Friday Fitspiration: Alyssa’s Inspirational Transformation Story !

My name is Alyssa Shim and I have not only lost 50 lbs in the past year, I have also gained a healthy and happy lifestyle. Growing up I continually struggled with my weight and I fluctuated wildly. I was never content with my body, or myself and I would jump on the new FAD DIETS, no matter the negative impact they may have.  I suffered from multiple MEDICAL ISSUES including insomnia, restless leg, joint pain, swelling, headaches, numbness, and often found myself sick.  I hit my all time low a little over a year ago while experiencing high amounts of stress in my personal and professional life. I came to a point where I had to choose, would I continue on my current path citing “not enough time” as an excuse, or would I live my life by design? Not a single ‘diet’ or ‘fitness’ plan out there had worked for me, and so, I decided to do my own research and devise a plan tailored to my needs.

 My first step was to DETOXIFY my system.  I had spent years eating chemical laden foods, taking excess amounts of over the counter drugs, drinking soda, and consuming artificial sweeteners.  I needed to get rid of the toxins in my system as well as the cravings that I was experiencing for sugar and junk food.  I did a two-week detox consisting of consuming only raw WHOLE FOODS.  I would drink a green smoothie in the morning and enjoy bountiful salads overflowing with raw fruits and vegetables for lunch and dinner.  This was a tough two weeks, as I experienced (in my opinion) withdrawal symptoms.  It was all worth it as the second week came to a close and I no longer experienced the cravings for unhealthy foods and I began to truly enjoy fruits and vegetables.

From that point forward my NUTRITIONAL ARSENAL (I refuse to call it a diet) consisted of chemical free whole foods.  I eat a lot of fruits, vegetables, whole grains (unprocessed), and legumes.  I love them baked, blended, roasted, juiced, broiled, steamed, raw – you name it.

Nutrition is only part of a healthy lifestyle.  I also began to GET MOVING.  At first this was as simple as taking long walks and spending a lot of time on the elliptical.  The extra weight I was carrying would cause pain in my knees and ankles if I tried anything too strenuous.  Gradually I began to add in high intensity interval training, weight training, running, stairs workouts, and yoga.  At first I would force myself to get moving everyday, now it is a part of who I am.  I love nothing more than a fantastic workout.

So what made this lifestyle change so different from the many other times I desperately tried to lose weight? I CHANGED MY PARADIGM.  No longer was I concerned about calories or the number on the scale.  I put myself on a journey to health.  I was concerned about eating the most nutritionally beneficial foods and working out to build an efficient healthy body.  I was patient with myself because I wasn’t concerned about getting results in one week.  Although many view my change as drastic for one year, it was still one year of consistency.  Because I was patient, I didn’t get discouraged and binge on unhealthy foods.  Also, because I was making this a lifestyle change, I altered my thought processes.  Instead of saying “I can’t eat that cookie” I changed to “I don’t eat cookies” not because I can’t but because I don’t want harmful refined sugars in my system.

Most of all I became content with myself.  If I can do it, so can you.  LOVE YOURSELF and find within the desire to live by design.  Make a change towards a healthy lifestyle, your heart, mind, and body will thank you!

It was a real pleasure to share Alyssa’s inspirational story with you all, she is a true fighter! Make sure you check out her new kickass blog: www.reverentlion.com where you can find her complete health and fitness makeover plan and more useful tips! Find Alyssa’s photos on Instagram @electricfitness.

Want to SHARE you SUCCESS STORY on MFS? I’d LOVE to hear from you! CONTACT ME!

MFS Suggests…

The Betty Rocker Body Fuel System: A 30-day Eating Guide to Your Best Body Ever!

Discover the best-kept secret in the food marketing industry and uncover the strategies that will effortlessly shed pounds off your body. The Body Fuel System comes with a 30-day customized weekly eating plan, a weekly shopping guide, a weekly food-prep guide, healthy fitness recipes, Betty Rocker’s top 5 ab-shredding moves, additional tips & tricks to keep you lean and much more. Click HERE for more details.