When Brandi Nichole lost 165 pounds, she felt like a whole new person. For anyone, losing over 100 pounds feels amazing, and it really helps restore your confidence and energy levels. Brandi used to feel very uncomfortable in her own skin, but getting her health back has liberated her. Here is the incredible story of how she shed weight and reclaimed her health.

“So, I started my journey at 297 pounds, and I am 5’5”, so that was a lot of weight on a short body frame,” Brandi said. “So it caused knee issues, back issues, even all the way up into my neck because everything was just so swollen and very, very uncomfortable, to say the least.”

Since losing the weight, Brandi’s health problems have pretty much disappeared. She can do so much more with her body now, and she enjoys challenging herself every week. Brandi knew that she had to start taking care of herself if she wanted a better life. It wasn’t until her dad passed away that she felt motivated to begin this next chapter.

She said this:

“I started my journey shortly after my dad passed away. He didn’t take the best care of himself, and I realized that if I didn’t do the same, I was going to be in his boat in less than 20 years.”


Unfortunately, it sometimes takes a life-changing tragedy like this to prompt us to make changes. Brandi knew her dad would want her to live a long, happy life, so she decided to get the ball rolling. It took a lot of effort and willpower at first, but it got easier with time. When people lose over 100 pounds, it all starts with one small step that led to something much bigger.

How Brandi shed weight and got her life back

“Once I decided to get my life on track, I started with just small walks in my neighborhood, and each day I would add an additional road that I would go to,” Brandi said. “I eventually started doing CrossFit, which is where I am now. I’ve been there almost two years, and it is the best, worst, most challenging thing I think I’ve ever put myself through, willingly.”

Brandi started off making small changes, and eventually, this led to her signing up for the CrossFit classes. As her fitness levels improved, she wanted to keep raising the bar and creating new goals for herself. Of course, at the start of her journey, she encountered some major obstacles and cravings. Anyone trying to lose weight knows how difficult it is to stay on track and form new habits.

“So, in the beginning, it was really difficult because food is a drug just like anything else. When I’m happy, I eat; when I’m sad, I eat, and that was something that I had to learn to redirect in a positive way.”

Instead of reaching for food, Brandi decided to start doing yoga and meditation. This helped her focus and relax her mind, identifying where the thoughts about food came from. She says that getting out of her own head and realizing she could lose the weight were her biggest hurdles. She knew she had everything within her to reach her goals, but she just had to remind herself of that.

Many people trying to lose weight find that yoga and meditation greatly help their fitness efforts. When you expand your awareness, you realize that you have unlimited potential as a human being. This, in turn, inspires you to keep going with your goals and overcome these self-created limitations in your mind.

Brandi’s consistency paid off, and she urges everyone not to lose faith in their journey.

“It was around six months when I started seeing results; I had lost about 50 pounds, and that was whenever I was finally brave enough to contact my local CrossFit gym,” Brandi said. “That ended up being the best decision I have ever made.”

CrossFit has helped Brandi gain strength, confidence, stamina, and muscle. She now cannot imagine her life without it. And exercise helped her see what she’s truly capable of. Along with yoga and meditation, her overall health has improved dramatically.

“I am down 165 pounds, and I could never see my life going back to the way it was. The best advice that I have to give anybody who is starting it is to be patient with yourself. You didn’t gain all of the weight overnight, so you’re definitely not going to lose it overnight.”

Brandi has come so far in the three years since she embarked on this life-changing journey. It just goes to show you how much you can accomplish when you stay focused. As long as you take one step toward your goals each day, you can climb that mountain ahead of you. It may look daunting right now, but once you reach the summit, you can proudly look back at how far you’ve come.


Nothing good in life comes easily, but if you really want something, all the blood, sweat, and tears will be worth it. Every weight loss story begins with one person who decided to believe in themselves. If they can do it, you can too.

Final thoughts: Brandi shed weight naturally and encourages others to take care of their health

Everyone’s weight loss or fitness story looks different, but they have one thing in common: consistency. To get in shape and burn fat, it takes dedicated action every single day. It takes willpower and determination, as well as retraining your brain to enjoy hard work. In the beginning, you’ll want to give up a million times, but if you stick with it, you will transform from the inside out.

Brandi knows all about the struggle and the grind of losing weight, but 165 pounds later, she feels like a new woman. We hope her weight loss story inspires you to smash your goals and believe in your ability to shed weight, too. Remember: if you want something you’ve never had, you have to do something you’ve never done.