Krissy lost 17 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Krissy shared with us how she lost 17 pounds in 35 days working with an online coach. She’s gone from a size 22 to a size 16. This proud mom of 3 was diagnosed a rare type of heart failure that occurs immediately after delivering a child. She also had high blood pressure and high cholesterol, but she hasn’t let health issues stop her. Her journey has just begun and she is off to a great start.

The one thing that motivated me to lose weight was my health. Sure, I would love to wear certain types of clothes and look amazing, but my health is much more important. My weight started to get out of control gradually with each pregnancy. My third child was born in 2004. Shortly after he was born, I was diagnosed with Postpartum Cardiomyopathy. It is a rare type of heart failure that occurs immediately after delivery. This condition weakens the heart muscles and causes the heart to become enlarged. As a result, the heart cannot pump blood properly to the rest of the body.

At 26 years of age, I was the youngest case so far that my gynecologist had encountered. I had fluid on my lungs and had to learn how to breath again. I also had to go through Cardiac Rehab.  When asked what the cause could be, my doctor said it comes from having a small frame and giving birth to big babies… and the condition develops over time.

I eventually reached my heaviest weight of 249 pounds and was told that I would have to take more medication if I did not lose the weight. I was also on medication for blood pressure and high cholesterol, and had been tested for Sleep Apnea. I no longer wanted to take medication. I just wanted to be healthy and increase my quality of life.

What inspired me not to give up was my children and my husband. I wanted to be here to see my children grow up and have families of their own. I didn’t want to leave my husband alone to raise the kids. I certainly did not like that my chart at the doctor’s office to read obese. I believe that seeing that did something to me when I glanced over at the paper work at my cardiologist’s office.

I had been about hearing this guy named Terry Starks on Facebook. I even contacted him once, but I didn’t want to spend another dime on weigh loss. I was not ready at the time. I wanted to eat what I wanted, when I wanted. Food was my comfort. In the past, I ordered every exercise tape and all the equipment that you think of. I tried shakes, bars, pre-packaged foods mailed to me, counting calories, points… and nothing seemed to work. I started tracking my food and exercise on MyFitness Pal and I lost about 20 pounds two years ago. Then I gained it all back. Finally, I got tired and decided to give Terry Starks a try.

This man is amazing. HE prays for you and with you. He is so up-beat. Most of all, he believed in me and inspired me daily. He gave me a plan that works for me, motivates me everyday and checks on me. I am very stubborn when it comes to food. If I don’t like it, I won’t eat it. I cried many nights, but I did not give up.

I started to eat small meals, five times a day. I had a nice protein packed breakfast pre-workout,
a mid-morning meal, a healthy lunch, a salad, and a protein packed dinner. I followed Terry’s 35 day plan and it is still working for me. He encouraged me to eat and helped me learn what I could eat and how much I could eat. The plan was right on target with my cardiac plan as well… no salt, lots of leafy green vegetables and lean proteins.

In the beginning, I worked out once a day for 30 minutes and later increased it to twice a day, seven days a week. The only time I did not work out is when I was too sick to get out of the bed due to my chronic sinus issues. I have a gym membership, but sometimes all I felt like doing was walking due to my heart issues. Everyday I did some type of cardio, even if it was just playing basketball with my youngest son. My daughter and I get up and go to the gym at about 5 a.m. and then again in the evening.

My starting weight was 246 pounds and my ending weight was 229. I lost 17 pounds in 35 days and so many inches. Before, it took me months to lose the 20 pounds. My height is 5″3″.  I am still a work in progress. My goal is to lose at least 100 pounds without surgery.

The advice that I would have for others is:
-Stay Consistent
-Don’t give up
-If you fall down, get back up
-Nothing happens over night, it takes time
-Celebrate your successes
-Stay disciplined
-Stay off the scale, only weigh once every few weeks

I know I have not lost a huge amount of weight yet, but I am proud of the progress that I have made. I have fluctuated between 22, 20, and 18, but now I can wear a 16. I have not worn a 16 in years. If this is what 35 days can do, I cannot weigh to see what six months or a year looks like.
My goal is to be fit by 40, so I have one year to get this thing together.

Instagram: @kwbrassell