The Summer of Living Lean — My Story: Lisa Lynn

If you had to put a title to your weight loss story, what would it be?
"Fat is Not My Fate!"

What is your favorite LynFit metabolic boosting weight loss recipe?
The Chicken Soup recipe in Lisa's book, "The Metabolism Solution." I am not a big fish fan, so I really like to change up the meal plans by adding in the chicken soup. Plus, it is easy to make, very filling, and nice and warm in the winter months.

I also like the peanut butter bliss balls, but I have to be careful to not eat a whole batch of them at once. It helps to freeze them and then just take one out.

I love the strawberry/banana protein powder too. I always go for the sweet taste, so on the days when I am craving sweet, it hits the spot.

What is your favorite LynFit supplement to use, and why? How has it helped you?
First, I have such a slow metabolism that I truly need all of the LynFit supplements. I use all of them daily. My top two favorite supplements are the Accelerator Advanced and the Thyroid Boost.

I love the Accelerator Advanced because it combines two supplements in one (Accelerator and Carb Edge) and gives me a boost of energy. I was carrying around 150 plus extra pounds, and I always felt like I needed a stick of dynamite under me to do basic things, such as mow the lawn. I call it the badass supplement. I envision it being the drill instructor to my sluggish metabolism. I believe the Accelerator Advanced in conjunction with the use of the other supplements has helped speed up my results, which in turn helped me stick to the plan and encouraged me to keep going, even on the days when I felt like I had to far to go and it was hopeless.

I also really like the Thyroid Boost. I had all the symptoms of having hypothyroidism. My weight kept creeping up, and no matter what I tried, I could not lose weight. I had digestive issues, I was developing allergies and frequently woke up with sinus headaches. I had dry skin and frequent rashes on my neck and elbows. My hair was falling out and brittle. I always felt depressed, and my memory was not what I felt it should be. I always felt cold. After about a week of taking this supplement consistently, I noticed a significant improvement in my symptoms. Perhaps most importantly for my line of work, I noticed an improvement in my ability to focus and a marked improvement in my energy level. I also noticed that I was getting more consistent in the rate of weight loss. I like to add it to my protein shakes.

Did you encounter any obstacles? If so, how did you overcome them?
My old failed habits and negative thoughts are my two biggest obstacles. What helped fight those two obstacles is the simplicity of the plan and Lisa’s encouragement. I knew what I needed to do and I knew she was there to help me. I also felt like she was the first person that understood my struggle. I knew if I slipped, if I focused on getting back to the basics, I could get back on track quickly. The fast results also helped fight old habits and negative thoughts because it helped prove them to be false. I started looking at things with a different perspective. My success on the program continues to be a huge motivating factor in overcoming my two biggest obstacles.

How has your life changed since you lost weight?
LynFit has changed every aspect of my life. I used to avoid people and lived like a hermit. I would go to work and come home, pull the blinds, and hide. I had a rule that I had to go and get groceries before 6 a.m. so no one would catch me buying groceries that I obviously did not need. Even at 6 a.m., I was anxious, nervous, and ashamed to be buying groceries. I avoided pictures. I avoided doing activities that I really wanted to do. I self-secluded to the point where now I do not have many friends. I couldn’t look people in the eye because I was so ashamed of myself and my appearance. I loathed myself so bad I wanted to disappear. If I could have arranged it so I did not have to leave my house at all, I would have done it in a heart beat. My quality of life was non-existent. I even made myself take the garbage out after dark so no one would see me.

I tried every diet I could find. With every failed attempt, my depression grew deeper, and my waistband grew larger. I was horrified to go clothes shopping, and frankly, the only places I could find that had clothes big enough to fit me were the plus size catalogs. I was horrified that the mailman knew I had to order from the “big lady” catalogs. I fought all the way through high school to keep slender, so the fear of seeing anyone from high school or college was so terrifying, I would look at license plate numbers before entering any store. If I saw a car with a license plate from my hometown county, I would not go into the store. I thought the weight made me unlikable and unlovable.

People treat fat people like they are diseased. It is more acceptable to be an alcoholic or drug addict than to be obese. I was afraid to have to go anywhere because chairs wouldn’t fit me. I felt like I needed to apologize for my very existence. I literally placed myself in my own prison. More than twenty years of my life is gone, and I have so many regrets, I cannot count them.

I am not at my goal weight yet, but with every five pounds lost, I gain freedom and confidence. I can finally mow my lawn without having derogatory comments from teenagers shouted at me. I can now go and get groceries at normal hours without feeling like I am doing something wrong or being anxious. I can go for walks without feeling embarrassed. I have a long way to go, but I see hope now and know that I can achieve my goals. Knowing that I am going to be released from my self-imposed prison is exhilarating. LynFit has changed me to the core. The LynFit program is a true gift.  

What did you do during the first two weeks of LynFit that helped you stick to the plan?
During the first two weeks, I was faithful at doing my food journals and emailing them to Lisa. I needed her guidance and encouragement. That helped me tremendously because it made me accountable. In fact, I have slipped and now see how important that truly is to my success. I need to get back to it. The food journaling also really helps to identify what foods work the best for me. I also gave up control (huge internal battle) and put my trust in Lisa’s genius and expertise to help me with a problem I had been battling for more than 20 years.