WHO the heck am I, anyways? I’m just a kid who grew up in East Texas: daughter of a very respected band director and a terrific mom, sister to three other siblings, all teachers—mostly in music. I met my husband when I was in 9th grade, started dating him my senior year, went to Texas A&M Univ together (whoop !!) in College Station, married him the day after we graduated (my degree was Journalism, his was Marketing). We’ve had 3 wonderful and brilliant kids: Jeb (19 and a senior in college), Kaci (17 and a senior in high school) and Tucker (13 and in his last year in middle school). So to answer my question.. who the heck am I??
- I’m a wife
- I’m a mom
- I’m a journalist
- I’m a musician
- I’m an artist
- I’m a fitness guru
- and now, I’m a blogger !!
So why my interest in fitness? As a kid, I was a normal weight for the most part. I guess I had my ups and downs, but relatively normal weight. I was a very active teenager, practicing drum major and flag routines for band performances in high school and college, so I guess I never considered food and what overeating would do to my body. I worked out so much that I just didn’t have to worry about it. When I got married, I began gaining weight mostly because my life had become sedentary and my diet never changed from what it was as a teenager. With each child born, I gained more weight and was never able or motivated to shed the extra weight. It accumulated, and by the time my third child came along, I was up to 260 lbs. In the year 2000, my New Year’s resolution was to lose the weight. I knew I wasn’t going to have any more children and I wanted dearly to get back into shape. A friend and I began walking at night, 10pm, down her driveway in the country. We both had small kids and there just wasn’t time to do it any other time, so we waited until our husbands were home and the family was settled down for the night. At first, I began losing weight slowly, but rain, late baseball games and other things began interrupting our workout time. I made up my mind to join a gym, where nothing but myself would get in the way.
The gym had childcare, so I was able to exercise during the morning hours, at first speed-walking an inside track. But while making my rotations, I saw a step-aerobics class downstairs that looked like a lot of fun. I had never done anything like it and was intimidated at first just to walk in the door. But after a few more days of watching the fun, I got up the courage to join in on the class. I was terribly awkward and frustrated with myself in the beginning. But with the assurance and encouragement from my instructor and the other members, I began to lose weight swiftly, at a much quicker pace. With the addition of weights, and reducing my portion size in my diet, it wasn’t long until I reached my goal weight of 150 lbs (5’8”). Once I was there, I hit a plateau and could not lose more. I remember struggling to hold my weight, even though I steadily exercised. Any fluctuation in my diet where I’d enjoy a few of my favorite foods, I’d gain a few and then have to relose the weight. For years, I held my weight within 30 lbs, but I struggled all along the way. Only a few years ago did I learn about a higher protein diet coupled with the same amount of carbs and lower fats (40-40-20), which allowed me to eat more food and feel full and satisfied and still hold or reduce my weight. But even in this solution, my motto is and always will be “everything in moderation.” I try not to be too strict on myself, allowing myself some of life’s pleasures (desserts!).. being consistent with my exercise, but changing what I do to work different areas in different ways, all on a regular basis.
The classes I attend are FUN to me; if I can’t feel like I’m having fun with the class, it’s been my experience that I won’t stick with it. I like harder, challenging classes with lots of choreography, but I know that’s not everyone’s cup of tea. I had to find something that suits me, that makes me happy. I attend tough cardio classes such as Les Mills Body Step and Body Attack, fun ‘party-like” classes such as Zumba and Zumba Toning, high calorie-burning summer classes such as Water Aerobics and Water Zumba, challenging, focused classes, like Cardio Ball and Ballet, and boxing/martial arts classes like Turbokick, Karate, and (coming soon) Body Combat. Why do I do so many different kinds of classes ? I LOVE ‘em !! well, and each class is designed with a different function, the main function being “calorie burn.” But also different muscle groups are targeted; therefore, no particular muscle group gets so exhausted that the risk for injury outweighs the exercise. Change is good. And keeps you from getting bored.
Besides cardio classes, toning/weight lifting classes are necessary to help rev up the metabolism and build muscle. If I lose the weight, I want the muscles underneath to look good! So I attend Les Mills Body Pump classes for an all-over workout, pilates class which concentrates on abs and legs (plus a whole lot more), yoga classes which builds strength from within, and I hit the weight room for targeted exercises lifting heavy weights with fewer reps. Which one is better than the other? Nada. Again, each class concentrates on muscles in a different way. To always do the same kind of exercise in the same way leads to a plateau. I change them up so that sometimes I’m shooting for endurance, sometimes I’m building strength, sometimes I’m lengthening muscle. And the last aspect of fitness which I think is important to consider is balance, stretching, and de-stressing. These are the things that make my life better right now and will help me get around more efficiently in the future. Yoga and pilates both focus in these areas.
So where’s my “before” pic? Ok.. here’s the deal. I’ll have to go dig in my paper photos, because my “before” pic is actually 10 YEARS before. I’ll also have to get the scanner hooked up, because we haven’t had reason to use it in a very long time. And to be truthful, I get very apprehensive in showing these pics because I don’t feel they are “me” anymore. It took me a long time to realize and comprehend that my body had shrunk back into my youthful size. And there are a lot of very hightened emotions that go along with losing weight that nobody talks about. Trials and issues with my spouse that had to be worked out. And although most people mean well, it’s always been hard to watch the “unbelief” reaction of my friends when they see what I used to be. The 260 lbs girl is me.. Kelley Moore. The 150 lbs girl is me… Kelley Moore. We are both one and the same, experiencing life in both bodies but with one mind. Kelley…Kelley Moore. Soon.
Ok.. here it is guys… for a before & after shot
Closeup, just months before I began my weightloss journey…
Family Pic, May of 1999
High School Graduation, 1984
June 2000, 6 months into my weightloss journey…
Me today.. 10 years later … and STILL at the GYM :D
Me =]
