FFFC: Please introduce yourself to our readers (i.e. your name, occupation, hobbies, etc.)
RT: Hello Beautiful People!!! My name is RoyRee Toomer. I have been married for 10 years and a mother to three beautiful children. At the time I work from home inspiring and coaching people to live the best version of who they are meant to be. I love to spend time with my family, enjoy the outdoors, exercise, and I love to read!
FFFC: What sparked your weight-loss transformation journey?
RT: My journey of transformation began in January of 2012. At this time, my family was going through a transition adjusting to a few life changes. My husband began to work out town during the week only coming home on the weekends, I was caring for a newborn daughter and two older children ages 5 and 14, and battling postpartum depression, anxiety, sadness, and loneliness. I began to turn to fast food and sweets that required no effort. So whatever I ate, my kids did too. And the worst of all is that I began to isolate myself away from my children and only interacting with them when I had too.
When I began to see how my bad choices and decisions were impacting my children negatively, I knew I had to make a change. It was my responsibility to change and my children became my motivation. I wanted to give them the best version of me. Then in November of 2014, my father passed away. That sent me into a dark place and I began to gain weight and slide back into a state of depression. I knew in my heart it wasn’t healthy for my kids to see me in this state. I started then began grief therapy for one year and restarted my journey and working everyday to become the best version of myself.
FFFC: What was your beginning and current weight or measurements?
RT: My starting weight was 198lbs and I currently weigh 135lbs.
FFFC: How long did it take for your weight-loss transformation from beginning to end?
RT: My journey started in February 2012. This transformation has had it challenges and obstacles. My father died in November of 2014. I regained the weight I released and went into a state of depression. I later went to therapy for over a year a reignited my journey in March of 2016.
FFFC: Which physical activities did you participate in during your journey?
RT: What I found what worked for me and thoroughly enjoy is hiking, weight training, HIIT workouts, PIYO (combination of yoga and Pilates), and home workouts (found videos on YouTube).
FFFC: How did your eating habits change?
RT: Changing my eating habits was not as challenging as I initially thought it would be. My goal was to take my family on this journey with me. I embedded in my mind that it was not a diet but a lifestyle change. I wasn’t going to be the mom preparing five different meals every day. I wanted to do it as a family and accumulate my children to eating healthy on a consistent basis. The change started with cleaning out the cabinets of the unhealthy junk, processed box food, juices, and sodas. I utilized the resources I had available to me from watching food documentaries, reading about books that varied from nutrition and exercise to researching healthy menus for families. As a family, we no longer eat fast food. I made the time to commit to meal planning weekly, which also lowered my grocery bill every month. I made sure to always have healthy snacks on hand. We began to have green smoothies in the morning for breakfast; I prepared the children’s lunches with healthy replacements including fresh fruit and vegetables, and a healthy meal for dinner.
FFFC: What do you typically eat for breakfast, lunch, snacks and dinner?
RT: I have created food rules for my healthy lifestyle. Two of my daily requirements are one too have a smoothie and salad every day. For breakfast I will typically have a smoothie, oatmeal with fresh fruits and nuts, cottage cheese with fresh fruit and granola, or turkey back and boiled eggs. Lunch is normally a salad with dark leafy greens with lots of veggies, and some sort of protein like grilled chicken breast, shrimp, or salmon. For my dinner I love grilled or sautéed vegetable with a sweet potato or jasmine brown rice with a protein such as salmon or chicken. I also loved to eat lots of beans and stews. Keeps you full and healthy. When I have snacks, I enjoy nuts, fruits, hummus, vegetables, healthy chips and fresh salsa as well.
FFFC: What is your favorite fitness activity?
RT: My favorite fitness activity is weight training. I love that it burns calories for a long time along with toning the body.
FFFC: What do you do now to maintain your physique?
RT: I exercise at least 4 days a week and live by the 80/20 rule. That is eating healthy 80% of the time, which allows me to indulge 20% of the time.
FFFC: How did you develop and sustain the willpower to avoid the bad stuff (i.e. junk food, bad drinks, lack of activity, etc.)?
RT: When I started incorporating a healthier diet my body started to change. I do not have the cravings I used to have. When I started to educate myself on food and what it does to the body, I was able to make mindful choices. I have a strong desire to live a healthy life and want to be an example to my children. It’s my responsibility to do so. I have made the importance of health a family goal. We eat healthy together and spend quality time doing physical activities as a family. We keep each other motivated and hold one another accountable.
FFFC: What advice do you have for someone looking to get started with their fitness journey but not sure where to begin?
RT: I want to let anyone who reads this that NOW is the time to take charge of your life. Your journey begins with you. Start out replacing one bad habit with a good one. Make exercise apart of your everyday life and you will grow to love its benefits and so will your body.
Hydrate daily with H2O. Eat plenty of fresh fruits and vegetables. Sleep like you get paid for it. Utilize the resources you have to help you along the journey. You will face obstacles and challenges that will get in the way. But you have the opportunity to choose on how YOU respond. YOU control your life and do not need permission from anyone to stand in your power and create the life of your dreams one step at a time.
FFFC: What do you think is the biggest misconception about this journey?
RT: I believe that one misconception is that is only about the outside appearance. Releasing the weight is a mental journey. It is mind, body, and spirit journey. I believe if people transformed from the inside out their lives would change forever, not just a temporary fix. It doesn’t happen overnight. You have to put in the work for real results and change.
FFFC: Do you have any fitness inspirations? Who are they?
RT: Absolutely! A few of my fitspirations are Massy Arias, Chalene Johnson, and Ernestine Shepard are my favorites!
FFFC: How can readers learn more about your transformation and journey online (i.e. Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc.)?
RT: We can connect on Facebook (RoyRee Toomer, Instagram RoyRee Toomer, Twitter (RoToomer), and my website www.royreetoomer.com
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