‘I Paired A No Processed Foods Diet With Sprinting Workouts To Lose 85 Lbs. In 8 Months’

Photo credit: Dionna Thompson
Photo credit: Dionna Thompson

From Women's Health

My name is Dionna Thompson (@so_damthicknbad), and I am 28 years old. I live in Atlanta, Georgia, and I am a certified personal trainer.


My weight went up and down pretty much all my life, and I remember gaining weight in middle school. In high school, however, I lost a lot of weight and was active playing basketball. But I always struggled to lose weight when I didn't have sports to lean on.

I had issues staying consistent when it came to weight loss, and there were so many days that I did not want to work out or eat better. I have also had asthma all my life, and it got worse as I gained weight and was not taking care of my body.

Fast-forward to when I turned 26: I hit my heaviest weight of 230 pounds.

At that time, in April 2018, I had just gotten out of a toxic and abusive relationship that lasted for six years. I gained so much weight during it because I was depressed and had bad anxiety, so I turned to food.

Before the relationship, I had been active all my life. So I knew when I saw myself in the mirror, I knew in my heart that this 230-pound woman was not me. I needed to make a change. I was determined to reach my goals, I had to stay focused on my goal and the finish line. I had a mission in my life and I was determined to seek it out through this journey.

I started by simply trying to focus on eating nutritious foods.

I cut out processed carbs and sugar, and stuck with water as my drink. I ate lean meats like chicken and turkey and loaded up on veggies and fruits.

I felt so good making theses changes, and it surprisingly wasn’t that hard! I also allowed myself a cheat day once a week (usually Saturday or Sunday) where I would enjoy whatever I want (especially baked goods!). I still do this.

Here’s what I eat in a day now.

  • Breakfast: Egg whites and spinach with a grapefruit

  • Lunch: Smoothie

  • Snacks: Hummus, nuts, fruit, and veggies

  • Dinner: Chicken, veggies, and a complex carb

  • Desert: Baked goods like cakes and brownies, or ice cream

I started working out right away. Like I mentioned, I was always active all my life, so I knew what to do.

I liked cardio but needed something low impact. So I hopped on the elliptical and tried to get up to four miles a day on it. I also enjoyed running, and I also worked my way up to running. Then I would do some kind of strength training to tone as I was slimming down.

I now work out two times a day. First I do strength training, then I do cardio. I love anything that keeps my heart pumping. I love to do boot camps and sprints. On the weekends I typically rest or do some kind of light workout.

These three changes made the biggest difference in my weight-loss results.

  1. I cut out most processed foods. I really don’t eat much junk food anymore, save for a cheat meal. I notice a clear difference in my body and performance when I eat clean, whole foods.

  2. I allow myself a cheat day. While I try to stay away from most junk, once a week I allow myself to have some treats. This has been a good balance for me and I don’t feel deprived.

  3. I stayed consistent. I did my best to stay consistent and work out (almost) every day. I may not feel like working out, but I keep going because I never want to be the old woman I used to be. I remember my why, which helps me stay consistent.

I lost over 85 pounds naturally, and it took me eight to 10 months.

Now I’m toning my muscles and maintaining my weight loss, and I have never felt better. I remind myself all the time, and other women, that it can be done. I stay focused and remember why I started. My "why" was that I wanted change and not be the same woman mentally or physically that I once was. Anything is possible! When your mind leads, your body follows.

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