We found Ayana Bailey through her Instagram profile, and couldn’t help but be proud of the weight loss transformation she posted. We know how hard it can be keeping your weight in order, and especially reaching health goals, so we wanted to have her share her story of how her transformation took place.
Tell us a little about yourself and your background
My name is Ayana Bailey. I am 24 years old and I am from Prince George’s County, Maryland. I attended Morgan State University as a student pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education. I decided to switch career paths into the hospitality/property management field last year. I realized had passion for helping others and loved interacting directly with people. In May 2020, just received my Hospitality/ Lodging Certification from Anne Arundel Community College.
Walk us through the steps of your weight loss journey. What are some key points other people need to know who are on the same journey?
In August 2018, I was diagnosed with Atrial-Fibrillation , a quivering or irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia) that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. This can be caused by many factors, but mine was due to my stress level and my weight. Though my first occurrence of atrial fibrillation was scary, it was not enough to change my unhealthy ways. In November 2018 I had another episode, this time it lasted a lot longer and I had to be admitted to the ICU. This is when I knew things had to change. At the age of 23, I knew that this is not how I wanted to live my life. I didn’t want to live in constant fear of when the next episode would be, or worse, if this would be my last one.
As soon as I got out of the hospital I decided it was time to make that long-overdue change. I first started by signing up for a gym. I was quite shy starting out, but after a while, I gained more confidence and was no longer afraid of how I looked working out. The gym became my home, my safe place, my church, my refuge. I also suffer from generalized anxiety disorder and this can and has taken a big toll on my life. Working out became a form of therapy for me. Being in the gym took all of my worries away. For those that are just starting off working out, take things slow and work your way up. I started by working out 3 times a week for 45 minutes. Now I am at about 4-5 times a week for 1-1.5 hours. My eating habits also changed drastically. I cut out all sugary drinks as well as processed and fried foods. Along with these, I increased my protein and fiber intake, which helps burn body fat and build muscle. I started to eat more fruits, vegetables, and whole foods. I tried many different styles of dieting but the two worked the best for me was using a caloric deficit and practicing intermittent fasting.
Start by doing simple workouts and gradually work your way up from there. Do not let the people in the gym intimidate you because everyone was once where you are. I also suggest that people research exercises and which ones are best for what they want to achieve. I learned that doing more strength training and incorporating some cardio is the best method for fat loss. I would advise people to research which foods and which methods are best for their goals. Everyone’s body is different,and you may have to try several methods until you get it right.
The last thing I want to suggest is setting small realistic goals for yourself. These small goals will help you reach your ultimate goal. When people only focus on the bigger picture they tend to give up because that goal seems so far away. For example, one of my goals was to lose 8 lbs in 6-7 weeks. This is more of an achievable and realistic goal versus trying to lose 20 lbs in 2 months or trying to lose 100 lbs in 10 months.
What are some things that kept you motivated along the way?
My health is the main thing that kept me motivated. I want to live on this earth as long as I can and in order to do this, I knew I needed to put my health first. I knew I need to put myself first. As people, we tend to put others’ needs before ours and end up neglecting ourselves. The way we pour into others should be the way we put into ourselves. Since my heath change, I haven’t had any more episodes of atrial-fibrillation.
My results kept me motivated as well. Seeing the scale steadily decrease, seeing my clothes begin to get loose made me want to go even harder. It made me addicted to this lifestyle. I wanted to keep growing and improving. I wanted to continue to make myself proud. Being proud of yourself is a beautiful feeling.
Since we are all about HBCU awareness, tell us how Morgan State University impacted your life
For one, going to an HBCU gives you an appreciation for your culture. Our ancestors who came before had to fight for institutions such as mine, so that we can have equal opportunities. Ther is so much talent and success that stems from HBCUs- and Morgan State is among those. Morgan is a school full of innovators who work with the resources we have to make impactful changes within our community. Morgan has taught me the meaning of strength, resilience, passion, dedication, and pride. My membership with The Alpha Delta Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. showed me how to be a leader and the meaning behind true sisterhood. But what I love the most about Morgan, is that we are one big family. It doesn’t matter what year you attended, what your major you were, or what organization you were apart, once a Bear always a Bear. We have a sense of loyalty to each other that I don’t see at most schools.
What are some final words you want to leave for anyone getting ready to start or in the process of a fitness journey ?
Find your purpose. Why do you want to start this journey? Who are you doing it for? What do you wish to gain through this journey? These are questions you can ask yourself to help find the reasoning behind your journey. So, when those days come when you feel like giving up, when you feel like you can’t go on, look back on those questions. Remember your purpose.
Next stick to the process. You’re not going to see immediate results. It took me a year and a half to get where I am. It’s not going to happen overnight but if you remain dedicated you will see those lasting results.
Finally, it’s okay to make mistakes. I wish someone would have told me that. I was super hard on myself in the beginning. Now I accept when I mess up. I learn from it and I grow through it. You may not get it right the first, second, or even third time but that doesn’t mean you quit. That fourth time may be the moment it all comes together.
Great article. I learned so much. Keep up the hard work. Your family loves you.
Great job. Keep up the good work. ❤️