Her 85-Pound Weight Loss After 40: How Walking & Fasting Transformed Makita Harvey’s Life

What does it really take to lose 85 pounds after 40—and keep it off for good?

On this powerful episode of the Good Living Now Podcast, host Harold Leffall sits down with certified nutrition and weight loss coach Makita Harvey, who shares her deeply personal journey of overcoming emotional eating, infertility, hormonal challenges, and years of yo-yo dieting.
Now 47, Makita has not only transformed her body but her entire lifestyle—using walking, whole foods, intermittent fasting, and raw nutrition as tools to reclaim her energy, vitality, and confidence.

From Emotional Eating to Empowered Living
Makita opens up about how food became her comfort from an early age, especially after the heartbreak of infertility and loss. Like so many women, she turned to food for emotional support—until one day, she decided to take back control.

“If I couldn’t control when I had a baby,” Makita shares, “I could control how I showed up for my health.”

That powerful shift in mindset became the spark that lit her transformation.

The Power of Walking
Forget the gym. Makita began with something simple: walking. One mile became two. Two became three. As her consistency grew, so did her results.

Too often we underestimate the power of walking. For Makita, it became the foundation of her new lifestyle—something anyone can start, regardless of fitness level.

Real Food, Real Change
Makita stopped counting calories and started fueling her body with real, whole foods. By eliminating processed and fast foods, her body naturally moved into a healthier state—and the weight began to come off.

Her biggest takeaway? “You don’t need to be perfect. You just need to be consistent.”

Reversing Symptoms & Going Deeper with Fasting
After struggling with hyperthyroidism and perimenopausal symptoms, Makita took a bold step into the world of detox and fasting. What started as curiosity turned into a life-changing experience.

She completed a 15-day water fast, followed by dry fasting, which she now credits for reducing inflammation, eliminating joint pain, and supporting her thyroid function.

Through research and discipline, she discovered how powerful fasting can be—not just for weight loss, but for internal cleansing and resetting the body’s natural systems.

Life After the Weight Loss
Makita now maintains her results with a raw-focused lifestyle rich in leafy greens, smoothies, and big veggie-packed salads. She still strength trains, practices intermittent fasting, and makes self-care a top priority.

The best part? She’s now a mom of two boys—after doctors once told her she couldn’t conceive naturally.

Makita’s Advice to Women Over 40Her message is clear:

• You are not stuck.
• You don’t have to be perfect.
• You can start with one small change—like a 15-minute walk a day.
• Focus on consistency, whole foods, and showing up for yourself.

“Stop complaining about something you’re unwilling to change,” Makita recalls God whispering to her. That was the moment everything shifted.

Connect with MakitaFollow Makita Harvey on Instagram and YouTube at @IAmMakitaHarvey to learn more about her coaching, lifestyle tips, and real-life inspiration.

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