Aundrea lost 106 pounds

Update Nov 2015 – Aundrea has lost 13 more pounds since April for a total of 119 pounds gone. “I was featured back in April and thought that I would send you an update. I have lost another 10 lbs and my current weight is 172 pounds. Also, I am a vegan now. My goal is to change the perception of what it means to be vegan. I want to share the importance of food combining and alkaline eating, particularly for women of color.”

April 2015 – Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Aundrea lost 106 pounds.  Going from a size 28 to a size 8, her weight loss journey has spanned many years and the birth of her two boys.  This proud mom created her own weight loss plan and now she wants to help others.  Here is what she shared with us…

My name is Aundrea I’m 41 years old and I’ve lost a total of 106 lbs…This time! This weight loss journey has been going on for 15 years. My highest weight was 297 lbs at a size 28. I’ve lost at least 300 lbs total in that 15 year time frame.

I returned to school in 2003 to pursue my degrees in marketing, biology and chemistry. I wanted to create a whole food/herbal weight management supplement company, and I did. I had plans on becoming a naturopathic physician, but I became a mother of two boys instead and gained all of my weight back. After the birth of my 2nd son, I suffered a heart attack. I was on heart and blood pressure meds, but my health wasn’t improving and my attempts to lose weight on the physician’s meal plans were not working. One day, I decided I was done taking pharmaceutical drugs and I would return to my holistic means of healing, not just treating.

On April 26, 2013, my 40th birthday, I committed to a new lifestyle, physical and mental. My starting weight was 271 lbs. I became an herbalist and received certifications in holistic nutrition and therapy. I updated my supplement ingredients and began taking them, while following a food combining meal plan. I walked as often as possible and still do. I returned to a sport I once competed in for exercise…roller skating, the of the best cardio and muscle toning workout there is!

Prior to the weight loss my diet consisted of meals high in fat, sodium, calories and was processed. I love to bake as well. Like my grandmother, every Sunday meant a new homemade dessert, that my boys picked at and I devoured. My eating habits now follow the 10 rules of food combining. I eat food in certain combinations for maximum absorption, digestion and elimination. I no longer sit down to a meal of protein, complex carbs and vegetables. I select either the protein or carbohydrate to eat with vegetables, preferably the green, leafy type. I often have a mixed greens salad with scrambled eggs and egg whites for breakfast. Lunch is baked sweet potato and sautéed kale. Dinner is usually a lean protein and more veggies. I eat often, approximately every 2 hours. My snacks consists of fresh fruit, Greek yogurt, nuts and hemp. I’ve adapted all my recipes to support food combining principles. I substitute whole wheat pasta with spaghetti squash when making a turkey ragu, use coconut flour when making pancakes, etc. I shop mainly the perimeter of the grocery store now and frequent the store more often for fresh produce. We dedicate each week to eating a green vegetable, exploring new ways to incorporate them in our diet. This way of eating has changed & saved my life. I’ve never felt deprived. I think I was more restricted when my habits were unhealthy. Even my view on hunger has changed. I consider it a sign the track is low and needs fuel, but I feed my body premium, not that cheap crap.

For Christmas, I wanted to weigh 199 pounds as a present to myself. It happened on New Years Day, even better. What a way to kick off the new year! I shared my journey on Facebook for others and to keep me accountable and to inspire others. I created a Facebook page, 100% Healtharian where I post about all things health and wellness. I have the support of a psychologist and colleague, who also has developed his own detox and contouring wraps. We have been helping people lose weight and regain their health for a year now.

My current weight is 185 pounds and I wear a size 8 (height: 5’6″). Total time to lose 106 pounds was 16 months. I still follow the same food combining meal plan and exercise regularly; swimming, biking, skating, gymnastics, yoga, pilates, weight training, whatever suits my mood. I detox quarterly to help me maintain my weight. I’m so grateful I was able to save my life, no more meds and my babies can put their arms around me. We can play together and I can be here as long as possible for them. Now, I have the honor of helping others feel this amazing too!

The advice I pass onto others is concentrate on you and educate yourself…don’t just do. Ask as many questions as you can and don’t stop loving food, but make sure it loves your body. Just like any relationship, reciprocity is essential. Any recipe can be recreated to offer maximum support. Thank you for reading my story.