Meet Kimberly

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Today I want to introduce you to Kimberly as the person I’d like to highlight in the series “Stronger Together“.

I only just recently “met” Kimberly on the Facebook page and have been overjoyed to see her enthusiasm. 🙂

After reading some posts on the blog, Kimberly contacted me to see how she could be involved and share some of her own journey with you all in the hopes of helping someone else out. I LOVE this and was excited to read more about her life and what brought her to our little community.

I really love how committed she is to changing her life for the better.

I hope that you will be as inspired as I am by her words below.

Kimberly has responded to a series of questions that more or less correspond to the steps I’ve taken in my own journey as outlined in the “How to Lose 100 Pounds” book series.

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1. YOUR Journey and Plan for Weight Loss Success: Please tell us a little bit about your own journey with weight loss and getting healthy?

My journey and plan for weight loss is going to be a long one since I have over 100 pounds to lose, but that’s ok I’m willing to take the time and do it the right way.

My journey started the day after Christmas 12-26-12. I’ve been trying for years to lose weight and never put much effort into it until I met you through Facebook and bought your books. That’s when my inspiration began.

As far as my weight loss plan goes, I’ve reduced my portion size and calorie intake, along with cutting sweets and junk food. I didn’t cut them altogether but a very big portion of them. I’m starting at 278.5 pounds and my goal weight is 150 pounds.

I used to get mad and give up after a week or so when I hadn’t dropped 10 pounds or so. I would go back to eating whatever I wanted and not care until I would step on the scale a week later and gained double what I had lost…then I would start all over again. I’ve done that for years and I’m tired of not succeeding, so this time is very serious and important to me.

I have 2 little boys – a 4 year old and a 1 year old who is starting to walk. I have a very busy life with the 2 of them and I wanna be around for a long time for them. I’m also getting married in a year and a half in June 2014 and for once I wanna wear shorts. I’m 26 years old and have never worn shorts in the summertime. It could be 102 degrees out and I’d wear pants.

2. Finding the Motivation: What is your big WHY for losing weight and getting healthy? How do you stay motivated?

My big why for losing weight is my children and family, especially my children as they are my life. I never felt the kind of love I have in my heart until I had my children. I wanna set a good example for my boys on eating right and exercising. It’s cute because when I do exercise, my oldest joins in with me.  He loves to workout with me and when we’re done he tells me how proud he is of me for working out and that he knew I could do it.

One of my big motivations is your books. I’ve read plenty of weight loss books and it’s nothing but information that they have pulled off the Internet. They never talk about their own personal lives or tell about their success and failures. It’s wonderful to read your books and know that we’re on the same page and you understand what we’re all going through.

My other motivations are my children. They are my reason for waking up in the morning and to keep going and living.

3. Goals and Planning: Are you setting goals for yourself? Please share with us where you are at with your own goal setting and any tips that you might have for this planning process.

My goals and planning for my weight loss is to get more exercise into my routine and watching my food intake and calorie intake. Another goal is that my fiance and I are both working on our weight loss together.  We’re going to start grocery shopping together so we can shop healthier together. I’ve lost 90 pounds before so I know I can do it again and I kind of have a heads up on helping him out and your books are really helping me help him and myself. We both have our milestones set and we both have a weekly goal planned of 2 pounds a week. If we lose more that’s fine with us, but we wanna keep it realistic and not try to reach a goal each week that’s not possible and then be discouraged. This is his first time at losing weight and so far he seems to being doing good.

4. Eating for Weight Loss: Are you following a specific diet or food plan? Any tips for how you deal with challenges in this area?

As of right now we’re not following a specific diet or food plan, but we have made our portions smaller and are eating healthier foods and drinking plenty of water. When I cook I only make enough for one portion for each of us and no extras…that way we’re not tempted to eat more. We drink a protein shake for breakfast due to the fact that we are on the go getting kids around to take to daycare and getting ready for work. They really come in handy and taste great.

As far as challenges in the area of eating “not so good food”, I just picture myself getting bigger and bigger and I see people out and about that are very obese and don’t care for themselves and I think oh heavens no I’m not gonna look like that ever.

5. Exercise for Weight Loss: Do you have an exercise plan currently? Please share your own exercise plan and any tips that you think could be useful for others.

As far as my workout plan goes I’ve slowly begun to work it into my schedule. I have 2 workout dvds from the TV show The Biggest Loser with Bob Harper and I also have a separate workout a trainer has made for me. I plan on rotating all 3 of the workouts into my plan by rotating them every 3 days so I don’t get bored with my workout. When it gets warm out again I plan on walking with the boys like we always do. They love being outside and playing and I love being outside with them.

6. Getting Back on Track (after a gain or just starting out): What words of advice do you have for others who may be struggling to forgive past attempts at weight loss or for those who are just trying to get started? Is there anything else you would like to share?

Well I’m getting back on track after gaining quit a bit of weight. As far as my advice to others who are struggling read Paula’s books…they have a great amount of inspiration in them.

Some of my inspiration is that I have old pictures when I didn’t weigh as much as I do now and I look at them and I also have a picture of a women who weighs 150 pounds so I have a physical goal that I can look at so I can see what I wanna look like. It makes a big difference when you have a picture of what you wanna look like.

I also keep inspiring and motivating quotes and pictures on my phone and on my laptop. so whenever I feel down and don’t think I can do it I look the pictures up and read them and look at them as long as I have to, to get my spirit back up and going.

My words of advice to others who are going through the same lifestyle change as me and all the others is to keep your head up. Be positive about all that you do. I know sometimes it’s not always easy but when you get down about yourself and feel bummed take a deep breath and close your eyes and picture all the good things that are going to happen to you if you stay positive about what your doing. Think of something or a reason that your losing your weight and changing your life and always keep that in the back of your head and your heart.

We all know this is not going to be easy…we’re all going to have faults but don’t let them get you down. Keep your head up and keep going. Tell yourself that you’re going to kick the scales butt and whatever obstacles that may try and get in your way and try to stop you. your gonna beat this just like the rest of us. So good luck to every one of you who has decided to change your life. Congrats!

Kimberly

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A note from Paula…

A BIG thank you to Kimberly for taking the time to share with us all.

I’m so happy she is a part of the Facebook page/community and I’m SO happy you are too. (You are, yes?) 😉

I’d also like to thank Kimberly for the kind words about my “How to Lose 100 Pounds” series – NOTHING makes me feel better than to think that these books are helping you all in some way. 🙂

My hope is that you would comment below with words of encouragement for Kimberly and also share a bit of your own “story” with us all.

Much love,

~ Paula

P.S. Please join us at the Facebook page – I’d love to “meet” you! 🙂