From the Beginning

On January 1st, 2014, I began my journey to a better, healtheir life.  This was me......

It's not a pretty picture.  I was unhealthy and out of shape.  I went for my yearly physical and topped the scales at 315 pounds.  My cholesterol was well over 250 with my good cholesterol being low and the bad being extremely high.  At this point in time I was taking multiple blood pressure medicines and constantly had headaches.  I knew I needed to change.  I made the decision that before my 30th birthday, January 31st, 2015, I would be under 200 pounds and would be in excellent health.  This would be the first time since elementary school that I would be under 200 lbs.  I found my workout "soulmate" in my best friend Chasidee.  She is a trooper and is game for anything. We started off at the gym and quickly built up a little endurance.  After the first month (and a very rude and hateful gym staff) we decided that we would start something new.  I ordered Turbo Fire with trainer Chalene Johnson and immediately fell in love!! She is such an upbeat encouraging personality! You can't help but work out harder with her!  We saw amazing results with this program.  I lost 30 lbs during the first 6 weeks of this program and a TON of inches.  Then I looked more like this......

I started in a size 24 pants and 2x-3x shirt.  After turbo fire I was wearing 20's and an XL shirt.

After two months of turbo fire we decided to switch it up.  I ordered T25 and fell in love with Shaun T.  There is no one that can push you to your limits like Shaun!  You want to hug him and punch him in the face at the same time. In March the insurance people came to the school for our physicals.  In 2 months of eating right, exercising, and drinking shakology my cholesterol was 120!! WHAT?!?!? It came down over 100 points.  Both my HDL and my LDL were excellent!!!  During the first phase of T25 (alpha) I lost 18 inches and another pant size!! So then I was in an 18 pants. Then I looked like this....

  During Beta Phase I had some issues with m weight loss.  I stalled for a couple of weeks.  I shocked my system and then started eating MORE calories made up of mostly plant proteins and very little meat. When we finished T25, I had lost a total of 65 lbs and TONS of inches.  At this point, I am wearing a LARGE shirt and can fit in to some 16 pants and all 18 pants! I HAVE NOT BEEN IN THIS SIZE SINCE MIDDLE SCHOOL!!!!!!!

We have strated insanity now and it is KICKING MY BUTT!!!!!  I have a goal to reach.  By the time we go to Disney World at Christmas, I want to have lost another 50-60 lbs.  This will put me under 200.  My goal is 180, but I am gauging based on what my body looks and feels like.  I haven't been under what I am right now since middle school so I am not sure what is going to be a good maintenance weight.  Anyway, here are a few more pictures documenting my progress.  I am very proud of what I have accomplished so far!  After insanity my next conquest is Piyo, Chalene's new hyped up palates/yoga/cardio program! Shakology has also been a HUGE deal in my journey! If you have never heard about shakology it is a must in any healthy diet! It is literally a miracle super food in my opinion!  Check out all these programs and shakology at www.beachbodycoach.com/lyndiking29

I will post recipes, pictures, and journey updates Regularly!!!