Martial Arts Helped Krysta Ditch 75 Pounds

Posted on Feb 3rd 2011 3:00PM by Martha Edwards

Filed Under: Motivation, Success Stories

Krysta Before (on the right)

Every week, we introduce you to bloggers who share their weight loss journeys and hefty doses of inspiration with their readers. This week's featured blogger is Krysta from Not Another Fad Diet.

Name: Krysta Scharlach

Age: 33

Height: 5 feet, 5 inches

Start Weight: 220 pounds

Current Weight: 145 pounds

Goal Weight: It was 150 pounds -- now it's 135 pounds

My Weight Loss Approach: I've always been a chubby kid, but it got really bad once my husband and I moved out to Virginia. I spent a great deal of time locked in my house watching television and not doing a whole lot of anything. I rarely exercised, plus I ate whatever appealed to me and a lot of it -- and I smoked.

My first breaking point came when my brother was diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes. I changed the way I ate and lost some weight but put it back on eventually because I stopped exercising. I went from 220 pounds down to 160 and then back up to 200. When the scale got near 200 again, I decided it was enough. I started training and working hard at the gym, running or working out on the elliptical. I started lifting a lot of weight and focusing on my food intake, both in terms of portion and nutrition.

My weight loss approach can be summed up as hard work and good nutrition. There are no shortcuts to weight loss, no matter what the multimillion dollar fad diet industry would have you believe. I eat lean meats and veggies. I work out almost every day. I change things up so that I don't get bored. And every once in a while, I give myself a cheat day so that I don't feel deprived.

Martial arts is definitely the secret to my success. Mixed martial arts training is fun, functional

Krysta Now

and never boring. I always have motivation to keep going, because I'm always learning something new and awesome and it rarely ever feels like "exercise," so to speak. It's never a chore, and you're always moving upwards.

Why I wanted to blog about it: So many people noticed my weight loss and asked for help and tips and advice that I thought would be helpful to publish my thoughts, stories, recipes and triumphs as well as my struggles, so I decided to start a blog.

The best part of blogging is: When someone thanks me for having the courage to write something they were thinking but wouldn't admit.

Best comment I've received: I wrote a blog giving people advice about being new in the gym just after the new year, and someone wrote me privately to thank me for my advice and tell me how much it helped them! I love that!

What's next for my blog: Just continuing to chronicle my journey. It's far from over!

It took Krysta a year to get to her current weight, and she's maintained it for the same amount of time. Help cheer her on as she works towards losing those last 10 pounds.

11 Comment

Tags: blogging, blogging-down, elliptical, elliptical trainer, exercise, fad diets, gym, martial arts, nutrition, running, weight loss

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Gordon Peterson 2-05-2011 @ 10:53AM

Way to go, Krysta ... what an inspirational story of discipline and determination. You have it exactly right--there are no short cuts, and fad diets are generally a waste of money. My dad was fond of saying, "The most difficult exercise is to push away from the table."

You have found exactly the right approach--it's all about cultivating good habits. I like to think of my early morning workouts as my personal time--paying myself first, so to speak, with a deposit in my wellness account. And let me tell you, it does not get any easier as you get older. That's why it's so important to have a lifestyle that includes regular exercise. As Nike says, "Just do it!"

Press on! Well done! Best, Gordon

Kathy 2-05-2011 @ 8:41PM

I am proud of you. You are inspiring and I have to lose a lot of lbs. too but I am trying. but it is about portions and selecting the correct foods, and working out. Thanks for your story.

Charlie 2-06-2011 @ 3:51PM

You look fantastic and good for you, that you figured out a system that works for you and is "real" - not some fantasy weight-loss plan. Keep up the good work!

JANELL MATHEWS 2-05-2011 @ 11:07PM

hi,,,,,,,i proud for you , keep up the good work, maybe some day i'll get there,,,i just can't seem to get started to moving ,,,,,,,,,,,thanks for the info
janell

Laurie 2-06-2011 @ 12:02AM

Oh, you look just great! Congrats on the hard work and sharing your trials and tribulations AND your success! Im trying to lose the last 28 pounds (ive lost 125 so far) but my worn out body wont let me exercise like I should. Im happy for you tho! Keep up the good work! ;)

Rhonda 2-06-2011 @ 1:12AM

YOU'VE DONE A WONDERFUL JOB.LOOSING WEIGHT IS VERY HARD JUST HAVE TO MAKE YOUR MIND UP. AND HEY GIRLS KRYSTA IS NICE OF ENOUGH TO SHARE HER STORY AND YOU ACTUALLY JUDGE HER ARMS HOW HORABLE. GOD SAYS NOT TO JUDGE SHE'S TRYING TO HELP EVERYONE PLEASE! YOU LOOK GREAT GIRL THANKS FOR YOUR ADVICE .

Lisa 2-06-2011 @ 5:34AM

Great Job, I know it isn't easy. To those who don't like her tattoo's, YOU don't have to like them. They are not there to for YOU. They are there because SHE like them, so get over yourselves. Jeaze, you just couldn't stop at saying something nice....I bet it would just kill some of you!

moe 2-06-2011 @ 10:42AM

Congratulations Krysta YOU LOOK AMAZING!!!! TATS AND ALL!! what an AWESOME transformation!! :-)

BuilderDeveloper 2-06-2011 @ 12:59PM

Kuddos" ! Great Story, Keep it up you are lovely !

Karen 2-08-2011 @ 10:10AM

Awesome progress-- you look great! Let me know when you figure out the secret to the last ten-- I'm trying to kick off the last twenty.

Brenda S 3-01-2011 @ 4:35PM

Congratulations Krysta ! !! ! I am about the same size as you and have been struggling with my weight for about the past 6 years. Up and Down ! !! I could use all the advise that you can send my way.
Keep up the good work.

God Bless You.