Cindy's Story

Welcome to my Website! I created this site to share with others my success and knowledge of being healthy and losing weight. I want to help others that are struggling with nutrition, weight loss and exercise.  It has taken me 33 years to finally lose the weight, and I want to help others find the success that I have.  I hope you find the information here helpful. Please remember that the information on this page are my suggestions and tools that have help me and by no means is medical advice. I strongly urge you to discuss anything related to weight loss and exercise with your family doctor.

This is my story:

My name is Cindy and I live in Evansville Indiana. I have lived here off and on most of my life. I was born here at St. Mary's Hospital on May 27, 1976. Shortly after I was born, my family moved to Fenton Missouri. I grew up in Fenton until I was 10 -  then my parents divorced. My mother, sister and I moved to Evansville where my mother's family lived. This is where we eventually stayed (despite another shot at missouri).

Ever since I was born I was bigger than anyone my age.  I had a rough time when my parents divorced, and that caused met to turn to food for comfort. When living in Missouri (for a brief period of time when I was in 6th grade) I gained a lot of weight. I ate everything and anything. When I was 13 I weighed close to 220 pounds.

In high school I weighed 260 pounds. High school was not the best time of my life.  I was teased everyday, all day. Do you know that every time I got on the school bus in the morning, everyone on the bus Mooed like a cow. Do you know what that does to a person? Of course I was shy and quiet. I just didn't want anyone to notice me, yet I so wanted to have friends. I did have a few friends and when people took the chance to get to know me, they realized they liked me  I did have friends, don't get me wrong, but I never really fit in. I think I was so self conscience that I didn't allow myself to relax and have fun. I have one good friend, Emily, that has stuck by me since the 7th grade and never once worried about what other's thought about me, in fact, she even stuck up for me. 

Going through the most important time of your life is hard when you feel that no one in the world understands you or wants to be around you. I was so depressed that food was the only thing that made me feel better. When I was a Junior in high school, I tried to lose weight. I did lose 40 pounds, but it was merely from starving myself. Once I started working at Marshalls I did drop more weight, and that is when I met my husband, Darrell at age 17.  

Darrell and I dated for five months before he asked me to marry him. We stayed engaged while I was going to College, and once I graduated, we were married. My weight fluctuated off and on and I got down to my lowest weight of 215 pounds. It did not last long because I had tried "fad" diets. Does anyone remember Calorad?? Yep, used it!

We decided to start a family and I beceame pregnant with my first son, Jacob in May of 2001. I managed to only gain 30 lbs, but that took my weight up to 300 pounds. Once Jacob was born, I got my weight down to 260.

Jacob was a handful, and that took me in a whole new direction. He was diagnosed with Severe ADHD when he was 3 and was put on meds for it. Needless to say, I was stressed. I ate, and ate, and ate. I would go to Wal-Mart and buy a box of cookies and eat the whole box in two days!!

I thought that Jacob would benefit from a sibling, so we were pregnant again March 2004. I was determined to not gain a lot with Aaron and only added 15 pounds during my pregnancy. A lot of stuff happened during the stint of both pregnancies... My husband lost his only brother, his mother and his close cousin. It was a very difficult time for us, and more food was consumed. I had a hard time trying to get in control of my eating - I was out of control!

In May of 2007  and at 305 pounds - My employer did a mock "Biggest Loser" contest, in which a local fitness club "The ZONE" offered free personal training for 30 days. I met my trainer Travis Way, and was on my way to a healthier me. Travis was great and really helped me.  I won the weight loss challenge with my employer and with The ZONE. I was feeling pretty good about myself. THAT is the time when I met Barb!! Barb changed my life and introduced me to a Spin/Cycle Class. I loved it. It has transformed my body that I never in a million years thought was possible. I stuck with it despite how painful and exhausting it was.

Since May 2007 I had lost 120 pounds by sticking with it and eating better. Since losing the weight, I have now become a certified group instructor and an Instructor of Reebok Cycling. I teach every Sunday at the Local YMCA in Evansville. I love it! For those that knew me "Back Then"  - they would never imagine me becoming a fitness instructor! and I am loving it! It is the most rewarding experience to help others achieve their fitness goals. I thank the Y for giving me a chance and letting me fulfil a dream. 

I continue my journey and invite you to join it with me as I work on my goal of  a 150 pound weight loss. It will be difficult, but I want it more than ever!