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Lis has completed 6 months with HVA!  Please continue reading for her direct feedback on her fitness transformatiion!  "The program has helped bring out the best in me which includes a better attitude and overall love for myself as well as losing weight and becoming a healthier person. Being newer to the Kingston area, I was struggling to find people I could relate to but the HVA team has really become my family. 

 

My nutrition and eating habits have changed drastically and will continue to develop. I have become more aware of what I was eating and wasn’t eating. Junk food is so much easier to eat than a fully balanced meal! Also, being a vegetarian, I wasn’t getting the proper amount of protein daily which was causing severe exhaustion but now I am able to make a conscious effort to get in my healthy vegetarian friendly proteins daily and I feel good! 

 

My commitment to health and fitness has really become long term instead of short term with no end game. Given the fact that I am a personal trainer and gymnastics coach, most would think I should be able to keep myself in shape. However, holding myself accountable is the hardest thing I have ever had to do. HVA has really sparked a fire inside me that went out a long time ago. Working out a few days a week with my HVA fam has motivated me to stay healthy on our off days and even do little things daily like parking further away in a parking lot so I have to walk farther or opting for grilled instead of fried. It makes a difference!! 

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Three months prior to HVA, I had given birth to my third child. Postpartum life is tough as it is but especially because I was suffering from preeclampsia and as a result was put on blood pressure medication at the age of 35! I was sitting at a solid 234 lbs (my heaviest weight ever!) This was a huge wake up call for me. I felt like a fragile old woman that was giving up on the life. One afternoon I was browsing through Facebook when I noticed one of my girlfriends had decided to join HVA. Before my anxiety got to me, I signed up! This was the best decision for my health that I had made in several years. I’m happy to report that I am no longer on blood pressure medication and I am no longer in the 200’s!! I have dropped two shirt sizes and one size down in jeans since I started my first camp in April. This includes losing 3 points of visceral fat (active fat around my organs). I really hope to inspire other moms to not give up after giving birth. You can be hot even after kids!!! It’s all about your mindset and winning over that negative Nancy in your head that doesn’t want to get out of bed in the morning. 

 

As I had mentioned before, I started off at 234 lbs which is a lot for someone that is roughly 5 ft 3. I also suffer from Body Dysmorphic Disorder which is not something many people talk about but is very real. Constant thoughts about hating my post baby belly or my chubby cheeks could ruin my day if I don’t think my outfit is hiding my fat or I haven’t contoured my face the right way to make my cheeks look thinner. As a mom, I don’t want to pass this down to my children, especially my daughter. I strive to set a confident and healthy example as a mother and woman in this community. 

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In conclusion, I have lost a significant amount of weight but my goal is to lose 40 more pounds and learn how to properly maintain my health and weight after the fact. I started off with HVA with a goal of completing 3 boot camps but I’m on month 6 and I have determined to continue on indefinitely as there is no end to this transformation even after I hit my goal weight. If you even have the thought that you may want to try this out, don’t think just do it! It’s the best decision you will ever make!! I promise!!"

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