Weight Loss Mum

By Rebecca Drew

THIS MUM was so horrified by her post-pregnancy body she halved her bodyweight through a relentless fitness regime despite suffering the excruciating pain of undiagnosed arthritis.

Before she fell pregnant in 2014, Kassidy Linde (25) from Cheyenne, Wyoming weighed 14-stone but put on a further four-and-a-half stone during her pregnancy which left her feeling unhappy and insecure. Roll forward 18-months and Kassidy is now a fit and healthy nine-stone.

At her heaviest, Kassidy was a UK size 20 but has slimmed to a svelte UK size ten.

Kassidy, who’s the daughter of military parents grew up all over the world and describes herself as being underweight as a child, saying she would exercise to excess. This changed when she finished high-school and started to gain weight.

“After high-school, I started gaining a lot of weight,” said Kassidy.

“I was eating more, drinking a lot, smoking, not working out and didn’t eat anything healthy.

“I definitely had bad habits, I was a heavy drinker which would contribute to my poor food choices as well because if I was drunk, I was eating poorly and if I was hungover, I would eat even more poorly.

“I felt sad, ashamed, depressed, ugly and insecure, I definitely felt sorry for myself.”

Kassidy says that being pregnant with her daughter, Harley, was the boost that made her decide that she needed to lose weight.

“Towards the end of my pregnancy, I obviously couldn’t bend over, move around easily, or breathe.

“I knew that I would be heavy once I delivered my daughter so I told myself that from that point on that I would never, ever be that big again.”

Like a lot of people, Kassidy admits that when she started on her quest to lose weight she didn’t exactly know where to start.

“I started meal prepping but I didn’t exactly know what I was doing but I knew I was doing something.

“I also started working out, I was doing mostly cardio and leg work outs, but I was making sure I was at the gym three to five times a week.

Kassidy says that she’s made the most radical changes when it comes to food and says that she’s tried lots of fad diets but there’s no replacement for healthy eating and now eats lean white meat, tuna, low fat cheese, almonds, whole grains, fruit and vegetables.

“I have done healthy eating, low carb, counting calories, Atkins, and now I count my macros,” added Kassidy.

“The most important advice I can give about eating is to just eat healthy.”

Having worked very hard on her amazing transformation, it’s been more difficult for Kassidy than others as she was diagnosed with painful Rheumatoid Arthritis which causes inflammation of joints.

“My body is in extreme pain twenty-four seven and I wasn’t diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis until a few months ago so I went through my whole journey with this excruciating mystery pain,” mentions Kassidy

“I pushed through even on the most difficult days and I did it.

“I didn’t think that losing weight would change anything about me emotionally and mentally but it has.

“I am so much nicer and I’m not as insecure now which leads to confidence and confidence leads to happiness.

“You would be surprised how much more joy you have every day when you love yourself.”

Kassidy says that it feels strange when people congratulate her on her incredible transformation but loves that her story inspires others. The most important piece of advice she could give someone wanting to lose weight is to encourage them to step out of their comfort zone.

“My best advice for beginners is to step out of your comfort zone and not to let other people’s opinions bother you.

“Drink a gallon of water a day and meal prep, especially in the beginning because then you have healthy food on hand so you have less of a chance at failing.

“It’s also important to trust the process and be patient, it will not happen overnight because everything takes good time and you’re worth it.”

For more information visit Kassidy’s Instagram page: https://www.instagram.com/dilla7/

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