Life Before KickStart
How was your body before Trevor Kashey Nutrition?
I was obese for many years and struggled to make long term progress with weight loss.
How did that (state of being) make you feel?
I felt like something was missing. I had done so much research and self-experimenting with diets, and even though I felt I knew what worked to move the needle, I could never stick to it for more than two months. I felt defeated, frustrated and overwhelmed by how to move forward.
Was there anything you were unable to do that you wish you could have done?
I wished I could be consistent and successfully change my habits to that of someone who took care of her body.
During that time, how did your current state of being affect those around you?
Because I am the person responsible for meals at home, my poor choices in meal preparation or order take out affected my family’s health as well.
The Moment Everything Changed
How did you hear about Trevor Kashey Nutrition?
I heard about Dr. Kashey from a Michael Easter book I downloaded on Audible, Embrace Discomfort.
What were your doubts and fears before starting the program?
I feared that I would not keep up with the coursework or that I was not ready to hear the message.
What made you say YES anyway?
Because I had tried so many things and, despite “knowing” what I needed to do to lose weight (eat less, move more), something was making me continue to self-sabotage. I had the sense that Dr. Kashey’s work was about becoming self-aware and being consistent, two things that I hadn’t quite worked on. Knowing that I would lose my money if I didn’t complete the lessons made it attractive because I knew it would motivate me to complete all 12 weeks.
Life After KickStart
Where is your body/mind now?
I feel that overall, I am in a better place because the lessons have hit home and spoke to so many issues I have struggled with. But to be honest, the last few weeks since returning from a big vacation have been a struggle on so many levels. I have continued to do the coursework and track, but I haven’t been successful in getting past some of the mental and emotional hurdles I’ve encountered. I almost wish I had waited to start KickStart after summer vacation because I feel that the temporary break made me lose momentum and fall into old habits. I understand that these pitfalls are part of daily life and that the lessons provided speak to such interruptions, so the irony is not lost on me.
How does that make you feel?
I feel happy that I stuck to it and learned so much, but also sad and disappointed in myself that I failed to get back on track with full force. In the end, what I learned has been more valuable than the potential to lose 20 lbs. I think it has provided a stronger foundation for me to move forward in this health journey. It has uncovered feelings that I know I have to address in the near term, because the emotional component is such a difficult one for me that the mental aspect can’t always overcome. I feel hope that I can continue to build upon what I have learned.
What are you able to do now that you were not able to do before (mentally, emotionally, or physically)?
Mentally, I feel like I now understand the importance of tracking my calories, where before I hated the idea and had the attitude that I’d rather not know. I struggle with ADD and that kind of discipline does not come naturally. I had always looked for diets that didn’t primarily focus on counting calories (paleo, keto, and intermittent fasting) for this reason. Emotionally, I have gotten far better at recognizing some of my triggers so that I can give myself a chance to not react to them in a negative way. I still have so much to work on in this area, and working through the written exercises brought tears to my eyes on many occasions. I now know that I would benefit from journaling and working with a therapist to address the root causes of my binge eating if I am to have any hope of changing for good. Physically, I feel so much better, even though I didn’t lose a significant amount of weight. All the walking I did was well beyond what I had been used to, and I feel stronger because of it.
The Ripple Effect
What positive impact did that have on others around you that you might not have expected?
I was able to set a good example for my kids and especially my son, who is on the autism spectrum and struggles greatly with binge eating and getting any movement. We even took several long walks together and it gave me hope that my own work could make a difference in his life as well.
Denise’s Words to You
What would you tell someone who is reading this right now and is unsure about taking the next step?
I realize that weight loss is more a mental game than anything else and TKN addresses the mental barriers we put up for ourselves. I don’t think anyone can be successful long term without that component. I love that KickStart focuses on this aspect of the plan and not on the nutrition component. In the end, the nutrition piece is what works for the individual (which can vary greatly), but the mental piece is everything. The fact that you can get your money back gives you the peace of mind that it works and provides the incentive to keep you engaged. You will get out of it what you put in, so be sure you are ready to dedicate a generous amount of time every day to get the most out of the program.
