Before Kasandra Balbuena’s journey with The 15 Day Challenge began, she sunk under the impact of a nasty divorce that ended an abusive relationship. Settling the divorce and realizing that she would be a single mother of three children took a physical and mental toll on her, causing her to gain weight. After her divorce was settled, she sought ways to move on and leave the weight on her mind, body, and spirit behind her. For Balbuena, The 15 Day Challenge served as a catalyst for change.
Maria DiGrazia, the first ever winner of The 15 Day $25K Contest, inspired Balbuena to join the challenge. The two had grown close, with Balbuena’s children and DiGrazia’s adopted son being half-siblings. When Balbuena saw DiGrazia’s transformation on social media, she reached out to ask about the contest, sensing that she needed to begin the same journey not only for herself but for her children.
Throughout her challenge, Balbuena worked to carve out time for herself and listen to her body to understand what it needed. She started exercising at the gym three times a week, taking walks for 20 to 30 minutes, and strengthening her muscles by boxing—she even used points that she had earned at work to purchase an exercise bike!
Balbuena also prioritized education for her whole family, learning about the importance of various food groups and breaking down food’s impact on the body. Throughout her challenge, she focused on portion control and training her body to “eat for fuel, not to be full.” She compared the human body to a car: If you don’t take care of it, it won’t operate correctly and will begin to break down. She carried this attitude into her diet, limiting her sweets and eating more vegetables. She also drank more water than ever, up to 40 ounces on a typical day, though she admitted that she struggled to increase her water intake. On days when she didn’t drink as much as she hoped, she remembered to forgive herself and understand that she was still making progress: “I’m human, and I have days where I’m just not as motivated, but I have to remember what I’m doing and why I’m doing it and keep pushing.”
Throughout Season 2 of The 15 Day $25K Contest, Balbuena lost a total of 30 pounds and felt that her life had “changed for the better,” with more energy, awareness, and confidence in herself. “My life was just in constant motion but not really going anywhere,” she said. “Now I’m moving forward and making goals happen.” She claimed that The 15 Day Challenge had a positive impact on her and her children. “I feel like I’m able to go longer, and that just helps me be a better mother,” she said. “I chose to walk in an audacious faith and do something risky that I’ve never done before. Seeing that before and after, I just want to keep going. I didn’t realize my own potential.”
Kasandra has completed six challenges!
She has lost 30 pounds since November 1!*
She used NutraBurst® and Fruit Punch Iaso® Instant Tea.**
*Results achieved through one or more TLC 15 Day Challenge cycles combined with a low calorie, balanced diet, and regular physical activity.
**Individual results are not guaranteed and may vary from person to person. Taking TLC Products is not a substitute for a reduced-calorie diet and exercise if you are trying to lose weight. You should always consult a physician before starting any weight loss or fitness regime.
English
Arabic
Chinese (Simplified)
Dutch
French
German
Italian
Portuguese
Russian
Spanish