Here’s our latest skinny wisdom interview as we seek to learn from those who are on their way to mastering their health.
If you’d like to be considered for an interview, drop me a note and we can chat about specifics.
Kelley
“Focus less on a ‘slender body’ and more on feeding your body good foods. Eat a variety of fresh veggies, whole grains, dairy, and meats or whatever from that list you feel comfortable eating.” ~ Kelley
OVERVIEW
How old are you (and spouse if applicable, plus how long you’ve been married)?
I am 37 and my husband is 38. We have been married for 16 years.
Do you have kids/family (if so, how old are they)?
We have three children: Jac (11), Joseph (9), and Uriah (5).
What area of the country do you live in (and urban or rural)?
We live just outside of Savannah, Georgia, in a quiet neighborhood in a small town. We are a military family. My husband has been in the Army since 2000.
What do you do for a living?
I’m predominantly a stay-home-mom. I have a degree in Political Science, but help women lose weight online through nutrition coaching and personal training. I also teach classes at a local gym and run my blog.
What is your current weight and height?
I’m about 5’3″ and weigh about 140 lbs.
FOOD
Describe what you eat in the course of a typical day. Please be specific! How do you eat differently on the weekends or special occasions?
I typically eat what I want, but I love fruit. I especially love watermelon in the summer, so I’m very happy [then]. I also eat lots of veggies (whatever I feel like cooking, but I’ve never met a veggie I disliked). I also eat a lot of eggs, pasta, and lean proteins.
What are your food rules, if any?
I don’t really have a set of rules. I try to make most of our meals from scratch. 1. I love to cook good food. 2. I know what I’m putting in it.
What food(s) will you not eat, specifically because it will derail your health or weight, and why?
There isn’t a food I will specifically not eat for health, but I honestly don’t love cheese (though as I’ve gotten older I can tolerate it more), and I don’t love mayonnaise (though I will occasionally have chicken salad or coleslaw…and it’s very occasional).
I love cake. (And other homemade baked goods.) But homemade cake is by far my most favorite…with ice cream. I make them for my kids’ birthdays and for my husband. But I only keep it around for that time.
Do you take any vitamins or supplements?
I drink magnesium to help me relax and sleep better at night.
How do you emotionally think about food? Is it a large part of your life?
I would say I enjoy food. I love coming up with new recipes and watching cooking shows. It also brings me great joy when someone compliments my cooking (especially my family). I’m also from the South where food surrounds all of our family get-togethers.
Have you ever gained weight (10 lbs or more); if so, what were the circumstances?
Yes. I gained 40 pounds with each of my pregnancies, and didn’t lose it all after my first. So I had to work hard to get the weight off. I also have gained about 20 pounds over the last two years. About ten is probably muscle…the rest is fat that I’m currently and consciously trying to lose as of the last couple weeks, actually.
Did you lose the weight and if so, how did you accomplish this? How long did it take?
The weight from the pregnancies was gone in six to nine months. The current weight I’m trying to lose is mostly because my clothes are tighter than I’d like. I think I’d feel better in the mid-130s.
If you had a baby, what was the process like after childbirth to lose any baby weight?
I nursed so I couldn’t take my calories low. I probably kept them between 1800-2200, depending on the time, and I definitely worked out.
How would your friends describe you and your relationship to food?
I would think they would describe it as healthy. I can go out, and don’t let a “diet” restrict or control my social life.
FITNESS
Do you exercise or do any physical activity and why?
Absolutely. I lift weights [and] do high-intensity interval training, as well as train Brazilian Jiu Jitsu.
If you exercise, how often and how consistent are you? Do you take time off?
I work out at least five days a week, but usually six. If I feel like I’m not completely recovering after training, I’ll take a day or two off.
How do you emotionally think about exercise? Is it a chore, a stress outlet, positive, negative, etc?
I’ve been consistently working out for eight years now. It’s just part of what I do now. Jiu Jitsu is definitely a stress outlet. Sometimes, when I’m not feeling up to it, working out can feel like a chore, but I still do something, even if it’s only 15-30 minutes.
YOUTH
Growing up, how did you think about food and what, if anything, changed over time?
I actually didn’t enjoy food as a child. I was sick a lot, and my mom would have to force me to eat.
Was there a specific event in your childhood, either positive or negative, that you remember even to this day?
I do remember my mom telling me in high school that I had big thighs. It took me a long time to accept them and recognize them for their strength instead of size.
What were meals like in your family growing up?
Mostly home-cooked. My mom is a great cook, too. So was my grandma. So I’ve always been around good, home-cooked meals. We also had a garden when I was little, and my grandpa was a farmer. We had lots of fresh veggies and fruit in the summer, and my mom would can them.
How did your family or those around you influence you about food when you were young?
I think once I wasn’t sick all the time I was able to enjoy my food a lot more. I learned my food and cooking basics from my mom and grandma.
Who influences or teaches you about food today, if anyone? Or…”I never think about it”?
If I’m interested to know something, I check out different articles on it. It’s very frustrating these days (in some ways) the access to information we have. I feel like unqualified people give advice with a slant that will somehow benefit them and their pockets. I have a nutrition certification through Precision Nutrition, and that’s where I get most of my information and education.
PHILOSOPHY
What would you teach your children (or others) about food for them to have a healthy, slender body?
I would focus less on a “slender body” and more on feeding your body good foods. Eat a variety of fresh veggies, whole grains, dairy, and meats or whatever from that list you feel comfortable eating.
What is your best piece of advice to the readers of this blog about how to live a healthy slender life?
Again, I would focus on a well balanced diet overall. Focus on how you feel and how it fuels your body. Get in the kitchen with fresh ingredients and experiment with flavors.
~Kelley
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