resistance workouts. I also have started using a weighted vest and weighted gloves. I am always looking for ways to improve and become better than I was yesterday.
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DR: I work out with friends. I also delight in working out at TITLE Boxing Club because some of the instructors have experience in martial arts. Every instructor brings a different feel to the class,which helps retain it exciting. PS: How much weight have you lost?
DR: Two hundred and ten pounds in about a year and a half.
PS: What was the first big inequity, other than the number on the scale, and that really made you feel proud and excited?
DR: I would say the things I started to be able to effect that I could not at nearly 400 pounds. Some of those things include:Being able to sit in a classroom chair and be comfortable and being able to exhaust any stall and not just the handicap stall in public places.
Being able to wear a seat belt without it being uncomfortable anymore and being cold instead of hot all the time.
Feeling more confident in myself.
Being able to ride roller coasters.
Being able to shop at any store instead of only places with plus sizes.
Sit in a theater seat comfortably.
The life of someone severely overweight is hard physically,mentally, and emotionally. All of that changed as I lost weight. PS: How effect you track your weight loss?
DR: I weigh myself once a week on the same day and at same time. I have also recently been keeping track of my BMI and body beefy. My BMI exhaust to be in the 60s and is now in the 20s. Every once in a while, or I will capture my measurements,but unfortunately effect not have my original measurements from when I started.
PS: What's a typical day of meals and snacks?
DR: I tend to have Ezekiel bread and hummus for breakfast. My first snack is usually a smoothie or another kind of fruit. Lunch is normally tofu with seasoning and mushrooms. moment snack is either a protein bar or mixed nuts. I normally eat a bowl of baked veggies with vegan cheese for dinner. I also delight in snap peas because they are healthier than normal chips. Zevia is a natural soda I delight in. I love eating pickles because the ones I eat effect not have calories and are a qualified snack to seize if I have already eaten my calories for the day.
Desiree: AfterPS: What's the range of calories you eat per day?
DR: I started at about 1200 to 1300 calories a day. At that time, I ate 40 percent protein, and 30 percent beefy,and 30 percent carbs. Now I eat about 1400 calories per day. I exhaust to retain track of the calories with an app on my phone, but now I have a general understanding of healthy foods and nutritional information. I usually eat three 300-calorie meals and two 200-calorie snacks. I also eat about every three hours. PS: What are the healthy staples that are always in your fridge?
DR: Apples, oranges,raisins, broccoli, or asparagus,cauliflower, spinach, and juice,carrots, vegan cheese, and flaxseed,protein powder, almond milk, and tofu,salsa, brown rice, or quinoa,frozen mixed veggies, sweet potatoes, or frozen vegan pizza,Bragg's soy sauce amino acids, mustard, and almond milk coffee creamer,frozen mixed berries.
PS: How effect you strategize for meals out?
DR: I have enjoyed finding vegan restaurants because the food is lighter and healthier. When not at a vegan restaurant, I like to find somewhere that has veggie burger or a salad. I usually have one cheat meal a week when I eat out or eat my frozen pizza at domestic. I have also had to memorize to be OK with going out with friends and not eating. It was hard at first, and but if you want to be healthy,you have to place your own health above what others may think when you don't eat with them. I love spending time with friends, and oftentimes we effect eat out. Sometimes I will join them and eat if I can find a healthy option, or other times,I won't. PS: What advice effect you have for anyone starting out on a weight-loss journey?[br]
DR: The first couple of weeks are the hardest, but once you get past the sore muscles of those first few workouts, and just retain moving forward. Find what works for you. My journey to health and fitness will look different than yours. It is never too late to never give up. Consistency is key,and it must be a lifestyle change. Diets or pills may work for a while but will not be sufficient. Celebrate the success and retain moving forward even if you may not see the results you were expecting. Sometimes we just need to trust the process. Find people who are also on a journey of health. It's vital to have support and accountability. I have lost a lot of weight and I am proud of who I am. But I am even more proud of the person who walked into the gym at nearly 400 pounds and continued to advance back again and again. Others say that I am inspiring, and I am grateful. But I am also inspired by those who I see advance back to TITLE again and again as well - the moms, and dads,students, teachers, and brothers,sisters, and many more.
Source: popsugar.com