BACKGROUND INFORMATION

1) Height: 5'9

2) Weight: 355 (as of today); BF: 39%; Fat Weight: 138lbs; Lean Weight: 217lbs; H20: 47.2%
We use the Futrex Bodyfat Analysis machine. Test done first thing this morning so water % kind of low. 1999 weight was 500+ (will find pic to post) and 2006 weight was 250lbs just prior to Car Accident-see pic from 2006 will post later)

2006 Pre-Accident (Want to get even smaller than this):


2011 Back:


2011 Front:


3) Number of years training seriously: 11 Years (9 years if you subtract the two years I could
not train following the accident.

4) Training experience, including current program:
Worked with a trainer, Conan Fuerte, from 2000-2001. Workouts consisted of strength and resistance training in addition to Cardio Kickboxing. Lost approximately 100lbs while working with Conan.

After moving to Big Island I continued with my own training for the next five years picking
up advice from my business partner who had been training since he was 16. Training consisted of Strength, Resistance, Cardio Kickboxing, Interval sprints on an exercise bike; and teaching 9 different aerobic classes a week and one Cardio Kickboxing class a week.

January 2010 consulted with John Romaniello and worked with the menu suggestions for five months.

June 2010 I purchased the XFLD program and completed it successfully loosing 20lbs in 25 days; however I know that some of that was water.

October 2010 - January 2011 I did the Show & Go program designed by Eric Cressey. I really miss the heavier lifting associated with Cressey's program so I think I am going to return to a modified version of this; moving it more into a strength circuit. Thinking of doing this Mon, Wed and Fri and continuing with the Boot Camp classes on Tues and Thurs and adding a Saturday Boot Camp into the mixture.

My training over the last 5 months has consisted of:
Six Days a Week
Monday: Density Training
Tuesday: Boot Camp
Wednesday: Strength (which was also my higher carb day)
Thursday: Boot Camp
Friday: Dynamic Training
Saturday: Latic Training

Even with my medical issues and my size, I am quite flexible with just minor mobility corrections to be made. I am able to perform a full squat (glutes to calves) and always amaze people when I perform a perfect L stretch. I think my years of Karate and Kickboxing helped with this.

5) Olympic-lift variations you know how to perform:

6) Athletic background:
Though I never participated on school teams, during PE Class I enjoyed playing Volleyball,
Basketball and Soccer. On my own I loved Tennis and swimming, was quite accomplished at long distance swimming. I studied martial arts for a short time, about 2 years. I continued on my own using it as a great cardio tool.

7) Primary fitness goal (choose one): gain muscle, lose fat, recomposition body, gain strength,
improve athletic performance. My primary goal is to lose fat and for recomposition of my body.

8) Secondary fitness goal (choose one): gain muscle, lose fat, recomposition body, gain strength, improve athletic performance. My secondary goal would be to maintain the strength I currently have.

9) Days per week you can train: 5-6 Days

10) Amount of time available to train each workout: 30-60 minutes depending on the condition
of my hives. When I get to hot or start sweating I break out in hives. I am very good at knowing the warning signs of when I have pushed it too far and I now carry an Epi Pen.

11) Time of day you train: 5:00 am

12) Do you have certain days available for twice-a-day workouts? I could try doing two workouts on Tuesday and Thursdays.

13) Your daily schedule:
Monday/Wednesday/Friday:
3:00AM Indigo-3G intake
4:00AM Wake up; shower; coffee and pre-workout drink while reading emails or Facebook
4:45AM Leave for work
5:00AM Open up the gym, My personal workout
6:00AM Run Down & Dirty Boot Camp class
7:00AM Post-Workout Nutrition and open up the front desk
8:00AM Bookkeeping
9:00AM Run Down & Dirty Boot Camp class
10:00AM Run Silver & Fit Class
11:00AM Snack/Meal
11:30-1:00PM Bookkeeping, return phone calls, emails and client prepping
1:00PM-1:15PM Drive home
1:30PM Shower, Lunch
2:00PM Nap
3:00PM Answer personal email and talk with friends, prep for the nights dinner
3:45PM Drive back to gym
4:00PM Prep for Down & Dirty Boot Camp class
4:30PM Run Boot Camp
5:30PM Leave gym for home
6:00PM Prepare Dinner
6:30PM Eat Dinner
7:00PM Chat with clients or friends on Facebook or Skype
7:30PM Prep things for the morning, Shower and get ready for bed
8:00PM Read for a few minutes, maybe 15-20 and then lights out.

Tuesday & Thursday:
3:00AM Indigo-3G intake
4:00AM Wake up; shower; coffee and pre-workout drink while reading emails or Facebook
4:45AM Leave for work
5:00AM Open up the gym, Run 5AM Boot Camp and participate as well
6:00AM Run Down & Dirty Boot Camp class
7:00AM Post-Workout Nutrition and open up the front desk
8:00AM Run Down & Dirty Boot Camp
9:00AM Leave the gym and run errands for the gym and personal
10:00AM Personal Client at her home.
11:00AM Arrive home. Personal stuff
1:30PM Lunch
2:00PM Nap
3:00PM Answer personal email and talk with friends, prep for the nights dinner
3:45PM Drive back to gym
4:00PM Prep for Down & Dirty Boot Camp class
4:30PM Run Boot Camp
5:30PM Leave gym for home
6:00PM Prepare Dinner
6:30PM Eat Dinner
7:00PM Chat with clients or friends on Facebook or Skype
7:30PM Prep things for the morning, Shower and get ready for bed
8:00PM Read for a few minutes, maybe 15-20 and then lights out.


14) Current injuries (if any): All injuries are from Car Accident in 2006:
* Lots of scar tissue in the lower legs, particularly the right. I have been working this
last year with a massage therapist on Myofascial release and breaking up the scar tissue.
* Tendon problems in both ankles from the feet being pressed back toward legs at point of '
impact. Though I did not tear the tendons they have caused Plantarficitis which I do a daily warm-up with them before working out.
* Left Rotator and elbow tears. Have been working with shoulder rehab exercises that Eric Cressey recommends.
* I now have a bulge at C5-C6 with a smaller bulge at the C1.

NOTE: Injuries have been so long lasting as there is poor medical care on this island. The first doctor I had saw there was nothing wrong and would not order any testing, MRI's or CT Scans, even though I had no memory and was unconscious. Many of the injuries were not diagnosed for almost 9 months.

15) Lifts (if any) you need to avoid due to safety issues:
* I usually avoid a Back Squat because of poor mobility in the left shoulder due to previously torn rotator. (I have been doing rehab and mobility exercises recommended from Eric Cressey.)

16) Do you currently have trouble falling asleep at bedtime?
No trouble falling asleep; however I usually wake up every couple hours or can only sleep 5-6 hours before wide awake. After the accident I could not sleep; it finally progressed into two hours and have now worked up to 5-6.

17) When you wake up in the morning, are you an easy starter or you do need some extra time and
stimulants to start your day?
* I have one cup of coffee in the morning.

18) Health issues (diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.):
* My only health issue is the extra fat and the pre-existing injuries that I deal with on a daily basis from the accident. I continue to have a 3-4 year gap of memory that has not returned. However, unless overly tired I no longer stutter or have cognitive thinking issues.

* I have no diabetes, heart, blood pressure problems of any kind. My fasting blood sugar is 89 and a non-fasting (after 3 meals) blood sugar tests at 99. My Thyroid, Cholesterol and also in perfect order. My physician says she wished she had even just one more plus-sized person with these numbers. LOL. I usually respond with well thats because I have a fit person living behind the extra layers of fat on top.

* Doctor (Queens Medical - Specialist I finally ended up with) feels the edema in my legs is due to the poor circulation from all the scar tissue and the extra weight that I put on from not being mobile. My massage therapist says that she agrees.
* I get myofascial tissue work done on a monthly basis in addition to the personal work that I do with Foam Rolling.


19) Total calories consumed on training days: 2181

20) Total calories consumed on non-training days: 1842

21) Total grams of carbs consumed on training days: 110

22) Total grams of carbs consumed on non-training days: 38

23) Describe in detail your workout nutrition:
I take 2 Curcumin, 3 BCAA's and previous to program was doing one scoop of Power Drive in 16oz mixture of green tea and grapefruit juice. Following my workout I always had a Surge Recovery drink make with water or Almond Breeze.

With Indigo-3G I am continuing with the Curcumin and 3 BCAA's in addition to my new peri drink of 1/2 cup cooked oatmeal; 1 chunked frozen banana; 1 scoop Grow! Whey/Metabolic Drive-Low Carb (depending on what I have in stock); 1 cup coffee and 1 cup Almond Breeze. I drink two-thirds of it prior to workout and the balance after workout.
This is my proposed menu for the Indigo-3G project.




This menu was only a proposal based on what I thought the protocol was for Indigo-3G. The only juice I drink, and that is not an every day thing was a 1/2 cup of grapefruit juice mixed with green tea and Power Drive.

Looking forward to following along :D

I'm playing the waiting game too Tunya, looking forward to cheering you on

Thank you Nateschmidt24 and Barachiel. I look forward to following along with your progress as well. Bio will be updated sometime today.

Good luck!

Do it to it.

Looking at the proposed menu if I can offer a suggestion, and know that I'm no expert on anything, but from reading on here and elsewhere, I'd say ditch the juice and milk at breakfast, (maybe use almond milk?) and swap your wrap for the sweet potato at lunch, and then have no carbs at dinner, but maybe add some more protein & fat? Of course if you do fine with grains then no worries :)

@nateschmidt: Your suggestive changes are how I usually eat. I only added the other stuff (grains and carbs) because the I3G protocol is for more carbs. I have been doing a very low carb menu (religiously) for the last few months. I don't do well with carbs they bloat me up and make me retain fluid...so hoping the I3G helps with that.

Previously, any type of carb (besides green veggies) were all done early morning with protein and veggies until lunch and then would incorporate that with my healthy fats throughout the rest of the day. Waiting to see if the higher powers make the same suggestion. Please offer all suggestions. I also have stocked up on Sweet Potatoes...lol.

DAY ONE:
3:00AM First dose of I3G
4:00AM Carb Breakfast drink: 8oz OJ, 80z Skim Milk, 1/2 cup Oatmeal, 1 Scoop Van Grow!, 1 Med Banana (frozen); 2 Curcumin500; 4 Biotest BCAA's; 4 FA3
5:30AM Workout: Start with 15 minutes of Mobility Warmup (Knee, Hip, Feet and Scapula Wall Slides);
Sumo Deads 3x10@135 and 3x3@225 (between each set I completed Ankle mobilities);
Stability Ball Abs with 45lb plate in lock out position 3x10;
Stability Ball Combo of Lying Back Row with a DB Chest Press (sure does work the trunk rotation - obliques will be sore);
T-Bar Row 3x7@95lbs and finished off with combo Rev Alternating Lunges w/Bicep Curl. Foam Rolling to finish.
7:00AM Post Workout Nutrition: Premier Protein Drink: 30g Protein; 3g Carbs; 3g fat - and the smallest yellow peach I have ever seen about 11g carbs there. 4 Biotest BCAA's
NOTE: Making a change in today's menu lineup. I will be having another small snack at 10:00 am. Taking I3G dose at 12:30 and lunch at 1:30.
10:00AM Cottage Cheese and Celery Sticks
11:00AM 8oz G2 (5g Carbs) Premier Protein Drink (30g Protein; 3g Carbs), 3 Advil ... Major headache started. After getting home took medication for the headache and the hives; went right to bed.
2:30PM I3G
3:30PM Grilled Chicken Salad Sandwich, 4 FA3, 2 Curcumin500
After returning from the gym at 6:00pm I went right back to bed as headache was worse, slept until 7:30pm.
7:30PM Grilled chicken and 1/2 Sweet Potato and Mixed Veggies
8:00PM Went to bed.
NOTE: Usually I take 7 Biotest Elite Pro Mineral Support and 1 Capsule of NSI DHEA an hour before bed. However, because I was just so sick feeling, I ate and went back to bed.

Let me first suggest to ditch all bread, no matter how "whole grain" or brown it is. Let me be blunt: A 355 pound female doesn't need bread. Same with juice, same with milk. (Replace with almond milk.)

Now, you've been on a wild ride, no doubt. And you face some tough challenges. But again, some bluntness: you don't accidentally weigh 500 pounds. Or 355.

You clearly know a thing or two about training, and you kick ass in the gym, so let's get it out there: you have massive issues with food. You may purchase diet plans and believe in a lower carb diet, but you don't always follow them. Again, an educated, hard-training female doesn't weigh 355 while eating clean.

So tell me, what's the issue?

Yes, yes, an accident 5 years ago. But you were overweight before that if I read your profile correctly.

What's the OTHER issue?

I am looking forward to watching your progress. Good luck.

@ CHRIS: Thank you for the input. I am glad to see you are saying (like Nate was suggesting as well) to ditch the bread, juice and milk. I am putting the menu I was using previously to I3G here for you to look at this is what I had been following. I only added in those three things because of the carb calories that were needed with the I3G protocol, so was confused in my situation how that was going to play out.



Prior to I3G I had just bought a case of the Unsweetened Almond Breeze so glad to see that I can bring it out of the pantry. I will pass the juice I purchased on to someone else. Not a problem. I feel so much better without the milk and grain products. I do okay with Quinoa, but rice, breads make me feel bloated with fluid retention.

So in regards to your comment assessment that it must be food related, Romaniello indicated I wasn't eating enough healthy fats. By his calculations I should be taking in 153g spread out between the last meals of the day. I would guess I need to bump that back up.

Yes in my past I did have food issues; my life was filled with processed foods. Some days I would not eat but one meal and of course it was the worst possible food available; which I totally get that's how I ended up 500lbs. Starting with my journey into the fitness world by hiring trainers I lost 100lbs between 1999-2001 when I moved to Hawaii and over the next five years I averaged a loss of 30lbs per year.

After the accident, I put back on 130lbs and it seems like it went on all in the first year after the accident. Sure I was depressed, couldn't remember how to cook and so many other life functions, I couldn't even remember my friends or the things I had learned in the previous years, so I was stuck and what to do. Byron tried in a lot of ways to help me, but he has not had a lot of experience working with obesity. As I was not having trouble loosing the weight before he wondered due to the head trauma if it was now hormone related. I did see a Hormone Specialist who indicated I no longer produce Testosterone, Progesterone, DHEA or Growth Hormone; which he said was why I was not loosing weight. I used a large chunk of the settlement money to pay for replacement therapy which did help. I continue with a DHEA supplement but the other's are a little out of my price range at this time.

In addition, when I get too hot or sweat I get hives; sometimes the hives become a serious reaction which has sent me to the ER three times with anaphylatic shock. I now carry an EPI Pen. I have done all types of allergy testing with no results and they are only brought on my heat. I have learned all the warning signs and can now generally stop them before it gets out of hand. However, because of this my workouts don't get to be as long as I would like. I can usually get a good 30 minute intense workout in.....sometimes with the help of ice and ice cold water I can get through 60 minutes before the first spots start to emerge. One of the I3G Teammates suggested damp shirts in a cooler with Ice Packs and changing shirts during my workout which I will definitely give it a try.

Both of these conditions have only been since the head trauma.

I have been following Joel Marion's weekly cheat day regiment...Maybe that is not good in my case either.

I am open to any and all suggestions....

I will write in detail my intake and workouts from every day while we are on this project. Look forward to your reply.

3:00am I3G
4:00am Pre-workout drink (which will change tomorrow), 2 Curcumin500; 4 Biotest BCAA's; 4 FA3, 2 Fish Oil
5:30am Boot Camp (which consist of the following exercises in 1-Minute Intervals; 3 rounds; 90 seconds rest between rounds; rest time between exercises is only the length of time it takes to get to the next one and start)
Mobility Type Warmup 3-Rounds
Glute Bridges
Two-Handed Rope Snaps
Scapula Wall Slides
Alternating Reverse Lunges

Boot Camp:
Single Handed Rope Snaps (switching hand holds at 30-seconds)
Sledge Hammer On Tire (switching hand holds at 30-seconds)
Prowler Sled (with additional 25lbs): Walk 50 Feet, Sprint 50 Feet (repeat for the one-minute)
Squats w/Back Rows (Rope Suspension system)
Tricep Presses (Rope Suspension system)
Step-Ups (alternating sides)
Bicep Curls (Rope Suspension system)
Tire Flipping
Push-Ups (Rope Suspension system)
Planks & Plank Rocks (length of one-minute)

7:30am Post Nutrition, 4 Biotest BCAA
Premier Protein Drink, 30g Protein, 3g Carbs
8oz G2, 5g Carbs
10:30am I3G
11:30am Lunch, FA3, 2 Fish Oil


2:20pm Snack: Celery sticks, 1 Tablespoon Organic P.Butter, Premier Protein Drink (Van)
5:45pm I3G
6:45pm Dinner: Assorted Veggies stir fried with ginger and 1 Tablespoon lite sodium Shoyu; 1 Tablespoon Organic Coconut Oil; and 6oz of Chicken breast. 4-FA3, 2 Fish Oil; 32oz ice water.
9:00PM Bedtime shake.

First, I would not do a cheat day. Those can be helpful for people who are weeks into a severe diet phase and already on the lean side. But for someone who has food issues and needs to lose weight, that's like telling an alcoholic that one night of drinking is fine.

Your hormone issues are of course very concerning to me. I'm not a doctor, but I can see how that would obviously hamper weight loss.

Still, I know Indigo can help. I'd like to consult with Thibaudeau and maybe Dr. Ziegenfuss, but for now you need to focus your carb intake pre and peri-workout and keep carbs very low the rest of the day. No more juice, etc. Personally, I'd limit carbs to around 100g total per day, with most of those being around the workout time. Remember, Thibaudeau first tested Indigo with a low carb diet and had great results.

For you, the priority must be fat loss, even if that means your gym numbers drop a bit initially. For most people, this is a "look better, feel better, get stronger" type of project. For you, this is life and death. No exaggeration, and I think you know that. It's time to get pissed and get it done.

You have a tremendous tool in Indigo-3G to help you do this and get it done, once and for all. I want to see some amazing "after" pics, and I want you to feel what it's like to get off this roller coaster once and for all.

Hey Chris. Thank you for the reply, yes please consult with them that would be amazing. I know you read in my above profile that I have no other medical issues like heart, diabetes, etc... My only medical issue are that I don't produce the hormones and I get hives. Trust me the hives are scary...but I have learned after three trips to the ER where to draw the line. People in the gym have no problems coming up to me and saying that I have spots showing....they know, they have seen the effects. The Curcumin does help to some degree as it is a histamine blocker as well; which I stack with Tagamet (Level 2 Histamine Blocker).

I do remember reading that Thibaudeau tested with a low carb diet so thats why it was so exciting to me.

I will adjust my menu to move all non green veggie carbs to the morning centered around my pre and peri workout intake and post a new revised copy. Please get back to me so I will know how to proceed.

Yes this is a life or death thing for me. My unique condition will be an additional testing tool for I3G.

I am not sure what you mean by my gym numbers dropping a bit initially.

Okay....off to do my homework.

@CHRIS: Duh .... I totally get what gym numbers mean. Never mind on that question.

BTW....I definitely want to do a second round so I have the full 12 weeks in. So would love to be included when the next batch is available.

@All who are following HawaiiTunya. I have known this woman for almost 9 years. She follows to a "T", every diet and training program, that has been presented to her. That is why I was willing to give up my Limited Edition I3G if she was not chosen. To quote Cuba Gooding Jr. in the movie Jerry Maguire, "I'll (She'll) eat lima beans if you tell me (her) to eat lima beans".

I'm hoping the experts at T-Nation can come up with a plan for her. Because she will follow it. Guaranteed.

Hi Tunya,
I just wanted to wish you the best. I have a lot of weight to lose also, so you are not alone. You have a lot of people here who want to see you succeed.

Thank you Superdad4. Best wishes to you as well.

In my proposed menu for the I3G project I had added in some carbs which I thought needed to be there for the protocol, I just used the wrong ones. So on suggestion by nateshmidt24 and confirmed by Chris...I have made some eliminations. I have been following a cheat day menu that was originally designed by someone else, but will forgo pattern to fully concentrate on the low-carb. These are my two menu's...one for workout days (Monday-Saturday) and my non-workout day (Sunday...but I'm sure you guessed that one).





With some minor changes, going back to my low-carb menu with no high-carb day in the middle of the week or a cheat day on Saturday.

Good posts Mr. Shugart.

@Mutsanah: No reason to kick you out. You're part of the team and I would not have joined this project if I was not going to open mmyself up for constructive criticism. I will see if I can find the Kerrygold Irish Butter here. Living on an island has its advantages and disadvantages....sometimes it is hard to get more unique items here. For a long time only one store carried the Smart Balance and then a couple of years ago they all started carrying it. So I will look. Thank you for the suggestion and thank you for the support and encouragement. I love to cook and experiment with making all meals very healthy and tasty. I will try to post pics of things I put together. May I ask where you're located?

My experience. When I dropped the grains and milk my body changed more quickly then any calorie reduction only plan I ever used. You will get used to it in a short time. Skipping pizza is not a big deal now.

Actually, bcurtis I have noticed in the last few months that I feel better without the grains and had already switched over to Almond Milk. I only added those things back in because I thought they needed to be there for the I3G.

You're right skipping pizza is no big deal...makes my sinuses all stuffy any way. I think I have had 2 slices of pizza in the last three months. Hoping the I3G will help with the fat loss as I do not produce the hormones necessary for this task. So hopefully, the T-Nation team will give me any info they can. Thank you for the input.