Toned and Trim

A total body makeover has Lindsey Piattoly singing a new song.

Lindsey Piattoly, a Baton Rouge native who now lives in Covington, recently lost 45 pounds through a smart combination of exercise and eating right. And, she won $25,000 as a result of her accomplishment.

Piattoly grew up Catholic and always enjoyed the combination of liturgy and music. Growing up, she sang at a number of churches, including St. Pius X in Baton Rouge. At the age of 13, she moved to North Richland Hills, Texas, and she returned to Louisiana for undergraduate study at Louisiana State University. Now, as the director of music ministry at Mary, Queen of Peace Catholic Church in Mandeville, she is responsible for all music that occurs at the church (directing the adult choirs, children’s choirs and handbell choirs; overseeing the youth music director; and planning all music for the adult and children’s services).

The 5-foot-10-inch tall beauty admits that she always struggled with her weight, which yo-yoed up and down over the years. When she stepped on the scale in July 2014, it read 201 pounds. For her height, Piattoly’s ideal weight range is between 132 and 173 pounds. She decided to take matters into her own hands, and she joined the Precision Nutrition Coaching Program (precisionnutrition.com).

With the support of the coaching program, and a regimented exercise plan, Piattoly shed 45 pounds and currently weighs in at a healthy 155 pounds. “Exercise is three days of weight training, two days of high intensity interval training and one day of active recovery (walk and/or jog for 20 to 30 minutes),” she explains. “There is no diet plan — just habits to follow and assignments to do each day to educate you how to change your life. Eat slowly; eat until you’re 80 percent full; eat lean protein with every meal; eat five servings of veggies per day; get enough sleep; eat smart carbohydrates.”
On Staying Motivated
“I changed my life over the last year, and having a goal is of utmost importance,” Piattoly says. “I am training for a powerlifting competition currently, and I need that goal to keep me motivated to lift heavier and heavier each time I go into the gym. The hardest part is getting to the gym. Have a plan, and know exactly what you’re going to do when you walk in. Lift; push; pull. Pick up heavy things — that’s the secret. Girls are strong! We won’t get bulky, because we don’t have the testosterone necessary to build manly muscles.”

Her Fuel
Piattoly starts off her day with a protein shake at 7 a.m. (made with whey protein, PBfit peanut butter powder, half of a banana and almond milk). At 10 a.m., she eats an egg casserole sandwich (one slice of high-protein bread with an egg casserole she makes once per month, containing eggs; ground beef; ground turkey; low-moisture, part-skim mozzarella; kale; spinach; and carrots). Then, three times per day (at 1 p.m., 4 p.m. and 7 p.m.), she has four ounces of meat with two cups of vegetables. And, if she works out before dinner, she adds a half cup of carbs to her meal. “My favorite meal is filet with asparagus,” she says. “Cheat meals are few and far between. I like baked mac from DiCristina’s in Covington.”

Wise Words
“Precision Nutrition is an awesome way to learn all the tools and have all the support necessary to maintain your progress,” Piattoly says. “If you can’t do a program, then have a support system in place; weigh yourself weekly (not daily) to monitor your progress. If you stall, keep doing what you’re doing. Measurements change even when scale weight doesn’t. If you have a slip up with food or skip a day in the gym, don’t give up. Pick up your head, and get right back on your plan. You’re worth it, and you can do it!”