My name is Kristi Carroll.  I’m 28, married and a mother of two rambunctious boys.  I also weigh about 260lbs.  This was not always the case, but of course, life happens.  Once upon a time, I was in the prime of my youth…. Maybe I’ll start this testimonial there.
                I was always a “thicker” child.  Call it genetics, call it a bad metabolism, or call it just dumb luck, but I always had to work hard to have a good figure.  When I was fifteen years old I was in my prime.  I was 5’11 and 170lbs.  I played High School Volleyball, and ran almost every day.  Still the thing that kept me most in shape was kickboxing and Muay Thai training with Master Mehrdad.
Talk about a workout!  The most amazing thing about it was the way that I felt about myself.  I walked with my head held high and pride in what I was doing.  I was really into it until, of course, I met a boy.  Needless to say… I quit.  My body also quit right behind me.
                Over the course of twelve years I finished high school, went to college, got married and had babies.  Also during those twelve years, I gained about 165lbs.  I know…ouch!  I know what you’re thinking… how in the world did you gain so much weight?  Well… so am I!  It came fast and yet I didn’t see it until it was already overwhelming.  My first son definitely helped.  Yes, he was a big boy.  I like to say that I had a 10.2 lb baby boy and a 90 lb placenta.  Unfortunately, that 90 lbs didn’t go away and unfortunately began to multiply.  Now, in my defense I did have some big hormone problems that didn’t really allow me to lose the weight but… I didn’t stay the same either.  Fortunately for me, after I had my second son, I made a decision.  I was going to die.
                I came to the realization that at about 335lbs and 27 years of age, I was going to die.  Maybe not today, but soon if I didn’t do something.  Who knows what my death certificate would read.  You pick: Diabetes, Heart Disease, Brain Aneurism, Cancer… there were so many choices.  It was then that I did something drastic… I got the Lap-Band Surgery.
                In July of 2010, I got the Lap-Band Surgery and was forced to eat dramatically less than what I ate before.  I went from a grown man’s portion size to a child’s portion size.  I did really well.  I lost about 50lbs or so.  Until something happened…I stopped losing weight.  I mean a pound here, a pound there but I had hit my mark at 280lbs.  Well, that was just not acceptable for me.  So, I realized that diet was just not going to be enough… just like I did when I was fifteen, I was going to have to work for it. 
                Now I find myself back at Master Mehrdad’s Martial Arts & Muay Thai Gym.  I could kick myself for quitting.  I feel great!  I started less than two months ago and I am down to 260lbs and I have all the energy in the world.  In fact, after only three weeks of doing this, I went back to my doctor and they weighed me.  They told me that in that time I had lost 4 pounds of fat and replaced 3 pounds of fat with muscle. 
I have been doing Kickboxing and Muay Thai three times a week on my lunch break and Zumba® twice a week while my older child does Karate/Hapkido with Master Mehrdad.  Yes, even he got into the action!  I don’t know why I ever left.  I feel so energized and alert. 
                But it hasn’t been all fun and games.  I did have one bump in the road, make that a car.  Yes, I got into a car accident last week.  I was T-boned on my driver’s side.  Surprisingly enough, after the accident I didn’t feel that hurt.  A little sore in my neck and shoulder from my seat belt, but that’s it.  When I saw the doctor that day he wanted to see me back to make sure I didn’t feel it later, but when I came back I still wasn’t sore.  He asked me about my physical activity level.  After telling him everything I have been doing, including going to Kickboxing two hours before the accident, he smiled and said he wasn’t surprised anymore.  Of course, this kind of surprised me, but he then explained that the more you stretch and use your muscles the more elasticity they have.  My muscles literally bounced right back. 
So here I am.  Still overweight.  Still at risk, but you better believe that I am not going down without a fight.  I’m working my butt off and seeing results!  I am down from a size 3x to a comfortable 1x.  I’m still not where I was when I was fifteen and maybe I never will be, but instead of me working to keep up with my kids… one day, my kids are going to have to work to keep up with me.

Tina Smith (Student since 1998 to present)
Hair Stylist/Technician

I have been a student in Master Mehrdad's Muay Thai Kickboxing and Yoga classes since 1998. I enjoy Master Mehrdad's classes because they are challenging, fun, rewarding, and build your self-confidence. Since taking Master Mehrdad's classes, I am in the best shape in years and my strength, flexibility, and stamina have greatly improved.

Master Mehrdad is an excellent teacher and motivator who constantly challenges us to perform at our highest level.