Cheznycah lost over 60 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Cheznycah lost over 60 pounds. When her doctor told her that she wouldn’t walk unassisted due to severe back problems, she cried but she was not defeated. With her children as her inspiration she started taking action to start releasing the weight while still in rehab after back surgery. Her story is a shining example of that there is hope for us all.

In 2013, I started walking in an attempt to lose some of my weight prior to a back surgery. Later, when the neurosurgeon told me that I probably wouldn’t walk again unassisted, I cried. A month later, I remembered that the God I serve is bigger than all my problems. I was 37 years old at the time, recovering from back surgery #4. I wasn’t ready to accept that fate. My children needed me and I was too young to be ok with that future. Anytime I wanted to quit, I had to remember… my kids, my kids.

Since I was in a controlled rehabilitation environment, the only thing I could control was my eating.  I detoxed from every single medication the doctors had me on… 6 of them. Most of the meds had a weight gain side effect.  (PS: PLEASE DO NOT STOP YOUR MEDICATIONS WITHOUT CONSULTING YOUR PHYSICIAN FIRST)

January 2014, I began extreme clean eating and rapidly began to lose weight.  By month #4, I had taken my first unassisted steps and I never looked back!  During month 6, I was discharged from supervised rehab. I continued to eat clean and kept up with my physical therapy routine. By the end of the year, I had lost 40 pounds. I began doing very low impact cardio and continued clean eating. I added Advocare products to my weight loss regimen as well.  By the end of year 2, I had lost 80 pounds.

My starting weight was 225 pounds.  My goal weight was my medically ideal body weight, which for my height of 5’4″ is 110-144 pounds… depending on what charts you use.  So, 145 pounds was my target weight. By 2015, I reached 145 pounds, but I was weak and I didn’t like the way I looked… just too thin for me. I had to ditch the ideal body weight theory and figure out what would work for me. By the end of 2015, I decided to put some weight back on, but I had to find the healthy way to do it.  I started a Ketogenic lifestyle, high protein, low carb. Very high protein, actually!  My workouts consisted of low impact cardio 3-4 times a week, small free weights for toning (2-10lbs) 3 times per week.  (I’m still doing this routine.) My spinal column damage severely limits the types of exercises I can do.

I am now holding between 157-160 pounds. 160 lbs. is my target, my  happy place.  It has taken 4 years to get here, but it is not over. I must maintain. There will be days when you want to quit. There will be days when you feel discouraged. You may even convince yourself that you don’t see changes. Whatever your motivation was/is to become a healthier you, keep that at the forefront. It’s not a quick fix, but it is definitely worth it when you attain your goals.  Keep pushing forward!