Pictures don't lie: kicking the junk-food habit kicked her love of fitness into high gear

Muscle & Fitness/Hers, Jan-Feb, 2005 by Teresa Hunt-Kilgore

MY SENIOR YEAR of high school, I was voted most athletic. Fast-forward two years, and work and school left me little time for exercise. I ate on the run, primarily at the drive-thru or the campus cafeteria. After college, I started working as a police officer and got married. My weight climbed.

As my health deteriorated, so did my marriage. I was addicted to all the wrong foods and became what some would call an emotional eater. Late nights were often a feeding frenzy. My work uniforms piled up as the pounds piled on and I'd have to order larger sizes.

I went on vacation in the spring of 2002 and couldn't wait to get the pictures back. But when I saw them, I was shocked. My weight had gone from 125 to 180, and pictures don't lie. That's when I decided to make some drastic, life-altering changes, not only for my body but also for my mind.

TAKING CONTROL

I went from being a food addict to a magazine addict, reading everything on fitness and nutrition that I could. I was determined to get control of my life, and one of my first steps was to join a gym. I also started keeping a workout journal, and that's one of the best things I could've done.

As my fitness level improved, so did my attitude. Slowly, my weight started to drop, and for the first time in years my clothes fit a little looser. When my weight loss plateaued, I decided to talk to a trainer. I had already cut out fast and fried foods, but he educated me on proteins, fats and carbs. He also suggested I enter a contest that was three months away. The goal we set--getting onstage and bringing home a trophy--proved to be the hardest thing I've ever done. In three months my bodyfat dropped significantly, and I placed third at my first show.

ON TOP OF THE WORLD

When I started my journey 2 1/2 years ago, I never dreamed that I would go from a size 14 to a 4. But the other big change is my mental outlook: I no longer have a dependency on junk foods, and the energy I get from working out is unreal.

Healthy fruits, vegetables and lean meats have replaced the junk food in my diet, although I allow myself a treat now and then. I generally train about five days a week, changing my routine almost weekly, depending on how I feel that particular day.

Last spring I entered the same contest and placed first in my class--motivation enough to work on getting my trainer's certification so I can help other people like my trainer helped me. He put me on top of the world, and I want to do the same and help other people realize their potential.

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