By Mike Kinney
Today, Shaneeka Payne is nearly 200 pounds lighter than she was in 2015. In fact, she is currently just 10 pounds from achieving her ultimate weight loss goal.
But behind those impressive numbers was a daunting weight-loss journey that included steep peaks and valleys complicated by injuries and motherhood. In the end, her story is as relatable as it is inspiring, and she credits a Richmond gym for helping her achieve her goals.
“It is truly a process, and you must take it one day at a time.”
“It is truly a process, and you must take it one day at a time,” Payne says.
Payne recalls starting her weight loss journey back in 2015, when she worked off 116 pounds while working with Juan Nunez at Juan’s Gym in Richmond. After training with Nunez four days a week, she reduced her weight from 348 pounds to 232 pounds.
But that victory would not nearly be the end of her journey, which was stunted by a major injury. While out jogging one morning, Payne suffered a bad fall, resulting in her requiring three surgeries on her right knee for a torn ACL and LCL.
“They had to place me in a full-legged cast for six months due to the complications,” she said.
The lack of exercise was crushing and depressing.
“I got back up to 323 pounds by the time the cast was removed,” Payne said.
Once she was able to start physical therapy, Payne quickly began shedding the pounds again.
“Once I got the okay from physical therapy and my doctor, I immediately called Juan Nunez,” she said.
Despite weakness from her injuries, it took about a year to reduce her weight to 184 pounds.
Still, this would not be the end of her journey.
Payne and her husband Robert had their first child in 2018, followed shortly thereafter by twins. During that time, she wasn’t working out, but instead was “snacking on comfort food, hot bowls of white rice and bread.”
“The carbs for me were no good,” she said.
So in September of 2022, she rejoined Juan’s Gym and has since faithfully attended three days a week. The consistency has paid off. Today, she’s at her lowest weight in many years at 150 pounds, with only 10 pounds left to achieve her ultimate weight loss goal of 140 pounds.
“My workout consists of boxing, jump rope, weightlifting, a total body workout,” she said.
Her advice to others who struggle with their weight is to “take it one day at time.”
“Also, it’s important to eat the right healthy food and drink plenty of water to have a positive weight reduction,” she said.
Nunez called Payne “a true success story.”
“She has put a lot of time, effort and training here since 2022 in her weight reduction,” he said. “She has the consistency to focus on her goals and objectives. She has willpower and always keep to the basics.”
