Lean and Strong: Gayna lost over 50 pounds

When I began my journey it was NEVER about physical weight initially. It was about the emotional weight that I’d been carrying for so many years, which was the primary cause of the physical weight. Far too often in my life I’ve begged for relationships (all kinds) that were not for me. I was looking to fill a void that no one could give me except for me. I had to learn to 💜 and care for myself. I had to learn that it wasn’t another persons responsibility. . The process for me has been HEALING in every since of the word. The healing isn’t always easy because the past was hurtful….tears, anger, blame, and low self-esteem. I cried, screamed, cursed, threw objects, and even walked away from the process…..returned after I calmed down. . The moral of this post is, you must get extremely uncomfortable, vulnerable, honest with yourself, and transparent. Then and only then will the #HealingFromTheInsideOut truly begin. . There’s NO room for; •FEAR •EXCUSES •LAZINESS •PROCRASTINATION When it comes to Living a Healthy Lifestyle! . #TransparentTuesday #TransformationTuesday #TestimonialTuesday #TrustTheProcessToProgress

A post shared by FITnatic LIFEstyle (Gayna) (@fitnatic_lifestyle) on Jun 6, 2017 at 8:51am PDT

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Gayna lost over 50 pounds and gained lots of muscle.  I’m excited to share her story because she’s one of the people I love to follow on Instagram.  She is a fit mom who has transformed her body and is preparing for her first figure competition this summer.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey…

About Me: I’m a 39 year old mother who began her journey in August of 2012 on her own. Fast forward, May of 2014, I hired a trainer to help me pursue my goal of becoming a bodybuilder and looking forward to my first competition in 2015.

Say hello to the woman on the left, County Thick (aka) Home Grown. Here’s what you don’t know, I had 2 layers of tights on up underneath these white leggings sucking AND holding it in. Oh, and I dare eat a bite of food in fear of EXPANDING (EXPOSING) what I really had going on. In a nutshell, I was FALSE ADVERTISEMENT and an excellent chameleon of hiding my FAT. Not to mention, I would take laxatives regularly thinking it would help me lose fat and make my stomach smaller…I was all messed up.

Now meet the woman on the right, FIT SEXY SHAPESHIFTER. A happier and healthier woman who is dedicated to herself like never before. I no longer have to hide from myself (mentally, physically, and emotionally). Sure, my breasts and hips have gotten smaller, but the reality is it was all body FAT and I’ve gotten rid of it. What you should pay attention to is the fact that I’m LEANER (getting leaner) and more youthful looking. You have to give up something in order to gain something. I’ve gained a new GAYNA that is continuously surprising herself daily. It’s not just about food. This is about the MENTAL part of living a healthier lifestyle.

When I began my journey in 2012 I was 200+ pounds. Currently, I weigh 148 pounds (height: 5’7″).

How did you change your eating habits?

I changed my eating habits by changing my relationship with food. I realized that food is for living and not living to eat. I had to do this in baby steps which is what worked for me. I began by cutting back unhealthy food options. Example; instead of drinking 2 sodas per day, I drank one. Instead of 2 cups of rice I ate one. I created a free account on www.myfitnesspal.com (web/mobile availability), which you enter your personal information and it calculates what your nutritional intake should be. I also incorporated using a food scale and measuring cups to ensure that I stay on track with my personal nutritional goals.

I pretty much cut out all processed foods but I do eat them every once in a while, like crackers and potato chips a few of my favorites. (Processed foods: They often come in a box or a jar, are can be high in added sugars, low in fiber and whole grains, processed with sodium, high in fat or include trans fat and lots of saturated fat.) I began eating more whole foods (foods that are as close to their natural form as possible.) I now eat:

Lean protein (skinless chicken breasts, fish, turkey, sirloin steak
Complex carbohydrate (Ezekiel bread, quinoa, brown rice, sweet or red potato)
Healthy fat (avocado, coconut oil, almonds)
Fibrous dark green leafy vegetables (romaine, kale, spinach)

What do your workout routines look like?

I am currently in preparation for my first bodybuilding show this summer as a figure competitor. I have a personal trainer whom I meet with 3 times per week and who always has his eye on me the other 3-4 days when I am in the gym to do my “homework” when I am not with him.

My current training schedule is 6-7 days per week. There are some mornings that I perform fasted cardio (working out before having first meal) at 4am, followed by strength training in the evening after I get off work. If I do not perform fasted cardio I will complete my cardio in the evening before or after strength training by using one of the following machines: Arc Trainer, Elliptical, Stairmaster, Treadmill.

When it comes to strength training I work no more than 2 body parts at a time. I don’t necessarily have a set day on what body part I work as it depends on how I am feeling and what my trainer wants me to do. What I can tell you is that no workout is ever the same. It is intense and I am always left sore for about a week (lol), but I no pain no gain 🙂

Typical Schedule:

Sunday – Cardio & Legs (sometimes cardio only)
Monday – Cardio & Upper Body
Tuesday – Training Session (Back, Shoulders, Biceps/Triceps or Legs)
Wednesday – Cardio & Upper Body
Thursday – Training Session (Legs)
Friday – Cardio & Upper Body (sometimes a rest day)

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What an absolutely AMAZING experience to accomplish my realistic goal of competing. #NPCFigure #Figure #FitLifeDiaries #FITnaticLIFEstyle #MyoFlexFit

A post shared by FITnatic LIFEstyle (Gayna) (@fitnatic_lifestyle) on Aug 26, 2015 at 5:40am PDT