Kashina lost 105 pounds

Update Feb 2019: I wanted to give an update on my progress. It’s been nearly three more years and I am still holding things down. I’ve competed in several CrossFit competitions, and CrossFit has become a huge part of my life. I am now a full-time personal trainer and fitness instructor. I love that I get make a living inspiring and coaching others on their personal journeys. Consistency is key. Constant goal setting keeps me pushing forward day after day. My advice to other people is to keep setting goals. When one is achieved, set another. Never settle. There’s always room for growth. @train_with_k_fitness

Transformation of the Day: Kashina lost 105 pounds. This proud mom realized that she was overweight, unhappy, depressed and tired of yo-yo dieting. She took action and in one year she transformed her body, her mindset and her lifestyle. Check out what she shared with us about how she did it.

My name is Kashina H. and I spent 10 years of my life leading an inactive and unhealthy lifestyle. I went from weighing 135 pounds to weighing 226 pounds over a span of 10 years. I had no energy, I was very unhappy and I was depressed. Like many others, I found comfort in food, only worsening the situation. I had tried various weight loss programs over the years, often giving up after a few days or a couple of weeks because I wasn’t seeing the immediate results I wanted and, truth be told, wasn’t really committed to the change. I saw this as failure and went back to comforting myself with food.

Then in March 2015, I made a decision that I was done feeling like that. I was done feeling tired, being unhappy, being depressed, and not liking what I saw in the mirror. So, I went to my first Zumba class and started a weight management program known as Advocate (supplements). Even when the results were slow, I didn’t quit. Even when I had “bad food” days, I didn’t quit. Even when I wanted to quit, I didn’t quit. Eventually, I noticed that I started feeling better and I had more energy. I was being more active and productive with my days, and my clothes were getting too big. I also had more energy to do things with my 2 daughters. More importantly, I was gaining confidence back within myself that I hadn’t had in over a decade!

In one year, I went from laying on the couch all day to working out 2-3 times a day, 6 days a week. In one year, I went from fast food and processed junk food to clean eating and organic foods. In one year, I took control of my life and lost 105 lbs and 55 inches (I went from 226 pounds to 121 pounds at 5’5″ tall). In one year, I changed my entire life!

I fell in love with Zumba and was taking it 5 days a week. I discovered I loved running as well. Most recently, I’ve gotten hooked on CrossFit. I’ve become a Licensed Zumba instructor and I am now bringing fitness to others.

I changed what I was eating by educating myself on diet and nutrition and paying attention to food labels. Then, I started tracking my calories and macros, as well as watching my sugar intake each day. I stopped eating things like bad carbs and processed food. Instead, I focused on clean eating, lean proteins, complex carbs, and organic whole foods. I stopped drinking soda and started drinking water, which was probably one of my biggest struggles.

The advice I have for others wanting to lose weight: The most important thing they have to remember is that this is a lifestyle change, not a “diet”. Yes, your diet is changing but that change has to be a consistent part of your lifestyle, not just something you do to meet you weight goals. This is also how you will maintain that weight loss long term. I have a phrase I tell everyone and that is, “Believe you can and you will.” Believe in yourself and your ability to meet your goals and you will!

Updated Instagram: @train_with_k_fitness

Update: Kashina has lost 12 more pounds for a total of 117 pounds gone. She is preparing for a figure competition in October 2016.

Good Morning! I just wanted to share an update on my progress since March. I am still going strong and am down an additional 12 lbs. I am currently preparing for a Figure Competition in October of this year. Maintenance is definitely the biggest challenge, but I am staying focused and keeping myself focused on where I want to be, not where I used to be.