Texas to Kansas - Sunflower state of mind

I took a little break from my blogging.   Many things have gone on in the years of that break.   I moved from north Texas to the much smaller city of Wichita, KS.   It was a bit of an adjustment.  There is so much less traffic, yet they have this east west thing here.  Let me explain.   When I lived near Dallas going across town meant at least an hour drive to go over about 2 cities.  Technically going across town in North Texas is like making a tour of the state of Connecticut.    

In Wichita the is a lovely river call the Arkansas River.  This is pronounced like Are Kansas while in the state of Kansas.   The brief historical background I was given is that in the old days the Delano district was the rougher side of town and when you crossed the river you had to turn in your guns.  Oh my!   Well to this day in Wichita they still struggle to go from one side of town to the other.  They just got a Whole Food Market and a Costco and there needs to be one on each side of town.  

I am enjoying the Sunflower state.  The people are nice.  We have discovered some pretty cool things in the area.   We are still in tourist mode.  I will tell you more and mingle it in with some great health and fitness things I have discovered and continue to discover.  I plan to be much more active.   I have been working at one of the Planet Fitness locations here in Wichita.  I love helping others and this allows me to pursue my passion and purpose in life.   

Until my next entry have a happy healthy awesome kind of day!! 

Health Heroes

     Love the picture of this old piece of exercise equipement I spied at Canton First Monday trade days.

     Even when I weighed 310 lbs I was very interested in health and fitness. I just wasn't doing what needed to be done to get the weight off.  Part of it was due to severe depression. I used to pick up issues of weight loss of fitness magazines and feel awkward.  I just knew people wondered why this huge woman was bothering with these magazines. 

     It just dawned on me the other day that almost every time I have stood in line for an autograph it has a big pop star or artist but the have all been fitness or sports related.

Fitness Expert Kathy Smith - I used to watch her 25+ years ago when she did a cable show with Regis Philbin.

Valerie Bertinelli - Spokeswoman for Jenny Craig.  She just completed her first half-marathon.

Bob Harper - The coach for the Blue team on the show The Biggest Loser (I am addicted to watching these people transform)

Bill Phillips, Author of Body for Life  - It's been about 10 years but I still remember the huge line a the book signing in Mesquite Texas. That poor store was totally not prepared for the HUGE crowd..  The picture above is at a formal dinner hosted by Bill that was celebrating the Make a Wish Foundation of Colorado.

These people are my Rock stars! The people that help you believe it can be done!!! Funny how this little fat girl had the seed of the dream for so long and now she is working to make it come true!  Now I am the personal trainer helping others. 

The other rock stars are the people in the trenches daily taking care of their health each and every day to become their best and personally transform their health and well-being!

The old me is long gone!!!

What do you want to be when you grow up??

What were your hopes and dreams when you were younger? Well perhaps you are still younger? I am 47 but I feel 25. I have learned to appreciation for life and health after losing 145 lbs! Clothes shopping is easier! The knees and back are much happier. Shucks! All my joints and body parts are much happier. 

I fell in to the Information Technology field at the ripe old age of 18 and stayed there for over 25 years!  It was a great field but not something that was allowing me to pursue my passion of helping others.  After my large weight loss and also getting to the source of my emotional eating and my depression I developed a new dream.  My new passion is to help others get their lives and health back! 

Even when I was morbidly obese I was always curious about exercise and especially nutrition.  I found it fascinating.  I had struggles with applying this information due to the emotional eating but still found it intriguing. 

I feel that the source of a lot of obesity is not just what you are putting in your mouth but why.  Some people comfort tough emotional stress with food to stuff down feelings and sadness.  There seems to be thread of fear, depression and sadness in my weight loss clients that have a compulsive nature.   I want to go into coaching to assist people in getting to reach thier goals but help them find the underlying reasons of why they are having difficulty in reaching thier goals.   Frequently acheiving our health goals is an inside job.  I remember Bob Greene, Oprah's trainer, saying, "It's not what you are eating, it's what's eating you!"

I am currently certified as a Russian Kettlebell instuctor and a certified personal trainer.  My personal trainer certifications are through the National Association of Professional Trainers (NFPT) and the National Association of Sports Medicine (NASM).  I am currently working as a personal trainer, starting my new career and the tender young age of 47!  My goal is to continue my education as a trainer and to also become a wellness coach.  Helping others to achieve thier ultimate wellness!   

To pursue this dream I entered the Subway Refresh Your Life Contest.  I have been selected as one of the top 10 finalists in the US.  To help me achieve my dream I need as many votes as possible.   Please go to http://fittoboom.msnbc.msn.com then click on the button on the bottom right of the page.  This will lead you to a second page where it introduces the finalists.  I am listed as Kathleen in Lewisville