Weight Loss Success: Sylvia Roche Gave Up Processed Foods And Lost 110 Pounds

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Name: Sylvia Roche
Age: 29
Height: 5'4"
Before Weight: 240 pounds

How I Gained It: I was a hefty nine pounds at birth. I was a normal-size child until my father had a stroke when I was 8 years old. Before the incident, he cooked all of our meals. Consequently, he was hospitalized and my mother was raising three children on her own. Between working full-time, taking care of the household and visits to the hospital, it gave her very little time to cook. We ate poorly, mostly convenience food, and, unknowingly, I turned to food to fill a void. Year after year, my weight crept up.

Breaking Point: I hated myself, I became very introverted. Food numbed me of all pain, but the day I saw 240 pounds on the scale, I knew it had gone too far. I became envious of all these contestants losing weight and transforming their bodies on the hit series "The Biggest Loser." I connected with one participant in particular, Ali Vincent. After she was crowned the first female Biggest Loser, I told myself that I had to give it one last try. I dusted off my gym gear and renewed an old membership.

How I Lost It: I joined a fitness club and listened to and read everything Jillian Michaels "preached." I felt embarrassed about not knowing how to use the cardio equipment when everybody else did, especially after almost falling off the stair climber machine after increasing the speed rather than lowering it. In group fitness classes, I could hide in the back without having eyes wandering on me. I was extremely self-conscious, but now I love the way exercise makes me feel. I love the results. I love how it has been able to transform me both inside and out. I love it because I know I'm a source of inspiration.

I also learned to count calories and the principles of clean eating. I load up on fruits and vegetables. I don't drink my calories. I consume nothing but whole foods, nothing processed. I eat six times a day to keep my metabolism revved up.

I also signed up on jillianmichaels.com, met fellow members and went out of my comfort zone to travel to California and eventually meet her in person.

I'm now paying it forward as a group fitness instructor at that same gym. I'm considering competing in the very near future. I want to push myself even further.

After Weight: 130 pounds

After photo by Marytza Leiva

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Comments

[Fired Up]

09:37 AM on 06/25/2012

Eating clean and exercise are ultra important to weight loss, but without digging deep to the source of the issues surrounding food, there's the possibility of going back. (Not saying that Sylvia will. The 4 years that she used to reach her goal was 4 years of processing which is great.) To the "experts" who have comment that eating for stress is an excuse, I sincerely doubt that you are without your own coping mechanisms that are also unhealthy. One that I have noticed is lack of compassion. Left unchecked, you become an apathetic, know-it-all jerk. EVERYBODY has something that they use for comfort...food, alcohol, tobacco, sex, rudeness on public forums, etc. The battle is learning how to find other outlets and understanding what your triggers are.

Congratulations, Sylvia, on your success!!!

[MissSylvia]

02:52 PM on 07/01/2012

Thank you! Well said.

[michael stryker]

08:00 PM on 06/13/2012

Will people stop saying oh your beautiful no matter how big you are it's because stupid comments like that that so many fat people think it's alright to be fat, but news flash its not attractive and sure is not healthy. And this whole idea of eating because your stressed or whatever reason you have is an excuse you want something to fill the void do something more productive like workout everyone goes through some tough moments in life but its our choice how we choose to respond to them

[iRock]

12:56 AM on 06/14/2012

And, Michael, what say you about the fact that the subject of the piece took control over her weight/life to become the attractive and fit woman she is today?

[MsBriefs]

07:33 PM on 06/13/2012

Good for you

[pthesmith]

12:56 AM on 06/14/2012

you took the words right out of my mouth

[etibredrum]

07:16 PM on 06/13/2012

So very happy for you.

[lili37]

07:04 PM on 06/13/2012

Sylvia, you are beautiful no matter what size you are. I am impressed with the "clean eating" and exercize. Sounds like a healthy way to live !!!! Congrats

[miamimama2310]

07:59 PM on 06/13/2012

I thoughtshe is very pretty, especially her eyes

[wcapp]

05:58 PM on 06/13/2012

Congratulations Sylvia. Even though you didn't talk about how long it took you to lose the weight or how many times you fell off and got back up, you look great. Keep up the good work.

[MissSylvia]

10:50 PM on 06/14/2012

It took me 2.5 years to lose it and I've been eating clean/exercising for 4 years now. I never stopped, never gave up.

[whoBBoo]

05:35 PM on 06/13/2012

I know Sylvia must feel better, but she looked so much better and healthier at the larger size

[kepowell5]

05:43 PM on 06/13/2012

Says one black woman to another.

[iRock]

09:08 PM on 06/13/2012

says the bitter race baiter.

[iRock]

09:09 PM on 06/13/2012

I mean, c'mon... who does your comment benefit?

[MissSylvia]

05:12 AM on 06/15/2012

You think? I'm not sure that carrying 100+lbs looks healthier on anybody though ...

[amanandamouse]

04:45 PM on 06/13/2012

Good for you, Sylvia. I lost fifteen pounds just by purchasing fruit instead of 'multi-grain' Wheat Thins and corn chips.

[MissSylvia]

05:13 AM on 06/15/2012

Thank you! That's awesome. It all boils down to what you put in your body. It's 90% of the equation.

[pslcitizen]

04:24 PM on 06/13/2012

You look wonderful Sylvia!

[MissSylvia]

10:50 PM on 06/14/2012

Thank you!

[Odyssey51]

04:05 PM on 06/13/2012

She's pretty tasty now. But, umm, what is that on her necklace on the "after" picture? Is that a man hanging down in her cleavage?

[mary collins finn]

03:51 PM on 06/13/2012

I have such admiration for women like this beautiful young lady. I have always been normal weight and can't imagine what it must be like to tackle a big weight problem. My problem would behaving the stamina to keep a diet going. So happy she enjoys the feeling of well being that comes with exercise. Whether it is endorphins or not running has been my biggest destressor for years.

[Mary Vance Nasvik]

03:45 PM on 06/13/2012

The weight loss is commendable, but I'm curious. How do the women have such large breasts after losing the weight? I should lose about 40 pounds, but my breasts are always the first to go!!

[Finvoilaquoi]

12:11 PM on 06/14/2012

I can't get all science-y about it but I can say it is natural (and sometimes more of a curse than a blessing). I've lost 30 lbs (currently weigh 145ish) and still have GGs. I seem to lose weight in my legs and arms so I wear around a 6/8 pant, down from 12, but I've really lost a negligible amount of weight in my breasts. Bathing suit shopping was daunting to say the least.

[MissSylvia]

10:51 PM on 06/14/2012

I personally went from a D cup to an A. They were the first to go ...

[meeplit]

03:33 PM on 06/13/2012

Self hate seems to be all the rage now a days in the women's section. Meh, I'm all for being healthy but, hate? Really? Good job but....do it for health and be able to accept youself no matter what. I've read 2 of these and all I have seen is a promo about some service (nutrisystem, jillianmichaels, etc) and how women can't bare themselves or in this case hate themselves. Great thing to broadcast and teach to others. What motivated me to post this is I work with kids and a 5yr old girl called her legs tubby and she doesn't like them. She has the legs of a child. Yet she sees adults with super toned legs and gets very upset about her own.

[Long Dong Silver]

03:04 PM on 06/13/2012

Good for her...I get so sick and tired of Obese people making a billion excuses and trying to force Fat Acceptance down our throats.

I have been a Personal Trainer for 12 years and I am brutally honest with my clients. It's not that difficult to lose weight if you are disciplined. Cut out fast food, cut out processed foods, buy smaller dinner plates and exercise at least 30 minutes a day and the pounds will melt off.

[MissSylvia]

10:52 PM on 06/14/2012

Could not have said it better! Thank you!