Meet Kelly – 65 pounds lost/Weight Loss Superstar!

I thought it would be nice to start out the New Year with some inspiring stories of people who have done an awesome job losing weight.

I’d like you to meet Kelly. She is a Mom of 4, her husband is in the military, and she home schools her children, so if a busy Mom like that can do it, so can we!

The following are the questions I asked her:

1). What was your “Aha” moment when you decided you needed to do something about your weight?

I was always fit before I did back to back twin pregnancies. I used to do biathlons in the military and have even come in first place! However we wanted more children, I had some medical issues, so we did IVF twice successfully with both twin pregnancies. We lost one twin on the last pregnancy but not until half way through. So, I still gained all the weight of a second twin pregnancy. With that said, I did both in my mid thirties (35) back to back. I gained over 60-70 lbs by the time I was done with the second pregnancy.

I knew I had to lose it. However, I was never a good nutritious eater. Even as a fit person. Things had to change for me there too.

2). Had you tried to lose weight in the past – were you successful when you tried?

No, I never had to before I had these back to back pregnancies. I was one of those people that fat people hated. I ate whatever I wanted and never gained a pound. Until….now I know what its like. I am humbled.

3). How do you find time for yourself to concentrate on losing weight?

It was a tricky situation for me, First, I found out I had an auto immune disease. Lupus – it came up on an ANA test and several others. I was sick all the time. My husband was in Iraq, I was homeschooling 4 kids, and I felt like I had the flu all the time. It was horrible. I could barely keep up. I needed to pull it together, go to the gym. I chose the YMCA and started exercising. I started studying causes of lupus, and went to many holisitic websites, and gluten kept popping up. I decided to cut gluten out of my diet. The weight started coming off, and even faster with ZUMBA. I danced it off! It was the funnest way to lose weight. My kids had a gym class that they enjoyed as well, so it was a 2 hour break for me and fun for them. WIN WIN!

I started taking college courses again, and used my GI Bill at American College of Healthcare Sciences to get a degree in Holistic Practioner, Master Herbalist and Nutrition.

I wanted to help others dealing with auto immune diseases and obesity. It is a serious epidemic in America, and I think diabetes is also linked to this.

4). What kept you going? Were there times where you wanted to give up?

I can’t be sick, and homeschool 4 kids with a deployed husband, I can’t make it like that. This alone was reason enough for me to get healthy.

5). How has maintenance been, is maintaining harder than losing weight?

Because I am gluten free I do not gain the weight. I exercise regularly, and eat nutritiously with butcher meats that are grass fed and gluten feed free. I eat only organic fruits and veggies. Nuts, and quinoa, and brown rice. All desserts and snacks are gluten free as well. I shop at Trader Joes for the rest.

6). Did you exercise while losing weight, if so, what do you like to do for exercise.

I love to dance, I have been dancing since I was little, prefessionally and for fun. Even coaching and teaching. So when ZUMBA came out it was right up my alley. It was not only an awesome work out, but it helped me lose weight and I couldn’t wait to go back and do it the next day.

7). What are some tips that helped you a long the way?

Dont listen to cynical people. People without the drive, or who are jealous or judgemental of your success. Stay away from them, they will bring you down. When they are ready to lose the weight they will come to you. I tried to explain to many of my over weight friends the importance of gluten free. They all want to know how you lost the weight, but don’t want to make the effort to lose it.

8). Did you have people in your life that weren’t positive towards the changes you were making?

Absolutely, they thought gluten was ridiculous, now more and more people are linking it. So the word is getting out, I am a poster child for going gluten free.

9). What was a typical eating day like when you were heavy?

I didn’t care what I ate, or what was in it. That was the problem. Bread and pasta and dessert everyday. Especially when I was pregnant with twins.

10). What is a typical eating day like now that you are eating healthier?

Only organic veggies, fruits, nuts, brown rice and quinoa and meats from the butcher. Know your butcher, know your meats.

11). What are some of the things you’ve been able to do now that you’ve lost the weight?

I have energy to keep up. I don’t need naps with my kids. I can go all day and keep going. I feel great, healthier and stronger and in better shape than I’ve ever been.

I don’t feel depressed from bad fods. My chemicals are balanced and so are my hormones.

I am glad to get rid of toxins. I do not take any prescription drugs of any kind anymore either.

12). What was different this time that made you successful in losing the weight?

My kids were my encouragement. I look at them, and know I have to do it for them to be a good mother. If I kept going the way I was – I was robbing them of precious time due to illness, and exhaustion. It’s not fair to them.

And, here’s her beautiful family!

If you’ve missed the 16 other people I interviewed, CLICK HERE to read about these incredible people!

Great job Kelly! Thanks so much for sharing your story!!

I wanted this post to be all about Kelly, so come back tomorrow for my 2nd week weigh in, last week I lost over 5 pounds so the big question is…did I lose this week?? You’ll have to check back tomorrow! 🙂