Cybria Henry sizes down

Cybria Henry was always one to be eloquent in speech and confident in body. But when her weight got out of proportion, she began a new journey that would transform her life forever. Thanks to the winning combination of hard work, effort and consistency, Henry is almost 90 pounds lighter.

She told Lifestyle that her walk with weight was one of fluctuation. One minute, she would be okay with where she was; the next, she hardly recognised herself. “This decision happened over time. I was uncomfortable in my body, and I know I needed to do something about it,” she explained.

Dieting and exercising on and off for years, she started to take her physical health more seriously in October 2021. So what made the difference this time around? Henry responded with two words: weight training.

The fitness enthusiast began incorporating a weight training regime into the mix of cardio, which seemed to do the trick in treating her body to the calorie burning and sculpting it needed.

“I am definitely a gym person, not because I want to be, but if I made it to the gym, then I have to work out. What sense would it make for me to go to the gym to walk out? And if I am home, five to 10 minutes working out there, I feel like throwing the towel and finding my bed,” she said.

Instead of enlisting a personal trainer, she journeys solo at the gym, training herself with the help of YouTube videos. This contributed to the tremendous weight loss.

“I usually exercise three times a week at around 7:00 in the morning. Working out in the morning is really good for me because it gives [me] a boost of energy throughout the day. If I miss that workout time due to work, I schedule a session after work at around 11 p.m.,” she shared, showing that she is living proof that what the mind can conceive, it and the body can achieve.

For daily consumption, Henry mainly eats salads with beef or chicken, cutting out sugar and rice while having more fruits. She also stopped watching and comparing herself to others. “Our bodies are all different, and if their way doesn’t work, then it’s not for you. Try something else. Don’t give up; go harder.”

So how has her life been since losing 86 pounds? Henry admitted that she feels more energetic, and the consistent activity has actually helped to regulate her sleeping pattern. She also highlighted, “I no longer breathe heavily. I can do all the things that I want to do; I can go on rides that I’ve always wanted to go on. Now, I’m able to wear clothes that I actually wanted to wear for a while. I’m just way more confident and comfortable.”

And there are moments along the way that truly made the mission truly worth it: having the ability mentally and physically to add 10 more repetitions or going into the store and not having to worry about size because that matter is no longer an issue. The latter took some getting used to, so she had to remind herself that she was no longer at her previous poundage.

Henry’s advice to others looking to walk a healthier route is to set mini goals and work on them. “Start slowly and take it one day at a time. If you gradually change your eating habits, it will be easier to cut them out completely. It’s the same with exercise; if you don’t normally walk, try to walk for five to 10 minutes a day and improve on that.”

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com