Dana Kaye Started Her Health Kick And Found Herself Fitter

Dana Kaye is a mother of three who overcame her love of volume eating, twin pregnancy weight gain and knee surgery.

Vital stats

Before: 140lb

After: 128lb

TRAIN for HER: How has your weight seesawed over the years?

Being a volume eater and an athlete made keeping the weight off difficult for me. I was always trying to out train the food I ate, but we all know that’s just not possible. For many years I had a very “all or nothing” mindset. I could control my weight if I stayed very strict and on a diet plan but if I was “off” then I ate everything in my path and a lot of it! I got into great shape for my wedding day but, once I got pregnant on my honeymoon with my first baby, my weight skyrocketed up to a staggering 210lb. Once I gave birth to an 8lb baby boy, I stood in the mirror one morning, completely devastated, looking at a body I didn’t recognize, with 70lb to lose.

What was your turning point?

I lost most of the weight during the next two years after my son was born. However, it was slow due to a skiing accident where I tore my ACL, which was followed by a motorcycle accident. My training slowed down quite a bit before and after knee surgery and the accident. I was more focused on rehabbing my body back to good health. A month later I was pregnant again with twins!

What was the first step you took toward gaining control?

I stuck to my plans and took my meals wherever I went. I started waking up before my three babies at 5am to do my cardio and get in my weight training. My days were exhausting but I knew in order for me to be the happiest, best mom, I had to make sure I also took care of myself.

How did you change your diet in the beginning?

Boring and bland foods is what led me to fall off track and gain weight! You have to love your foods or you won’t stick with you plan. I started to make big protein fluff ice creams, added flavored Stevia to my clean foods and always loaded up on veggies when my huge appetite kicked in.

When did you get serious about your training routine?

I have always been serious about my training. I love weight training. It’s my passion. I was doing classic bodybuilding with cardio for
years. I taught spinning and was always open to taking new classes but, in recent years, I started training with my current training partner, Ray Giacobbe. He has helped me take my training and physique to the next level. No two workouts are the same. We do everything from classic
weightlifting to track workouts, tire flipping, CrossFit WODs and plyometrics. It has really kept my body guessing because I’m always working outside
of my comfort zone, pushing myself harder all the time.

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