Ingra lost more than 40 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Ingra lost more than 40 pounds and gained lean muscle. She didn’t let an abusive marriage, autoimmune disorders, scoliosis, asthma, PCOS, pre-diabetes or adrenal fatigue stop her. At 48 years old, she committed to her new healthy lifestyle. Check out her transformation story.

After ending a mentally and verbally abusive marriage, I let myself go! I came into the marriage the healthiest I had been in my life and came out the unhealthiest in my life. The stress of my marriage and years of bad eating had taken a toll on my body. I was diagnosed with TWO autoimmune disorders; Sjogren’s Syndrome and Spondylitis. I was living with chronic pain, fatigue and inflammation. I also suffered with Asthma, PCOS, Adrenal Fatigue. I was diagnosed as OBESE and pre-diabetic.

I should have just succumb to my health problems, but instead I got up and got moving. I knew that I was destined for more. I started researching how to help heal my body through food and left all of my medications behind. I started working out and miraculous things started to happen. I was CHANGING!

I have dedicated my Instagram page to sharing my personal journey, workouts, foods and the natural supplementations that have allowed me to turn my life around. Just a couple of weeks ago (06/6/18), I was elated to get news from my doctor that I am no longer pre-diabetic. I am getting stronger each day and realizing that I am a FIGHTER.

How did you change your eating habits?
I have decided to eat clean, whole foods and cut back on processed foods.  I don’t drink sugary drinks or alcohol. I drink water instead. When it comes to food, I advise people to do what works for them. I have to eat a certain amount of carbs due to the fact that I like to lift weights, and I like to lift heavy. I have brown rice, sweet potatoes, or quinoa around my working out time and meat and veggies later in the day.

What did your workout routine look like?
I workout 5-6 days per week. I like to lift weights and will mix in some cardio. I like to have variety, so I train at two gyms. I lift 5 days a week and try to get in a 30 minute cardio session 5-6 days a week. I also use P90X2 at home if I can’t get to the gym for some reason. If I am sick or if my body is telling me that I am tired… I take a day or two off. I have to listen to my body because of my autoimmune disorder.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
I am not directly sure of either. I don’t focus on weight because that can be SO misleading and derail people. I am focused on building muscle and getting strong. Muscle weighs more than fat, so I as I gain muscle would feel like oh… I am not dropping weight. That might lead me to feel like I need to do something drastic, like not eat for a few days. (I really think that this should be an optional question because weight does not determine health.)  I would say that when I started my journey, I weighed almost 230 pounds (as of my last trip to the doctor). I may have lost about 40 lbs so far, but I have lost more fat and I’ve gained muscle. I am truly transforming my body. I want to have an athletic build, with lower fat, higher muscle. I am 5’7″.

When did you start your journey?
I got serious at the beginning of 2018 when my best friend was murdered. This made me take a long look at what life was really about and whether I was living my best life. I have an autoimmune disorder and I am 48 years old. I have scoliosis and asthma. I was considered obese by my doctor and told I was becoming diabetic. At one point, I had given up on me because my Rheumatologist told my spouse, people like me DON’T LIVE LONG! I knew I had to change. I had to make a decision about how I wanted to live my life. Everyday is extremely difficult but getting better. Since I have gotten stronger, my mind and body have followed. I am STILL transforming and there will never be an end date. (I made that mistake before…) I am determined to train, to develop myself and see where I can go.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned so far?
Health is not about a date circled on the calendar or an upcoming event. It is a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. I am finally getting that! I would lose and gain, lose and gain… because I did not CHANGE. I just made temporary adjustments. Now, I love what I eat and I don’t feel deprived. I focus on what the food and exercise is doing for me and it makes me more willing to do the work!

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight?
Focus on health and the weight loss will follow. LEARN everything you can about health, your body and what caused you to gain that weight in the first place. If you don’t learn from your past mistakes, you will continue to make them in the future.

While I am NO WHERE NEAR where I want to go, but I also acknowledging the fact that I am NOT where I used to be. Let’s encourage each other as we live our best lives. I invite you to follow my Instagram, @mypearlife, and come on the journey with me!