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Clare Smith

Training Body & Soul

{Shed & Share Wednesdays} Cindy D.

January 22, 2013

It’s been a while since I’ve had a new Shed & Share on here! I’ve got a few stories in my emails, but I just haven’t had time to get them out. It’s time for a new one!! I figure we could all use a mid January inspiration, so meet Cindy D!

{The Basics}

Age: 38

Profession: Wife for 11+ years, Mama to four sweet blessings; Stay-at-home and homeschool mom

How long have you been on this weight loss journey?  My weight has fluctuated up and down for most of my adult life; my turning point in this journey took place in August/September 2011

Weight Loss/Inches: 32 lbs lost so far; I didn’t start taking my measurements until after I had lost some weight, so those numbers will not be accurate; I have gone down about 3 dress sizes since January 2012

{Your Story}

What was your “low point”?

We adopted our youngest son from Taiwan in June 2011. It seems with both of our adoptions, I gained almost as much weight as when I was pregnant with my two biological children. Looking at photos from last summer and seeing my reflection in the mirror, it was just depressing. And when I stepped on the scale in August 2011, I realized I was at my highest non-pregnancy weight.

Here’s Cindy’s “turning point” photo. She thought the pink top looked nice on her until she saw this picture.

 

How did you get started?

In January 2012, I set a New Year’s resolution to get to the gym and workout 3 times a week. In years past, I had set a weight loss goal and usually gave up by the second week of January. This time, I just needed to get to the gym regularly. I stuck with that for a month (actually getting to the gym closer to 4-5 times a week). Then I got a heart rate monitor in February (I asked my husband to buy me one, instead of flowers, for Valentine’s Day) and started seeing my actual calories burned. Each month I set a new fitness goal. In April, I took a beginner TRX class. I had dropped about 20 lbs total at this point, and a friend/personal trainer suggested adding in strength training twice a week. What a difference! TRX is amazing. I get both a cardio and strength workout and my muscles are looking much more toned. I have finally lost all of my excess pregnancy (and adoption) weight. I am still a “work in progress”. My big goal was to lose 38 lbs before my 38th birthday in August 2012. I have almost reached that goal…but I am continuing to work towards it and have reached a point where the number on the scale is not as important as how I feel.

Cindy, before and after!

What is your workout routine and eating plan?

I take 2-3 cycling classes a week, plus two TRX classes. (TRX is my favorite class and has really helped me deal with chronic back pain.) I track my calories with My Fitness Pal, and I add or change my fitness goals about once a month. I still eat a pretty normal diet – no foods are off limits, but I track my calories and try to make the most of the calorie allowance given to me on My Fitness Pal. One of my New Year’s Resolution for 2013 is to focus on cleaner eating and better nutrition. I was successful with my 2012 New Year’s fitness resolution and want to keep my health and fitness on the right path. I am currently participating in a 3-week Nutrition Challenge hosted by Lindsey Fisher at Fit Envy NC Training and Fitness – http://fitenvync.wordpress.com/2012/12/29/january-2013-nutrition-challenge/

{Help us!}

What are your top 3 favorite resources that helped you along the way?

1.) My Fitness Pal – http://www.myfitnesspal.com/ – This has been great for tracking my calories and watching what I eat.

2.) Blog – 100 Days of Real Food http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/ – In addition to trying to eat less and watch my calories, I am trying to feed my family healthier foods, too. There is so much good information about food and nutrition on this website.

3.) Blog/Facebook page of Fit Envy NC Training and Fitness http://fitenvync.wordpress.com/ – I’m participating in the January Nutrition Challenge through this blog/Facebook page. Good motivation and helping me stay on track.

Cindy and her daughter, before and after!

What one piece of advice would you give to someone who is sitting on the sidelines and waiting?

I stopped focusing on the number on the scale and setting a specific weight loss goal. Instead I committed to get the gym three times a week. The pounds came off when I was successful with that goal. And it was easy to measure and get back on track if I missed the goal one week. This year, my focus is eating cleaner and better. To help me get started, I signed up to participate in a 3-week Nutrition Challenge. I have found when I participate with others (whether in a class at the gym or in this nutrition challenge) I am more likely to stay focused and motivated than when I try to go it alone.

What one piece of advice would you give to someone who is in the process but is feeling discouraged?

Try a new class or set a new fitness goal. The class setting has really been motivational for me to work harder and become stronger. I look forward to working out now because I have found exercises that I enjoy, and made new friends in the classes at the gym.

If you are a parent, how have you balanced everything?

I am blessed that my kids love going to the gym and there are great childcare classes/staff for them. My elementary-age kids are able to participate in kids’ fitness classes 1-2 times a week and are developing a love for exercise. The gym is part of our daily routine, and my kids do well when we stick to our routine. If they start getting bored with the gym or someone is sick, I change up our schedule for a day or two and go by myself in the early morning or at night. I thought I would be taking away from my kids if I focused on myself by going to the gym to workout…but I am a better mom when I am taking care of myself and I have more energy for them, too. I have been careful to not focus on my weight too much around my kids. Particularly with my daughter, I want her to develop a positive self image and I worry if I focus negatively on my body image or dieting, it will be detrimental to her.

Cindy and her gorgeous family!

Anything else you would like to share?

I find I am eating out less and less these days. Eating at restaurants seems to always wipe out most of my calorie allowance for the day, and I can feed my family healthier food at home. On those special occasions when we do go out, I try and research the menu and nutrition ahead of time so I am prepared and don’t overeat.

 ♥♥♥

Cindy –you are a girl after my own heart…asking for fitness equipment instead of flowers for Valentine’s Day! 🙂 You are such an inspiration for many mamas out there (in more ways than one!) and I thank you for opening your story to us!

I am always looking for REAL LIFE WOMEN who are ready to share how they have shed weight and gained a new perspective on life!! If you have a shed story that you would like to share, please contact me at clare@peak313.com!

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Filed Under: Featured, Good Living, Shed & Share Tagged With: real life, Shed & Share 9 Comments

About Clare

Comments

  1. christa says

    January 22, 2013 at 9:40 pm

    Way to go!! Keep up the great work.

    Reply
  2. Valerie H says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:32 am

    Great work Cindy! Keep it up! I have been worried about taking time away from the kids as I’m starting to focus on better health and fitness. Thanks for sharing that it’s possible to do it!

    Reply
  3. Traci Michele says

    January 23, 2013 at 10:27 am

    you look amazing! great job! Traci Michele @ Ordinary Inspirations

    Reply
  4. Women Living Well says

    January 23, 2013 at 11:08 am

    I LOVE these and always find them so inspiring!!!
    Way to go Cindy!!!
    Courtney

    Reply
  5. Emily says

    January 23, 2013 at 6:09 pm

    Congratulations!!! You look great 🙂

    Reply
  6. Kelly C says

    January 23, 2013 at 9:32 pm

    What a wonderful story! Thanks for sharing and inspiring us. Keep up the good work on your daily goals.

    Reply
  7. Fawn Weaver says

    January 24, 2013 at 9:29 pm

    This is so cool! I love My Fitness Pal and cycling so this is a girl after my own heart. She just reminded me I need to get better about using MFP to make sure I’m getting all my nutrients.

    Reply
  8. Jamie Rohrbaugh says

    January 25, 2013 at 3:28 pm

    What an inspiring story! Cindy looks fantastic! Thanks for sharing!

    Reply
  9. Cindy D. says

    January 26, 2013 at 3:58 pm

    Thank you everyone, for all these encouraging comments here and on Facebook. I have always loved reading the “Shed and Share” stories on this blog and I am honored Clare chose to feature my weight loss success story. Thank you, Clare!

    Cindy

    Reply

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I’ll keep this short because I want you to read I’ll keep this short because I want you to read the poem. We can bring our burdens many places nowadays- friends, Instagram, Facebook, text, to gym, to work, to sleep.. you get the point. But let’s make sure we bring our burdens first to Jesus. After the week.. month.. year.. many of us are having, there’s no better time to do this than now. #sweetunfailingrefuge

(I found this tucked in an old book at my family’s 100 year old farmhouse that we were selling this summer 🤍)
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Sometimes the quick stop to say hello turns into a therapy session with dinner and wine. Everything was stacked against me – so I thought- but the mayhem is often beauty and normalcy to the person’s life who is spinning. Sometimes “the plan” goes off track... but it’s not off track in God’s eyes.

Living life knowing that the minutes of your day are not yours but for God to use to encourage and be there for people who are hurting changes everything. It changes who you marry. It changes how you spend your money. It changes what you do with your time. Dinner portions may not be what you planned but God always finds enough to fill those who come to His table to be loved on and heard.

If I know one thing – it’s this. People are hurting right now. Some things are private and some are public. What would it look like if our homes became safe places for people to land? For our hearts to enter in the pain? For our embrace to provide the temporary relief needed? We can be people who talk about bringing the kingdom here on earth or we can be people who do what we can with the little we have to be the hands and feet of Jesus. 🤍
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What have you given up on achieving because it hasn’t come to fruition in the time you wanted? Remember… things can be BETTER. And that counts for something. 🤍
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All I know is that everything I stepped into prepared me for the next thing. Many times I didn’t even know it! But I look back often and am like, “ohhh, God, I see what ya did there!” 

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Maybe I’m crazy but living a life of faith in God is one of the most exciting and fulfilling things. I don’t know what He has for me in 5 years let alone 1...and for whatever reason, that thought alone gets me up and helps me live with a holy anticipation. I trust Him.  I live less with resistance to the unexpected now. God is indeed preparing you for what he has prepared for you. What a loving Father!
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