Before and After – the evolution of Laila Yuile

This is upon request, in the spirit of inspiration for those who are trying to change their lives this year, or are continuing that sometimes long journey one travels when losing a considerable amount of weight. People whom I have met within the last 2 years often often have no idea of what I used to look like. Often, the reaction is one of disbelief when I tell them how big I really was, and that I lost it without the use of surgery, diet aids , or a diet program. I did not have a trainer, never used a gym, nor did I take supplements or metabolic boosters. In fact, I don’t believe in diets, and studies show “diets” dont work. It takes a serious change in your  lifestyle- all facets of it. I would like to say my decision to lose the weight was motivated by health, but it wasnt- at least , not at first. Anger was the catalyst for this change ,although along the way, I did come to see how I had been slowly destroying my body. Imagine someone telling you you are a fat pig, so fat  and disgusting, and then grabbing a handful of your belly and shaking it to demonstrate just how disgusting your body is.That’s what it took for me to make that change- it was anger pure and simple.

I look back now and thank that man, because to be honest, he saved my life. I needed that reality check, that wakeup call, that mean-ness to make me see myself the way others saw me. I knew I was fat, just not that fat. I used to go out at night to exercise, so no one would really see my huge body sweating with the exertion of simply walking fast. I bought a tension band and free weights to work my muscle groups at home, and started researching the net to come up with something that worked for me. But it turned out to be so simple. It all comes down to consuming more calories than you expend, and that is the truth for the vast majority of those who are overweight and obese, as much as they would like to blame it on something else.

In the following pictures, I am at my largest, over 340 lbs. The one on the right so accurately shows how desperately unhappy I was with my life at the time.

BEFORE

 at my absolute largest.           I seem so sad- this is one of the few pictures I allowed during this time.

  AFTER          

             

It’s getting harder for the last bit to come off, and in fact, its taken longer than the bulk of it. Apparently, your body gets so used to the level of fitness you have achieved, that  you must push even harder to the next level to really shake it up. So, I have had to come up with ways to trick the body – changing the times I eat and work out, different activities, longer and harder bursts mixed with rest days. I’m not worried though – I know what I can do, and how far I’ve come, and fast weight loss tends to never be permanent.

So, if you are trying to lose weight, or get fit, remember this. It has to be a lifestyle change, not a “diet”. What happens when you lose the weight? -  you stop your ” program” or ” diet”, and bingo, the weight comes back. It happens all the time. If you want it to be forever, you have to make forever changes. I can eat a heck of a lot of food, as long as I balance it out with the appropriate amount of exercise. No more excuses, no more rationalizations. You are in control of what you put in your mouth, and how you live your life.  And if you need help, feel free to contact me. You matter, and you can do it.

I’m Laila Yuile, and this is How I did it.