Wezi is 41, 5’1”, and she has dropped nearly 50lbs and a combined 55 inches! This is the story of her Lifestyle Transformation.
IN THE BEGINNING
I was a skinny child until around age 9 when I became quite overweight but then lost the weight by age 11. I managed to stay within a normal weight until my late twenties when the yo-yo weight gain started and stayed with me until recently.
I think I got my biggest weight at age 30/31. I don’t think I weighed myself but based on my cloth size then (size 18) I think I must have been close to 200 lbs.
I was around 188 lbs. when I started working with Body Refined.
THE TURNING POINT
I had been trying on and off to be healthy for a long time. In mid-2016 I developed a varicose vein in my right leg, which I realized was due to me being too heavy for my own body. That made me want to do something to lose weight and get healthier.
WHY BODY REFINED
After reading some stories on Facebook of people who had worked with Kurt, I decided to get in touch with him. I had by that time reached a desperate point, where I had been trying all sorts of ways to lose weight for close to 8 years but not losing more than 10 lbs. at most and then gaining it all back and some more.
I had never been through the kind of program that Kurt has. It is truly a program personalized to me, and my life situation- the meal plans, the exercise program etc. Kurt is a very dedicated, and knowledgeable professional. He truly cares about his clients, and his focus is on helping you adopt habits that will improve your overall health and not just about dropping the weight or getting fast unrealistic results using harmful methods.
His support and sometimes tough love (for which I hated him sometimes) over the last year and a half has really been instrumental in my healthy transformation. Working with him has been the only thing that I have tried that has helped me to lose weight and get healthy, and I am truly grateful.
I recommend Body Refined without reservation to anyone who wants to change their lives and get healthy.
THE CHANGES
I started working with Kurt at Body Refined in late 2016 and started changing my daily habits. I learned, for instance, the power sleep has on my health, and now try to get at least 7.5 hours every night, aiming for the same bed and wake up time. I also changed how and what I eat- drinking at least 3 liters of water daily, I eat 5-6 small nutritious meals every 3 hours and significantly cutting down the amount of alcohol I take.
Initially, I cut out red meat and only ate turkey, chicken, and fish and a lot of vegetables, and healthy carbs. Since several months ago, I have largely reduced any meat intake, and have healthy carbs, plant-based protein, fruits, and vegetables. I also try to consistently do some kind of physical activity at least 5 days a week, even if it’s just a 30-minute walk.
One of the most significant changes I made was getting to bed by 10 pm every day and getting up by 5.30 or 6, which works for my work schedule. After some initial resistance, I came to see that even if I exercised hard, and ate right, if I didn’t get enough sleep I either gained weight or didn’t lose at all. I also tried to use meditation/relaxation to help manage stress and improve my sleep.
THE STRUGGLES
Yes, I struggled and still do at times, even though many of the lifestyle habits I have adopted have almost become second nature. One of the biggest struggles was changing my mindset in how I approached being healthy/losing weight. I thought I could still do things like have wine, sleep on time for a few days a week, and get 4 hours a night the other days, and if I got my workout in and ate healthily most of the time the weight would drop.
I learnt the hard way, that the body doesn’t work that way- I must do all the healthy things, all the time to see results. Once this clicked in my mind and I made the effort, I was shocked to see my body change.
Getting people around me to understand that I no longer eat or drink certain things or saying no to social events that will keep me up late is another aspect that has been challenging, but I have learned to say no to certain things and do what’s best for me.
Keeping my motivation going and not reverting to old habits has been a recent challenge, that I am working on. Looking back and seeing how far I have come and realizing that I never want to go back to where I was, is helping to renew my resolve to stick with my healthy lifestyle and finally getting to my goal.
HOW I FEEL NOW
I am now at 147 lbs., and I literally feel light on my feet. I did not realize back then how much weight I was carrying around physically, and how it was harming me. My emotional and mental health has also changed quite a lot, I feel less stressed, and I manage my stress differently than in the past.
In a way, I have gotten rid of a lot of physical and mental baggage over the past year and a half.
ADVICE
Change your mindset and make a commitment to yourself and well-being and be ready to change your daily habits. And more importantly not to get frustrated and give up when things don’t seem to be going the way you expect….and call Body Refined for sure.
