Tokyo Vanity, the vibrant star of Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, has embarked on an inspiring weight loss journey, captivating fans with her dedication and openness. Her transformation, documented through before-and-after photos and workout videos, showcases not only a physical change but also a commitment to a healthier lifestyle. This article explores Tokyo Vanity's weight loss journey, addressing the challenges she faced, the methods she employed, and the positive impact it has had on her life.
The Spark: Motivation and Initial Steps
The pivotal moment before embarking on a weight loss journey can be intimidating, whether it starts as a New Year resolution or begins with a vow to live a healthier lifestyle. Tokyo Vanity's journey gained visibility on Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta, where viewers witnessed her attempts to lose weight. A particular episode highlighted a tense confrontation with her friend, Sierra Grant, who, motivated by her own diabetes scare, insisted weight loss was necessary for Tokyo and even tossed her food into the sink. While Sierra's intentions were well-meaning, her approach underscored the challenges of navigating weight loss with external pressures.
Despite the initial difficulties and some misguided attempts to motivate her, Tokyo persevered. She began sharing videos of herself working out in the gym, showcasing her dedication and inspiring her followers. "Y’all said y’all was gonna meet me at the gym today why y’all keep lying !!!" she captioned a recent video, jokingly calling out her friends while promoting an active lifestyle.
Hard Work and Dedication: Diet and Exercise
Tokyo Vanity's transformation is attributed to hard work with dieting and exercise. She has been committed to working with her trainer, Body By Ted, to lose weight. In one Instagram post, she tagged her trainer, writing, "Let me help y’all better see my vision wheew child… We coming for the summerrrrrrrrrrr."
While Tokyo hasn’t shared her actual goals in terms of how many pounds she wants to drop, she has jokingly, in her straightforward way, inspired her more than two million followers to get active with her. She captioned a sweaty video of herself, “The fat is crying again today byeeeeeee you gotta get the f-k ASAP,” she wrote. “Again, this gym sh-t is ghetto as f-k,” she joked in the video clip. “But if I did not go today, ain’t gon’ make it tomorrow. It’s a new day."
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Addressing the Rumors: Surgery or No Surgery?
One of the most common questions is whether Tokyo Vanity had weight loss surgery. Though many people have stated that she has, that is not what the reality star says. There is some speculation that Tokyo Vanity has turned to GLP-1s to help her lose weight.
A Visual Transformation: The Before and After
Tokyo Vanity, 25, looks fitter than ever! The Love & Hip Hop: Atlanta star revealed before and after photos documenting her weight loss to Instagram fans on Jan. 16, cheekily captioning her progress pictures, “Haters gonna say it’s cause it got black on.” We know, though, that her black jumpsuit in the picture had nothing to do with her figure - rather, Tokyo has been putting in hard work in the gym.
Tokyo has been seeing results within a remarkable amount of time! Her “before” photo, which featured the “That’s My Best Friend” rapper rocking a pink velour tracksuit from Fashion Nova Curve, was first shared in Oct. 2019! The rapper teased her new figure in a video shared to Instagram on Jan. 15, in which she furiously performed a set of dumbbell raises. We could feel our arms cramping just by watching the video, and even Tokyo admitted the exercise wasn’t exactly a fun pastime activity.
Body Image and Self-Acceptance
Regardless of Tokyo’s size, the rapper will always be beautiful - something she knows as well! Earlier that episode, Tokyo had tried out a workout class that wasn’t exactly beginner-friendly. She left the class in frustration, which later led to a tense confrontation between Tokyo and her friend, Sierra Grant.
Tokyo didn't let the comments get to her then, and now, she's gotten herself in shape on her own terms. She's been on a fitness journey of sorts, working out twice a day sometimes and following a strict meal plan. On Tuesday, she shared some "before and after"photos side-by-side in an Instagram post to show just how much her hard work has paid off. "Let me help y’all better see my vision wheew child," she wrote in the caption, before tagging her trainer that goes by the name of Body Byted. "We coming for the summerrrrrrrrrrr."
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Tokyo has shared other photos of her snatched new figure, including this shot from a few weeks ago. "I done transformed into a bad b*tch," she wrote. It looks like Tokyo is out here living her best life, and we couldn't be happier for her.
Inspiration and Impact
While Tokyo hasn’t shared her actual goals in terms of how many pounds she wants to drop, she has jokingly, in her straightforward way, inspired her more than two million followers to get active with her.
She is known for being committed to working with her trainer, Body By Ted, to lose weight. The amount of weight Tokyo Vanity has lost is not well known either. However, she has said that she has lost over 50 pounds. The amount of weight she lost is less important than her transformation, though. She seems to be in a much better place from a health standpoint and continues to be as beautiful as she ever was.
Other Celebrities and Their Weight Loss Journeys
Tokyo Vanity is not alone in her weight loss journey. Many celebrities have openly shared their experiences, inspiring others to prioritize their health and well-being. Here are a few examples:
Toya Wright: As a mother of two, Toya Wright has not only decided to live her best life but more importantly, she has opted to live a healthier lifestyle! With her companion Robert Red Rushing by her side, not only has the T.I. & Tiny: Friends and Family Hustle reality star jumped in the gym to train with celebrity fitness trainer, Kory Phillips, but she’s also participated in a series of 5K races to help fight against obesity.
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After giving birth to her daughter, Reign Ryan Rushing, in February 2018, Toya admitted on Instagram, “It was hard losing the extra pounds after the baby.” That was until her celebrity bestie LeToya Luckett shared her weight loss secret! Besides hitting the gym with a waist trainer, the mother of two accredited her post-pregnancy body to plant-based supplement kit, Body Complete RX, which is “clinically proven to control appetite, boost energy and metabolism.”
Proud of her results, Toya showed off her post-pregnancy body with a before-and-after photo on Instagram. “[Body Complete RX] is the best thing I've tried to get me back on track and the weight just keeps coming off,” she wrote on the side-by-side photo. “It was just what I needed to help me along my weight loss journey.”
Jordyn Woods: Jordyn Woods has been about her weight loss journey since 2018. Admitting to E! News that she was “addicted” to going to the gym, the former Life of Kylie star has not only lost weight but has also used her love for fitness as her inspiration for creating her activewear collection, Secndnture.
Gucci Mane: After serving three years in custody for felony gun and drug charges, Gucci Mane was released from prison in 2016 reportedly 50 lbs. lighter. When he returned home, his girlfriend, Keyshia Ka’oir proudly headed to Instagram to celebrate her future husband’s new abs.
Since then, the “Curve” rapper has married Keyshia and lost an additional 50-pounds all thanks to eliminating greasy foods and codeine, eating healthier, and developing an exercise routine. “I used to be fat,” he said in an Instagram video showing off his washboard abs. “For people who ain’t in shape, people who ain’t healthy, people who need some inspiration, listen: I was 290 pounds, now I’m 190 pounds. I lost 100 pounds. I’m 190 right now. I said I’m 190!”
He continued, “So check this out: You can do it if I can do it. Use me for inspiration. ‘Cause I’m seeing a lot ya’ll and y’all look terrible.”
With the words “health is wealth,” serving as his motivation, the Alabama-born rapper has proudly taken on a healthier lifestyle and the results truly speak for itself.
Mariah Carey: After giving birth to her twins, Moroccan and Monroe, in 2011, Mariah Carey revealed to Us Weekly that she “gained an enormous amount of weight." Setting her mind on getting back her tiny waistline, the "Shake It Off” singer began her journey to her pre-pregnancy shape after feeling "trapped in her body." Thanks to following the Jenny Craig program, which consisted of a 1,500 calorie diet and working out three times a week, Mariah shared with the publication that she lost a whopping 30-pounds in three months, which she flaunted on the cover of Us Weekly in 2011.
"I'm proud of how hard I worked to get my body back,” Mariah said. ”I had to do this for me.”
Missy Elliott: When Missy Elliott was diagnosed with Graves’ disease in 2008, she vowed to take control of her health through “diet and exercise.” Sticking to her word and shedding 30-pounds, the “Work It” rapper sent fans into a frenzy when she displayed her slimmer figure during an NYC performance in 2014. Since then, Missy has maintained her healthy lifestyle-and flaunts notably fabulous skin- thanks to ditching sodas, bread, and juices, along with working out to Shaun T’s “Insanity” T25 workout videos.
“I have only drank water,” Missy shared on Instagram. “No other juices or soda & I cut out bread. Lord knows that’s been the hardest for me!” While she admitted she’s “NEVER been a water drinker,” she noticed a change in her skin’s glow, along with an increase in her energy level. Missy may have made her new diet seem easy, she’s openly shared with fans the hard work that it took to ditch junk food, especially sweets. While she was confident that she would one day cut her love for sugar, she admitted she allowed herself at least, “two cupcakes a month.”
Riley Burruss: In 2017, Kandi Burruss' daughter, Riley, embarked on her workout campaign with friends.
After nine months of hard work, dedication, and days in the gym, the teenager proudly announced to the world on Instagram she lost a whopping 52 lbs. that she accomplished naturally in nine months! “My journey is not over,” Riley shared on Instagram. “I have larger goals I am trying to reach and I hope everybody follows me throughout my journey.”
Since her transformation from 220-pounds to 168-pounds, Riley has proudly documented her fitness transition on her Instagram and YouTube to inspire others struggling with weight loss.
Randy Jackson: Randy Jackson successfully lost a whopping 100-pounds, but it wasn’t without a struggle.
After tipping the scales at 350 pounds and being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes in 2001, the American Idol judge knew he wanted to change his life. In 2003, Randy decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery, but soon learned it wasn’t the end-all after he began gaining back weight. At that moment, he knew he had to change his eating habits and fitness routine to see real results.
"Liquid fasts. Bee stings. [The] urine of pregnant women. You name it. I have tried it," the Grammy Award-winning producer jokingly shared with WebMD. "The problem is that those diets don't work for people who have the disease of obesity."
At the time of the interview, Randy weighed 220-pounds and revealed the tips he accredited to his weight loss success, which includes knowing your limits, never arriving anywhere hungry, and seeking a support network.
Raven-Symoné: When Raven-Symoné reportedly dropped 35-pounds after ending her Disney Channel show, That’s So Raven, fans were dying to know her weight loss secret. According to the actress, while many celebrities seek fat burning teas, lack of stress was her magic potion. “I stopped stressing,” Raven-Symoné shared on The Wendy Williams Show. ”You have to realize at 15, there was a whole entire show I had on my shoulders. It was a very big cast and crew and if you’re sick for a day, people lose money and that’s a problem.”
She continued, “[It wasn’t] just overeating because I’ve actually been eating the same. I keep a little bit more smaller portions because I learned that your body has to get rid of that stress [in] some way. Some people break-out, some people lose their hair, some lose weight, some people gain weight, my body just reacted a certain kind of way.”
While the Raven-Symoné admitted she always felt “fabulous” when “nobody else did,” the star explained to People that she was not completely comfortable with her weight loss results. “Actually, now I wear bigger clothes because I don’t like the way people stare at me,” she shared with People in 2011. “I liked it before. Now, you’re just looking at me for the wrong reasons. Before, you were actually looking at me for a real reason.”
Mo'Nique: In 2018, Mo'nique excitedly revealed to her Instagram fans that she was the thinnest she's been her entire adult life.
"Since I [was] 17 years old I've been over 200 pounds. Today was the first time in my adult life that I've been under 200 pounds," the comedian shared on her Instagram video.
Displaying her dramatic weight loss, she later followed up the video with a close-up photo of a scale that she showed she weighed 198.4 pounds.
“For me it was with no surgery, no pre-packaged foods,” she confessed. “It was just putting in the work and not giving up on me.”
Thanks to raw foods, dance workouts, and believing in herself, Mo'nique has managed to stay fit after losing a total of 80-pounds since embarking on her journey to becoming healthier.
Chrisette Michele: “I don’t spend too much of my day obsessing over my size,” Chrisette Michele shared on her personal blog. While the 5’7” beauty explained she lost approximately 25-pounds between December of 2018 and July of 2019, the singer who weighed in at 175 lbs. at the time of the post, revealed she was still considered “overweight” by doctors' standards. “I combine the knowledge of such specialists with my own instincts and convictions,” she said.
After expressing her concerns that the ideals of sizing should be given “individual attention,” Chrisette shared due to her PCOS, her body's weight tended to fluctuate.
“Between the hormones in the meat and the saturated fats, my body went up and down in size like you wouldn’t believe,” she wrote. “My cheeks would bloat one week, then my arms would bloat. I’d have to hear people tell me I lost and gained weight on a weekly basis. [Sometimes] I’d talk to them about what was really going on, but usually, I just smiled and waited for the conversation to end.”
Learning through “trial and error,” Chrisette soon discovered what foods caused her inflammation, bloating, and brain-fog before she eliminated them. After changing her diet by eating less animal fat and limiting her sugar intake, she soon discovered her PCOS diagnosis disappeared. She also attributes her newfound health to the “weight loss” of toxic people. “I’m less stressed when I release myself of toxic people. I tend to [lose] 5-10 lbs when I let toxic people go. I do that at the top of each year and sometimes more,” she shared. “Stress disturbs my physical body, so I eliminate it as often as possible. Toxic people include folks who complain most of the time, use toxic language, don’t see my value, and people who refuse to see their own value.”
Jennifer Hudson: Since going from a size 16 to a size 6, Jennifer Hudson has found sufficient ways to maintain her trimmed figure- even if it means by extreme measures to avoid temptation.
"I throw the pancakes across the room! I don't let the food intimidate me," she told Yahoo Style in a 2014 interview. "If it's too much, I just get rid of it … And I make sure I know what it is. It's all about portions for the most part. I don't work out a lot, but I do like to be active."
While you may imagine the famed singer spending countless hours in the gym to maintain her 80-pound weight loss, you'd be surprised to know not exactly.
"I don't really have time to do much [working out], so I really just watch what I eat," she said during a 2017 interview on the British daytime talk show Lorraine. "I'm very careful and cautious of what I'm eating, so I just try to pace those meals throughout the day. Like, okay, eat here, don't eat here. When it's early in the morning, I say, okay, I would've been asleep … so I'm not going to eat. I'm very conscious of what I put in my body."
Jordin Sparks: In 2012, poor health was the major contributor to Jordin Sparks’ mission to lose weight. “I had gotten really sick,” the" One Step At A Time" singer told TODAY. “And I was about to celebrate my birthday and I was like, ‘I should be in the prime of my life right now. I shouldn’t be feeling like this. I really need to make my health a priority.’ And that’s what I did.”
Instead of choosing to focus on her jean size, Jordin made it a point to lose weight to get healthy, which she did! Losing 50-pounds in 18 months, the singer accredits proper nutrition and working out to her success. "I never felt like I was suffering by eating less and exercising more," she told Redbook Mag in 2012. "The key was finding exercises I enjoyed. If you don't, you won't stick with it."