Ashiya Brown Lost 85 Pounds: ‘I Gained So Much Confidence From My Weight Loss!’

Weight-Loss Win is an original Yahoo series that shares the inspiring stories of people who have shed pounds healthfully.

Ashiya Brown is 31 and currently weighs 135 pounds. In 2003, she decided to get fit before going off to college. This is the story of her weight-loss journey.

The Turning Point

Weight became an issue for me in the fourth grade. I remember the first time I was called fat by a classmate. I noticed I was bigger than my friends. I remember going swimming, and all the other girls had two-piece suits on and I didn’t, and I clearly knew why.

Senior year, I had a number of major events including graduation, my debutante cotillion ball, and prom. I felt uncomfortable about my weight, like I was trapped in my body, and had enough. I wanted to start over before I went away to college. I remember picking out prom dresses, and my mother took me to Detroit to get my dress and shoes. I selected a pair of rhinestone high heels and the employee at the store said, “You need a big-girl shoe, you will wear this heel down.” My Mom and I left the store and I was mortified, that’s when I knew I had to make a change.

The Changes

My father was extremely encouraging, and had recently lost about 30 pounds himself. He told me music got him through his workouts, so he bought me a CD Walkman (before iPods) and a pair of Nike running shoes. He also purchased for me a gym membership, and started taking me with him and telling me which machines would be the best for me. After I got a workout routine down, I started to change my eating habits. My father was the only one in our home who would eat wheat bread and make protein shakes as meal replacements, so I started watching him and copied whatever he did. I also stopped drinking anything but water for a period of time and starting counting calories so I knew how much energy I put into my body. After only about two weeks of working out, I started to notice weight loss and got obsessed with the process. I was motivated to workout even harder. The stair stepper at this particular gym was amazing, and I would watch my dad do it and see people staring at him and talking about how long he could stay on the machine, so I wanted to do the same.

I felt extremely motivated, I could see a difference week by week, and my father put the icing on the cake by offering me an entire new wardrobe if I achieved my goal weight. I would get all the clothing catalogs of my favorite stores, and circle what I was going to get. I also kept thinking about college, as I had just been accepted and knew where I was going. Three of my closest friends were coming with me and I didn’t want to be the “fat friend” anymore.

The After

I felt like a new person. I gained so much confidence from my weight loss, I felt like I could do anything. I watched myself change my entire outward appearance, and then I felt fearless. Guys gave me lots of attention, which was a first for me, and I started dating. I also felt as if people generally were more accepting of me, I really felt more accepted by society. I would get complimented on a daily basis and didn’t worry about people judging me and treating me differently for being overweight.

The thing that surprised me the most was how my weight loss affected other people. I lost some friends at the time, and some people started saying that I looked sick and was taking pills to lose weight. Not everyone was proud of my success, and I learned that the hard way. Many people were comfortable with me as the fat friend. The fat and shy girl who wouldn’t take attention away from them, but after my weight loss, I was no longer her.

The Maintenance

I try to continue to work out at least three times a week. I live across the street from a high school track, so I do a few miles a couple of times a week. I also make it a point to drink 10 or more glasses of water per day. I don’t count calories like I used to, but I am very conscious of everything I put in my body and how that will affect me. I also make an effort to stay away from bread completely.

Today, I’m inspired by my son. I am in good enough shape that I can keep up with him. He also loves the fact that I can get down and play with him, race him, climb with him, and be supermom to him. I wouldn’t be able to do any of this if I still was overweight; it had started to control my life and I didn’t feel good about myself. My father also motivates me because, although he’s in his 50s, he still wakes up at 5 a.m. to get on his treadmill and knock out some miles, so I have no excuse. I am positive that my weight loss made him proud of me, and as a daddy’s girl that’s all the motivation I need.

The Struggles

The one thing I struggle with today is energy. I work full-time, I’m a mother, and I have a lot of activities to keep up with, so sometimes I feel like I never get a break. I work through it by taking time out for me, which is my running time when I work out. I can just think peacefully to myself and clear my mind. I need my quiet time.

Advice

Take it one day at a time. It will not happen overnight so just pace yourself. I also find that making slow progress is sometimes better than a fast and drastic lifestyle change. Figure out what works for you and then go with it.

Need more inspiration? Read about our other weight-loss winners!

Another Weight-Loss Win column is authored by Andie Mitchell, who underwent a transformative 135-pound weight loss of her own.

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