Showing some love to our Latina Sisters! Cici weighed 218 pounds and she’s now 150 pounds (height: 5’2″). Despite negative comments from loved ones and years of fad diets, she found a great trainer to work with and has changed her lifestyle.
“UNFORTUNATELY BEING OBESE IS VERY COMMON IN MY FAMILY BUT I WAS DETERMINED TO BREAK THAT STANDARD”
I was overweight for about 5+ years. It started to pack on right after my daughter was born. I had ballooned up to a size 16. My knees started hurting and I ultimately reached a point where I was hating myself when I looked in the mirror.
Unfortunately being obese is very common in my family but I was determined to break that standard. I think that because of that I got very little support from my family and I got a lot of negativity from friends and co-workers. They would say I looked sick and for me not to lose any more weight. Those are the people that you don’t want around when you are on this journey. They are just jealous and prefer your stay overweight like them.
I started on my journey about 7 years ago. I tried EVERYTHING: diet pills, Zumba, boot camps, juicing, Herbalife, trainers and who knows what else. All of this brought 2-5lb success and then it would come back or I just simply wouldn’t lose anymore. Then, I started working with a trainer for a year. In 6 years time, I lost 28 lbs, while in less than 6 months working with Kurt of Body Refined, I lost 40lbs.
Kurt taught me so much about how MY body works and he took the time to explain why all those other avenues were not working. I will not lie and tell you it was easy. It was not difficult but it was a challenge. A challenge for me to let go of the age old thinking that exercise causes weight loss and accept the basic changes I needed to make in my life in order for the weight to naturally come off. We even created a schedule that encompassed darn near everything I do in a day and that helped SOOOO MUCH.
I feel amazing but I have to be honest, I am not satisfied. I still want to reduce my body fat and with my trainer’s help, we’re going to continue do that while holding onto and building up my lean mass. Which I was never able to do before. It was always an overall weight loss which was putting me on a track to look skinny. Kurt made sure I didn’t head down that road.
During this whole process I learned what foods work for me. When to eat, when not to eat. How much to eat. I learned how cardio exercises can negatively impact your body if it’s not done properly. How to do strength training properly because all these years, including with trainers, I was doing it ALL wrong.
The advice I would give anyone that is referred to Body Refined is that you have to come into this with a clear mind and a willingness to truly change your lifestyle. Like I said before, it’s not easy. It’s a challenge but if you follow his direction (I mean everything) you will see results, then the light bulb will turn on and naturally you will be motivated to keep going. You will fall in love with the journey and will want more and more (at least I did). If not, you will hate the whole process. Just being honest.
Oh yeah, patience and trust in the process is VERY IMPORTANT. Otherwise, you will drive yourself crazy. I got so frustrated and upset in the beginning that I wanted to quit and I actually did. Then I realized that it was working because not a damn thing happened after I quit. All because I wanted it off right away.
My experience working with Kurt has been great. In the beginning it didn’t feel that way but looking back, if he didn’t do the things he did, I wouldn’t have reached this pinnacle. I cannot thank him more than what I have. I’m very pleased and thankful for Kurt and for all that he has showed me.
Instagram: @icic_zeuq
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Instagram: @bodyrefinedinc
Lynda says
Way to go! Many in my family are overweight as well and every time I would lose anything I would hear that same line about getting to skinny. Lord knows being too skinny was never going to be a problem for me. 🙂
Your story is very inspiring. I am sure you will reach the rest of your goals.
T says
Sometimes people, even family, want to keep you down, but you worked on you for you. You look great! Congrats!