The wait (weight?) is over
Heyyyyyy! TGIAF! I’m soooo ready for this weekend 
I’ve been promising a “before” pic of myself for quite some time, but since the madre’s been holding them hostage (and never believed I was overweight to begin with) so that’s where the hold-up has been.
I came across this picture while cleaning the closet out last weekend:
That’s me, senior year of high school after our last performance of Footloose: The Musical.
I grew up eating Mexican food to my heart’s delight and had danced since I was three. I danced for 3-4 hours each day, but my body was used to it and I paired it with unhealthy eating. Fresh fruits and veggies were rare, while tacos and enchiladas were plentiful..and delicious. I remember the summer before this picture was taken, I sat in the bed of my friend’s truck with a couple of other girls and we shared an entire Baskin Robbins ice cream cake. And I thought nothing of it.
It was the summer after that picture was taken that I decided to make some changes.
The thing is no one made me feel like I was overweight, unhealthy or unattractive. I had a great group of friends in high school –was even homecoming princess despite the stereotypical requirements associated with that title—and my family never said anything to make me feel badly about how I looked. I felt uncomfortable in my own skin and wanted to feel better about myself. I was tired of feeling lethargic at dance class, hating my arms (I rarely wore tank tops), and having less than stellar skin. I decided to change the way I ate to see if it made me feel better.
Major dilemma: I had no idea how to eat. I didn’’t know what a smart carb was, lean protein, healthy fat, nada. So I made the mistake of trying as many diets as possible in succession.
Diet #1: Slim Fast. Nuff said. I was irritable, starving and grossed out by the shakes so that ended pretty soon after it started.
Diet #2: Aktins. No carbs on an intense dance schedule did not work out as I was even more tired and felt disgusting living off of meats and cheese. Even though I didn’t know much about nutrition, I had a feeling that living without carbs couldn’t be healthy
Diet #3: Weight Watchers. Counting was a PAIN and I could still eat whatever I wanted—that’s what I was trying to get away from.. I wanted to make healthier choices instead of eating anything I felt like. Also, I gained back so many points from dance class anyway, so this plan was pretty ineffective.
The magic plan: South Beach. I started South Beach freshman year of college and it worked like a charm. I didn’t have to count calories (just watch my portions) and it taught me how to eat. I learned about the importance of choosing smart carbs (whole grains), lean protein (fish, chicken, eggs, deli meat) and healthy fats (low-fat or fat free dairy, nuts, olive oil, avocados, fish). I followed this plan for a year and lost the majority of my weight through South Beach.
After starting South Beach, I wondered what would happen if I changed my exercise habits, so I started walking every day before dance. It started out small (15 minutes) and I gradually increased it to 30-45 minutes. Walking turned into running and I also started to tinker around with the weights. I did a lot of circuit training and was so excited to feel my body toning up as I lost the weight.
While the physical benefits of exercise and eating well are obvious, it’s amazing what they can do for you mentally. In school, I was much more focused and awake during class and was able to maintain my honors status and scholarships, and I became a better dancer and dance instructor.
I still follow a quasi South Beach style of eating to this day—I load up on fruits and veggies, healthy carbs (I do not eat white rice or bread), lean protein, and healthy fats as recommended per South Beach standards. However, I’ve made the gradual change from allowing chemicals in my food to eating more whole foods. Now I strive to eat food in its most pure form as much as possible.
This is me now:
(and my cousin Steph)
Am I happier? Not necessarily. I’ve always been a pretty happy kid.
Am I more confident? I guess.. I can wear tank tops now if that counts 
Am I healthier? Most definitely.
Not to be cliché, but what we look like on the outside doesn’t matter. You can be a hottie tottie, with a nasty-looking set of organs from mistreating your body, or you can be at a happy, healthy place and glowing from the inside out (thanks for the phrase Miss Julz).
And if you’ve got a rockin bod from all of your hard work… then that’s just icing on the cake bbs
See ya soon,
G
I noticed you said you don’t eat white rice. I love mexican food/Puertorican food. I have to use rice, how can i subsittute?
brown rice!
Or BULGUR!!! nom nom nom
love this!! It is very, very true and soo important, especially for women, to remember that body image does not necessarily equate to happiness and dreams come true. I love the promotion of becoming healthy simply to become healthy!! thanks!
I LOVE your story! I love the message that it isn’t about how we look but about how healthy we are! I have just recently found your blog and I look forward to following it!
I just found your blog, and I love it! I’m trying to change my own eating habits so I eat healthier foods. Most of this stems from a desire to be as healthy as possible inside, but a small part of me wants to lose weight and feel better about my body. Thanks for the inspirational blog, keep it up!
I am trying to make sure I am eating a balanced ratio of calories, fats, proteins and carbs each day to maintain my weight, but bulk up on muscle a bit. Any ratio you suggest?
Gina, I have been following your blog for several months now and really enjoy it. You often have such inspiring ideas and are so generous with information. Thank you so much!
I am in the process of dieting to lose a little weight (10-15 lbs.). I am really inspired by the way you eat. I’d like to follow your example and I wonder how differently your daily menus would look if you were still striving to lose weight, assuming that your daily activity level was constant?
Wow! Such an inspirational story. I am glad I read this, because its nice to know that you had to work to be lean and fit like the rest of us, and that we should love our body’s and try to be healither, not neccisarly for apperance, but for overall health in general. So thanks, I appericate you sharing your story with the rest of us
Your website has a lot of useful information. Glad you’ve taken the time to share it with us.
Hi,
I’ve been a long time reader. Today I bought the NASM personal trainer study materials. Any tips? By the way, thanks for putting nutritional yeast on your open sky. I live in a small town as well. When I asked our local store if they carried it or even order it they had no idea what is was or how to order. Thank you!
no prob!
check out this page on personal trainer tips:
http://fitnessista.com/?page_id=2243
what a great story! so inspiring! And you’re right what we look on the outside doesn’t matter as long as we’re healthy and happy on the inside!
You’re happiest now and that’s what is important! way to see yourself in a better way and be looking out for your interests not the interests of what others are telling you (does that make sense?). Congrats on the weight loss but even more so on the beautiful smile! I hope to seek some advice about my own balance; goodness knows I need it!
Thanks
Katherine
I have been attempting to shed weight for years. It’s always an up and down battle. I take 2 steps forward and 4 backwards. I never seem to make a lot progress. I will start a weight loss plan, do nicely for awhile, then return to my previous habits. I do it time and time again. Well, I’m completely happy to say that due to sites like yours I been in a position to lose forty seven pounds so far! You articles preserve me motivated. On a regular basis I attempt to read on one thing new to maintain my excitement and keep on going onward. Thanks!
I just started doing South Beach and I also tried the slim fast thing and weight watchers (which I actually gained weight on…). It’s great to read about someone who lost weight on it because I’m finding it sooooo hard not to eat carbs. I’m also trying really hard to workout everyday and one day I would like to become a personal trainer. I’m glad I found your blog to help keep me motivated!
Just read your story. I have been following this for several weeks now and think it is great and very inspiring. Thanks for all you do and your knowledge you share. I have been on this journey for a long time now and think I am not going to fall off the wagon again(but if I do, I am getting right back on. Yesterday I became a certified Zumba instructor also. For your group fitness certification is it through ACE or AFAA? Is there a better program in your opinion? Thanks!!!!!
Hi! I love your blog! The story of your transformation is inspirational! We, the editors, at Fit&Fab Living have recently launched our new health & beauty blog, Running with Mascara. Just wanted to let you know that you’ve been added to our blogroll! Thanks again for the great content you provide!
I just found your blog through SkinnyRunner. My mom, my sister and a good friend have all lost 30+ pounds each on South Beach and have kept it off for a couple of years now. People just don’t know how easy and healthy it really is. Keep spreading the good news and keep up the blogging!
You’re such an inspiration! I love your blog
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