Today we’d like to introduce you to Christina Bryant.
Christina, before we jump into specific questions about your work, why don’t you give us some details about you and your story.
Born in Warner Robins, GA to a strong woman and stead-fast in my faith, my journey hasn’t been comfortable. I was bound for a happy ending, even if it meant it would be on my terms. I have been known to initiate the joking about my weight to retain the power in being the one who brought it up first but still teased relentlessly through my younger years. It wasn’t until high school that I found my love of singing and used my superpower to launch myself-esteem.
Upon graduating from high school, I attended Middle Georgia College and started dating my future husband soon after. My passion for fashion took me into another direction, and I opened a jewelry business branded as URGE2SHOP. After many years of long-distance dating, I married and divorced my now ex-husband.
So there I was, at 29 years old, divorced, overweight, depressed, and insecure. My doctor diagnosed me with depression and high blood pressure. That was when my mom shot it to me straight as she always does, “Chrissy! You will either eat this divorce or let it eat you.” She was right there with me, meal planning, going to the track to work out on weekends; we motivated each other to start this journey together. She wasn’t going to let me fail, and still won’t.
I started at my highest weight of 270 lbs. Five years later, at 136 lbs as my stage weight. I keep my motivation by going hard for those who can’t and the ones who need that one word to get started! Under the direction of my incredible coach James Seals Sr, MRFIT2FLEXX as they call him, I’ve been able to stay disciplined, work on myself, and build a stronger relationship with God. My favorite Bible verse is Isaiah 40:31, which says, “but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
I’ve also found my calling as an account executive in marketing while going back to school to pursue a degree in Human Resources and Public Administration. In five to ten years, I’d love to be a professional body builder with my own gym studio, helping people take that first step and stay consistent. Through this journey, I’ve learned discipline and self- control over my emotions. There’s always that moment right when the devil says you’re not strong enough to weather the storm, and I whisper back I AM THE STORM!!
If you would’ve told fried chicken loving Tina six years ago that she’d be competing in a bodybuilding competition, she’d say you were crazy. That Tina is still in me, and I’m not ashamed of that. I remind people of where I once was in the hope of inspiring someone at their lowest point. Every journey has to start somewhere, and this is mine! Fast forward to 2019, and Christina has obtained her IFBB Pro card and is in preparation to make her IFBB Pro debut in 2020. She is an online personal trainer and part-time personal trainer at Edge Fitness in Warner Robins, Georgia.
I will be featured in my own documentary about my story in April 2020 on the amazon prime video network. The name of the documentary series is called You become Inspired.
We’d love to hear more about your work.
The road has definitely been full of ups and downs, with some smooth moments. When I started my weight loss journey, I planned to get in shape and create a healthier lifestyle—so stepping on stage brought on a new venture that requires a whole different level of discipline, consistency, and mind frame. Being able to keep that champion mindset consistently takes a lot from you each day. Once I created a routine, wrote out my plans, and set boundaries for myself, I was able to make things a lot easier with my training business as well as my philanthropy efforts.
We’d love to hear more about your business.
My Training business is named after to me, @theprettylifta, I specialize in helping men and woman not only reach their weight loss goal and to create a healthy lifestyle for themselves, but also finding that self-love and confidence that may have been lost along their path. As a personal trainer and competitor, I am most proud that I reached my Professional bodybuilder status in 2019, I still can’t believe that I went from 270 pounds to 136 pounds and become a sponsored IFBB professional bodybuilder. I think that my weight loss journey is what sets me apart in the fitness industry because I have been through every trial that a person may have while trying to get on track to a healthy lifestyle. I can be an example to them on what happens when you step out of your comfort zone, and with hard work and dedication they too can achieve any goal they set out to accomplish. I take the initiative to adopt two classrooms each year at the elementary school level to help with school supplies and healthier snack options for the teachers in my area. I am a firm believer that health and wellness is practiced and should be taught from an early age to children.
What were you like growing up?
Growing up, I was an outgoing, independent, bubbly ball of energy. I was overweight as a kid, which at times became difficult growing up because of the bullying and things that were said to me about my weight and appearance. Once I entered high school, I blossomed into a theater student, and my confidence went through the roof. I stepped on stage, and it changed my life, the lights and the audience had my full attention, and I loved every minute of it. The singing, dancing, and acting gave me a sense of purpose and a family to belong to.
Contact Info:
- Address: 400 everwood ct
Kathleen, GA 31047 - Website: theprettylifta.com
- Phone: 4785082585
- Email: theprettylifta478@gmail.com
- Instagram: @theprettylifta
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/christina.bryant.796
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCIalz7PrFbgWEmLRHeoGLDg
Image Credit:
Michael Martin Photography
Exodus Photography
NPC News Online
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