At 457 pounds, Rhonda Martin says her life was “very sad and very isolated.”

So Rhonda, 43, started her weight loss journey by dieting and exercising — and shed an astounding 277 pounds in just two-and-a-half years.

“I did it the old fashioned way,” she told ‘HuffPost Live.’ “One small change at a time. One step at a time.”

rhonda martin before/after

Photo Credit: Facebook // Rhonda Martin (2)

First, the self-proclaimed emotional eater made small changes to her diet, began drinking protein shakes with every meal and started counting her calorie intake.

As for her exercise routine, the San Diego native challenged herself to walk 100 more steps per day and tracked her progress with a pedometer. Then, she says, discovering cycling helped her weight loss really take off.

“I found something that I like to do. It’s a form of exercise — it’s not a chore. It’s just pure fun for me when I’m out riding,” she said.

rhonda martin exercise

Photo Credit: Facebook // Rhonda Martin

At 180 pounds, Rhonda says she is now in the best shape of her life — and has even started participating in half-marathons and triathlons!

“My original goal was ‘I want to get under 400 pounds and be able to maintain that,'” she said. “I never dreamed that today I’d be doing triathlons and love competing in racing.”

To read more about Rhonda’s weight loss story, visit her Facebook blog ‘Living Instead of Existing.’