When Raven decided to finally change her lifestyle for good she weighed 224lbs and today she has successfully lost around 50 pounds weighing 178lbs now.
Check out Raven Wright’s incredible journey in an exclusive interview with Women Fitness below.
Women Fitness:
When did you realize that you needed to lose weight?
Raven Wright:
I realized I needed to lose weight when I didn’t recognize the person staring back at me.
Women Fitness:
How has your weight loss journey been? What were the milestones that you had to overcome?
Raven Wright:
The hardest thing about this entire process is food. Man, it was tough changing my eating habits but I’m proud that I’m not able to eat the way I did before. I’ve become disciplined and learned the importance of moderation. This entire process continues to show me the power of working out. When I’m feeling anxious, worried, or stressed — I workout. It’s my medicine, it’s my “safe place.” There’s nothing better than putting in my earphones, blasting my gym playlist and putting in work. I’ve fallen in love with my lifestyle and my personal journey. I’ve gained insight into the importance of self-love, self-care, and knowing your worth. Most importantly, I’m happy and I achieved that by making this change for myself. I didn’t do this for anyone else.
Women Fitness:
What is your fitness regime like?
Raven Wright:
Every six weeks my fitness program changes, thanks to Anka Urbahn, my trainer at DIAKADI Fitness in San Francisco.
I’m an advocate for weight training. Again, I repeat, I’m a fan of weight training. I workout five days a week— three days weight training/lifting, and two days of cardio. My favorite day is leg day because I have super strong legs. I’m always excited to see how much weight I can push, lift, and squat. I did have a weaker upper body when I started training but that’s all changing. It’s amazing how strong our bodies are, don’t be afraid of weights.
Women Fitness:
So, I eat six portion-controlled healthy meals a day. I weigh out all my meals and eat about every two hours. For breakfast, I eat 3.5oz of brown rice, 3oz of egg whites, and salsa. It’s my favorite breakfast, especially when I workout in the mornings. For “lunch” and “dinner”, it’s protein and veggies. My personal trainer created an excellent, easy-to-follow nutrition plan for me. It’s the true reason behind why I’ve lost this amount of weight and been able to maintain. This particular plan works for me because I’m consistently fueling my body with goodness and I never feel like I’m depriving myself.
Snacks:
I consume fats twice a day. I’ve always loved peanut butter, it owns my heart. So, for a snack I slice up an apple with a spoon full of crunchy peanut butter. Also, I’m a huge fan of the dried chili covered mangoes at Trader Joes.
Women Fitness:
Who/What do you consider the greatest motivation behind your healthy weight loss journey?
Raven Wright:
Man — my family, friends, and my trainer, Anka. I have a phenomenal support system. Anka and I have developed a friendship during our time together. She challenges me, encourages me, and is always available when I need her. It’s cool when my friends and family tell me “I’m so proud of you, you’ve inspired me to start working out or cut certain foods from my diet.” That’s the coolest thing ever. When I started this process I never knew how many people I would inspire with my own story. That’s what continues my drive to keep kicking ass, you never know who is watching or who you’re going to inspire.
Women Fitness:
What is your 2018 New Year Resolution to maintain a healthy & fit lifestyle?
Raven Wright:
I’m not a fan of New Year resolutions. Healthy and fitness is a lifestyle, it’s not a temporary thing. I have goals that I’m striving to accomplish in 2018 such as squat 180-200lbs, lower my body fat between 20-25%, develop a stronger core, and do pull-ups without assistance. I think individuals put TOO MUCH pressure on themselves in the beginning of the year with New Year resolutions. I’ve learned that it’s a process, it’s a lifestyle, and when you trust the process you’ll be thrilled with the results.
For more such real inspiring stories, check out here.
Disclaimer
The Content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.
