Today we’d like to introduce you to Khara Ashburne.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Khara. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
My transition began in the fall of 2015. I reached my highest weight of 247 lbs and I had accepted that I would forever be plus sized. To be honest, I wasn’t even sad about it, I thought it was who I was at that point after two decades of progressive weight gain. Like anyone else who struggled with weight, I’d been gaining and losing the same 20 lbs for years. It was the same sad conversation on repeat.
In November of the same year, a friend of mine suggested I join an alkaline plant-based Facebook group for recipe ideas and inspiration. I jumped on it being the foodie that I am. After a few days of reviewing posts, I felt a strong Spiritual conviction that this was the path for me. Yet at the same time, I knew that I was completely addicted to foods that were literally killing me. I took some time to think it through and realized that if I was going to be successful this time I had to do EVERYTHING different than any other time before.
I determined that I was a food addict. I decided that the best first step was to commit my journey this time to God. In the past I never considered it to be a matter of Spirituality. I prayed to the Lord and asked Him to make me sick if I ate something I shouldn’t. As we all do when we start a new diet, I determined I would begin on Sunday (it was Thursday). On Friday, I treated myself out to my typical fattening breakfast at a local spot in downtown Atlanta. I made it halfway through the plate of cheese eggs, hash browns, french toast, and chicken sausage – and felt nauseous. My stomach is normally made of IRON. But not on that day! I knew that was my definitive sign. I went to the grocery store that very afternoon and loaded up on salad and every healthy thing I could find. I didn’t know exactly what my plan was, but I knew I couldn’t go back.
It wasn’t easy. In my first 60 days, I had SO many failed meals. I threw SO much food out because it just didn’t taste good. But I knew I couldn’t turn back. It was as if I felt even then there was a greater purpose at work. So I pressed. I finally got a few good recipes under my belt and that increased my confidence. Between November 2015 and August 2016, God blessed me to release over 60 lbs through a combination of dietary changes and fasting.
In addition to losing weight, I felt my personality shifting. I didn’t just shed weight, I also shed a ton of anger, bitterness, and feelings of ill will towards others. It was incredible. I felt SO FREE! Through this process, others were inspired by my journey. A friend suggested I start coaching people on how to do what I did. This had NEVER occurred to me. My only goal was to lower my cholesterol and reverse my diabetes. But she PRESSED me and I decided to see if others would be interested.
Within two months I had seven clients! Those seven clients eventually turned into a faith-based group program called, “The Rebirth Experience”. Since that time in 2016, I’ve helped over 100 women and inspired many more to take their own health back. I now continue to offer group and individual coaching providing support, accountability, and structure to help women “lose weight by faith”. It is an hour and a privilege.
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
Whew. Major life changes are NEVER easy. My greatest struggle initially was simply bad food. I didn’t just transition myself, I also forced my family to go cold turkey (when at home). And let me tell you, they were miserable! My four-year-old son was particularly upset to the point where one day he called me a “fat bad cooker”. I was SO upset behind that! I think I hit a true low. I never knew weight loss could be so emotional.
Once I cracked the code on healthier foods, everything shifted and I was able to keep pressing. Now I tell my clients to PRAY over their hands before preparing meals. It truly does make a difference!
So, as you know, we’re impressed with The Rebirth Experience – tell our readers more, for example, what you’re most proud of as a company and what sets you apart from others.
My company and program is called The Rebirth Experience. Unlike many other weight loss programs we are known for two distinct things, first of all, we lose weight by FAITH. GOD gives us the strength to keep pressing in our efforts even when we fall down. And secondly, we don’t just focus on food. We pay attention to every single area of our lives that threatens to thwart our goal to live a healthier lifestyle. We discuss everything from career, to education goals, to personal relationships and faith.
I am most proud of the fact that I change no one. God does the work. I just watch.
So, what’s next? Any big plans?
In the future, I plan to speak and inspire on a much larger scale while also growing my group and individual coaching practice. Several of my current members are also positioned to become coaches themselves within The Rebirth Experience. I am also in the process of finishing several books that will help women stay the course with their healthy lifestyle and stop dieting for good.
Pricing:
- Group coaching – $37/mth-to-mth
- Individual coaching – $297/mth-to-mth (3 month minimum commitment)
Contact Info:
- Website: www.kharaashburne.com
- Phone: WhatsApp # is 16783611606
- Email: coachk@kharaashburne.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachkhara/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachkhara/
- Other: https://www.youtube.com/c/CoachKhara
Getting in touch: VoyageATL is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you know someone who deserves recognition please let us know here.
