Success Story Saturday Feature # 3
Name:
Kelsey Byers
Age:
31
Location:
Houston, Tx
Before
Weight: 176
After
Weight: 132
Did
you have weight loss surgery? No
Do
you have any children? No
Any
Social Media Sites that you would like attached to your feature:
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kelseybyersfit
Website:
www.kelseybyersfitness.com
Kelsey's Weight Loss Story
Were
you overweight as a child?
I
was never overweight as a child. Even as a teen, I was very active
in sports and was a string bean. It wasn’t until I graduated high
school that my habits changed and I started gaining weight.
What
caused your weight gain?
I
gained fifty pounds my first two years in college. I started eating
fast food, drinking alcohol and quit working out. With the decreased
activity level and bad habits, the weight snuck up on me. In a
matter of two years, I went from a size four jeans to a size
fourteen. I knew I needed to make a lifestyle change.
What
were some of the biggest struggles that you faced while overweight?
The
hardest part about losing the weight was finding ways to stay
motivated and actually changing the way I viewed food. I used to
view it as entertainment, but I started losing weight once I focused
on nutrition and looked at food as fuel. I avoided eating fast food
and drinking alcohol. The weight slowly came off. It took me
several years to lose my weight because I did not understand the
value of a clean meal plan. Once I got to a size eight jeans, I felt
happy and healthy. At that point I realized that I was ready to take
fitness to the next level. I started lifting weights and hired a
nutritionist. That’s when my body really started to reshape
itself.
Was
your self esteem and relationships with others affected due to being
overweight?
My
weight gain definitely affected my self esteem. My self confidence
was low and it made me feel insecure about dating. I had several
relationships that centered around the drama-and-partying lifestyle.
I was not happy. I wanted someone who wanted me for me, not just
because I fit into their lifestyle. I needed to figure out how to
love myself before I could expect someone else to love me.
Did
you avoid going out or being in pictures with others?
I
loved going out with friends. My thin friends got plenty of
attention from guys and I always wondered what I was missing. I
always had a camera with me so I was always in pictures. I am
thankful for those pictures now because little did I know, they would
be my “before” pictures that would motivate so many people.
What
was your breaking point. The moment where you said ENOUGH! And you
decided
to regain control of your life?
I
was fed up with the woman I saw in the mirror. I was always
shopping, searching for that perfect outfit to make me feel good. I
finally realized that when you feel great in your own skin, you can
wear anything with confidence.
How
did you begin? For example: Did you hire a personal trainer, maybe
join a
weight
loss center, buy self help books, use the internet for information?
I
met my now-husband, Kent, and he encouraged me to start lifting
weights. He explained that it would tone me and add shape, not make
me bulky. He was right! We started cooking in my apartment versus
going out to eat for dates. I remember cutting out alcohol for one
month and losing close to eight pounds! That was a big sign for me
to cut back on the drinks.
What
tools did you use to help you during your journey? For example: Did
you
use
any fitness trackers, phone apps, food log, diary, vision boards?
I
started tracking my workouts and meals in a planner. I looked to
fitness magazines for motivation, recipes and workouts. I started a
vision board of my favorite athletes and placed it in my office so I
would see it every day. What really kept me focused was taking
progress pictures. It allowed me to watch my body changing and that
kept me challenging myself in the gym.
Lets
talk about your Diet Plan. Did you count calories, follow a specific
diet, hire a nutritionist?
I
hired my nutritionist, Kim Porterfield, in March 2010. She showed me
how to meet my goal of becoming a fitness model. Within just four
months of consistent clean eating, my body had completely reshaped
itself. I eat every 3 hours, 5-7 meals a day. Each meal consists of
a lean protein, complex carb and veggie. I also eat healthy fats in
moderation. It really is a lifestyle change, not a diet.
Did
you take any diet pills, supplements, energy drinks, protein shakes,
meal replacement shakes?
I
don’t believe in diet pills. I believe in something you can do for
life. Clean eating is the only thing that has worked for me. My
definition of clean eating is choosing non-processed meals every 3
hours, 5-7 meals a day.
I
use Labrada Nutrition Lean Body for Her shakes as meal replacements
when I am on the go. They taste great and make it impossible for me
to miss a meal. I take a multi-vitamin and fish oil.
Stay
tuned for my next 12 week challenge on the Labrada Nutrition website:
http://www.labrada.com/kelsey-challenge
Were
there any supplements listed above that you feel were a waste of
money?
I
would focus on your meal plan before you spend money on supplements.
You can’t out train a bad diet, so focus on your meal plan.
Supplements only “supplement” a clean nutrition program. It
would be wise to keep a great meal replacement shake on hand in case
you get busy with work, traveling, etc.
Anything
you highly recommend people try?
I
just wrote my first book, which I am proud of. I share my journey,
motivation, meal plan and exercise plan. It has already helped
thousands of people. I am just blessed to be able to share my story
with the world.
My
book link:
Please
tell us about your exercise part of your journey.
What
was your plan of action?
I
aim at staying active four to five days a week. I sit behind a desk
at my full time job, so it’s important for me to be active as often
as possible. Nutrition determines 80% of what you look like, so as
long as I keep my meal plan clean, I feel great. I lift weights 4-5
days a week and do cardio three days for about 30-40 minutes on the
elliptical.
Did
you join a gym, hire a personal trainer, or workout at home?
I
have a gym membership, but also workout at home with resistance bands
and dumbbells. I add workout videos to my YouTube channel to help
guide women in the gym.
What
kind of workouts did you do? Did you get ideas online, use fitness
dvds?
I
typically lift weights and use resistance training. Bodybuilding.com
is a great resource for workout videos.
Please
list the struggles that you faced when you first started exercising.
It’s
frustrating at first because it’s natural to want results after one
or two workouts. That is just not realistic. Just know that it
takes several months of consistent clean eating and working out to
see results. You may start feeling better immediately after you
workout, so that’s a quick benefit. Working out just makes me feel
productive and happy. It keeps my attitude positive.
What
helped you push through & refuse to give up?
Taking
progress pictures and measurements really pushed me to keep going.
Watching my body change through photos was a strong factor in staying
motivated.
How
long did it take you to start seeing visual changes?
It
took three to four months of consistent clean eating and training to
see big results.
How
long did it take you to reach your goal weight?
It
took me several years to lose my fifty pounds through trial and error
with eating healthier. It only took three to four months to see a
big change once I hired my nutritionist. I could have lost my weight
years earlier had I only known the value of a clean meal plan.
How
long have you maintained your weight loss and how do you do it?
I
have kept the weight off for almost four years. I just stay active
and stick to my meal plan year round.
How
has your life changed now that you've lost the weight?
I
have been blessed with an amazing platform to reach out to many
people with my story. I am a Labrada Nutrition spokesmodel for Lean
Body for Her. I have also appeared in over ten fitness magazines,
including the cover of Oxygen Magazine. I just keep setting big
goals and going after them.
Has
your confidence improved?
My
confidence has improved and I learned to love my body. I am proud of
my results and the confidence comes from the fact of knowing that I
have the control to achieve any goal with fitness.
Do
you have any loose skin from the weight loss?
I
do not have loose skin. I lost my weight over several years, so it
wasn’t an overnight type of transformation. I was also in my early
twenties during my transformation and I think it makes a difference
in the elasticity of skin.
If
you do, how does this make you feel? N/A
Do
you have any tips or words of advice for anyone who might be afraid
of this issue?
My
advice would be to focus on your nutrition first. I have seen people
lose weight focusing on nutrition alone. I think the biggest
misconception is that you have to spend hours in the gym to get great
results. Just do something active 45-60 minutes, three to five days
a week, eat clean and you will see great results.
Do
you have any weight loss tips that you would like to share with
everyone?
See
above.
Please
list an example of what your typical meal plan looks like for the
day. Don't
forget
to include the serving size & your beverages.
You
can check out my book for my meal plan and recommended serving size.
I eat every 3 hours, 5-7 meals a day.
Please
list your workout routine for the week. .
Monday-
Shoulders and abs, 40 min of cardio
Tuesday-
Glutes and legs
Wednesday-
Rest
Thursday-
Chest and triceps, 30 min of cardio
Friday-
Back and biceps, 30 min of cardio
Saturday-
(Optional) Work weakest body part- glutes for me
Sunday-
rest
Thank
you for your reading ! Just remember, eat clean and follow your
dreams!
Kelsey
Byers
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