Andrea lost 105 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Andrea lost 105 pounds. She was determined to love what she saw in the mirror every day and beat depression and stress. So she joined an online fitness and nutrition challenge that gave her the structure and guidance she needed. This proud mom’s three sons helped her stay on track with her goals.

What was your motivation? What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I was invited to speak on a panel for my business, and flyers were made with the photo I submitted. The picture on that flyer was horrible and went out to thousands of people!  I was very unhappy with what I saw when I looked in the mirror each day, and that situation exaggerated how I was feeling. 

I’d recently gone for a refill on my depression meds, and my son asked me, “Mom, do those really help?” I remember my eyes tearing up and realizing that my son was witnessing the stress I was going through. After that, I knew I had to change something. My three boys helped keep me stay on track. 

How did you change your eating habits?
I signed up for the Heat Challenge. The program was not overly drastic, so it was easy to stick to. I got rid of all sugar, but for the most part, I still ate the same meats, same veggies, and same carbs I’d always eaten. Cutting out the 10 PM oatmeal pies and fast food was pretty tough, but that was a significant change that really helped. 

Doing the program helped me learn how to make healthier choices, which translated to how I feed my family in general. So not only did I drop weight, but my children, who were also morbidly obese, started dropping weight as well.

 

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Andrea Kirven (@dreaheatfit2020)

What did your workout routine consist of? How often did you work out?
I work out five days a week. I learned to love cardio which I hated in the beginning because I was so heavy. For most of my journey, I did step aerobics for cardio in a fasted state every morning. Then I ate my first meal and immediately went to the gym for strength training. I found that when I did my workouts back to back, I did not have to put myself back into workout mode later on in the day, and I was more successful.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
I started at 268 pounds, and now I weigh 163 pounds. Truthfully, I’ve lost an overall total of 153 total pounds on the program. After the sudden death of someone I loved dearly, and after suffering a broken ankle, I put some weight back on. Knowing what to do to fix it and having constant accountability from Coach DP, I quickly took the weight I gained right back off. 

What is your height?
I’m 5’10″.

When did you start your journey?
June 2020 

How long did your transformation take?
I have been following the program for 17 months now. However, my biggest change happened in my first three months with the program.

Is weight loss surgery part of your journey?
No weight loss surgery at all. I simply did the Heat Challenge and got the results I have.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
I control what happens with my body and with my mental state on a daily basis. I no longer take depression medication. If I slip into a state where I’m eating badly and put on a couple of pounds, I know how to fix it immediately. I just feel better when I eat right and exercise right.

What advice do you have for women who want to lose weight?
Just do it. Losing weight is a simple decision. Pick a program and stick to it. 

I think the biggest mistake people make when they are starting on a journey is they are only committed for a couple of weeks. Then, when they don’t see drastic results, they fall off. They don’t realize that many of us have to stay consistent and be disciplined to look the way we do. You did not put the weight on in six weeks, so stop looking for six weeks to fix it.

I have documented my journey on my Instagram @dreaheatfit2020 and my TikTok @drek1978.