Featured Fitale – Mecca Evans

Please introduce yourself to our readers (i.e. your name, occupation, hobbies, etc.).

ME:  Hey! My name is Mecca Evans. I’m from Sacramento,Ca and currently attend California State University, Sacramento. I enjoy reading, exercising, and eating (LOL). I love dancing, fashion, and anything from “The Real Housewives” franchise. I love encouraging and helping people, especially women to begin their fitness/weight loss journey.

What sparked your weight-loss transformation journey?

ME:  LMAO BOYS ! I was graduating high school and was on my way to a HBCU (Hampton University: The Real HU). Being from Cali I grew up in a predominantly white area, and went to predominantly white schools. This was the first time I was gonna be surrounded by some fine black men (and baybeee they make them fioneeeeeeeee out there). I just wanted to look good. Obviously, once I had started to lose weight I saw the improvements in my health and energy, and how good I felt so my reasons changed. But at 18….that’s where my head was at.

What was your beginning and current weight or measurements?

ME:  I am currently 145 lbs. (at my heaviest I was 250 lbs.) My waist is 32” (when I started it was 46”)

How long did it take for your weight-loss transformation from beginning to end?

ME:  Beginning to end around 5 years. The first 30-35 lbs I lost just going through puberty. I did not get serious about my weight until I was 18 (I was around 225-230 lbs). From there it took 2 years to lose the last 70 lbs. I wasn’t in any particular rush going into this. I never thought I’d end up losing a whole 100 lbs. I thought I’d just lose 20-30 lbs and be done, but after I had lost that I liked the way I looked and wanted to keep going.

Which physical activities did you participate in during your journey?

ME:  Zumba, i also enjoy cycling when I’m feeling myself (it can be hard in the beginning). I like Crossfit when I am looking to challenge myself, but that’s not my regular.

How did your eating habits change?

ME:  Lets just say that Hot Cheetos and Cream Cheese is no longer my main food group. My friends love to joke that I eat like a rabbit now because my diet is filled with veggies and nuts. I still eat things I like though, I LOVE chicken quesadillas love love love. I also love chocolate (food and men). I eat clean, unprocessed foods 6 days a week, and then 1 day I will allow myself to cut up. It’s usually on the weekend when I go out with my friends. I am a juicing fanatic, once I started juicing I really saw the improvements in my health and the pounds melting off. I watched the documentary, Fat, Sick, and Nearly Dead (A MUST WATCH). Everything said in that documentary has been true in my experience. During the week I drink 2-3 cups of all natural pressed juice (that I make in my juicer) a day. I never feel hungry and it also keeps me from overeating. I always tell people you can still have the foods you love whilst still being the best you.

What do you typically eat for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner?

ME:  Breakfast: Juice Smoothie: Made of all natural apple and celery juice. I mix it with frozen pineapples, strawberries, and bananas. SO GOOD

• Snack: Nuts/Mixed Nuts: I always have a bag of nuts with me (cashews are my fav but not always in the budget). They are quick, not messy, and super filling. When I get hungry I get the worst migraines, so me having something to snack on is imperative. Lightly salted mixed nut and a bottle of water is my go to.
• Lunch/Dinner: I’m always on the go (From school I go straight to work and I don’t get home until after 10 pm during the weekdays) I try not to eat after 8 pm and because of that my lunch and dinner are more of a supper. I usually have a pre-made salad made of lettuce, scallions, cilantro, tomatoes, jalapenos. I make my own salad dressing to avoid extra calories made of avocado, tomatoes, and lemon juice.

What is your favorite fitness activity?

ME:  Zumba ! I talk about this all the time in my YouTube videos, FIND A FITNESS ACTIVITY THAT YOU LIKE TO DO. I hate running I HATE IT ! Even now I try and avoid it at all costs. I grew up dancing, I studied ballet, jazz ballet, and tap from ages 5-18 (at 250 lbs I wasven pointe). For me Zumba was a no brainer, I have so much fun cutting up and putting my own flare on the moves.  LOL for one hour I’m Beyonce in that thang.

How did you develop and sustain the willpower to avoid the bad stuff (i.s. junk food, bad drinks, lack of activity, etc.)?

ME:  I know this sounds so dramatic, but it is my greatest fear at this point in my life to gain the weight back. Knowing all the hard work I put in, everything I did to get it off.  Of course we all go through our periods where I have gained 5-8 lbs and once I see the number I go back into grind mode. Honestly, I just think about how happy am with where I am at. Most people experience weight gain after reaching adulthood, it was the opposite for me. I was big my whole life and have really only been small for the last 2 years. I’m too happy right now to allow myself to gain any weight back.

What advice do you have for someone looking to get started with their fitness journey but not sure where to begin?

ME:  Set realistic goals, don’t rush anything. Don’t diet, slowly change your eating habits and lifestyle as a whole. Also, don’t deprive yourself of the foods that you love, give yourself a cheat day so life doesn’t seem so bleak and restrictive.

What do you think is the biggest misconception about this journey?

ME:  That it happened very quickly over overnight ! I made my first YouTube video this past November (2017) after already losing a 100 lbs, it took around 3 years. All most people have seen are just the before and after pics and assume it was boom,boom, pow ! LOL

Do you have any fitness inspirations?  Who are they?

ME:  Teyana Taylor is bawdy goals hunny. Snatched is the only word that applies. My goal is to be overall toned the way she is. I still have a ways to go though.

How can readers learn more about your transformation and journey online (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)?

ME:  Follow my Youtube channel, Pray2Mecca ! I have all kinds of videos from my favorite  snack and how I make them, to my plastic surgery journey on getting rid of my saggy skin. I try and cover everything. My instagram and twitter are also Pray2Mecca.