Ready to be Happy and Healthy!

January 1, 2014
The New Year generally brings about a sense of hope in people. A sense of inspiration that the coming year will be even greater than the previous. But at the end of the day, it is not just a hope that will bring about significant change for the better. It is a drive… a determination for it to be better. Here at CKO Kickboxing, we know our members have that drive. And what better way to see that, then by their very own experiences? Keira from CKO Kickboxing – Madison was ready to be happy and healthy. Are you?

In Keira’s own words…
“I’ve had weight issues my entire life. I’ve been thin (for a brief stint while playing soccer in high school), but for the majority of my life I could be described as “chubby/chunky”. I’ve been on and off Weight Watchers since I was 15. I’d lose, but I’d always gain it back.

It wasn’t until last year that I was called “fat” repeatedly. Whether it was the man blowing through a stop sign and telling me to get my “fat ass” out of the way or the woman in the department store who told me the “larger sizes” were downstairs.

It wasn’t until last year that I fell into the “obese” category at my doctor’s office and was at my heaviest: 215 lbs. I was diagnosed pre-diabetic, but told I’d be diabetic if I kept living the way that I was living.

I was tired. I was constantly tired. I felt like I was in so deep that the road to being healthy just looked..too long. It was easier to be fat. It was easier to be invisible at bars and parties where people saw you as the “funny one”. It was easier, but, for me, it was miserable most of the time.

August 2012- I signed up at CKO Kickboxing – Madison after seeing a couple of friends get amazing results. I took a few classes, but then got a temp job working in the city and never made time for them. I remember being in the plus-size winter coat department (located in the basement of Macy’s in Herald Square) in December and not recognizing myself when I looked in the mirror. My skin was awful. My hair had thinned out. I was out of breath after trying on three coats. Something needed to change.

January 2013- My temp job ended and I headed back to CKO Kickboxing. I had time now as I was looking for a full-time job. I could make my own work out schedule. So I did. I started going to a class 4 times a week. After a couple of months, I increased it to 5 times a week. I felt good as I started to see results and was gaining confidence. I even worked out in a tank top for the first time in my life!

This past September, after seeing how committed I was, the gym brought me on to a program where I received nutrition advice and personal training twice a week for 2 months. The fact that they recognized my hard work was added motivation.

Just a few days ago, right before the new year, I hit my 50 lb goal. It’s not my last goal, but in all the years of my weight fluctuating, I’ve never put 50 lbs together. I’m proud of it. I’m proud of it because I worked my ass off for it. I scheduled it around work. I walked uptown every day in the rain, snow, sweltering heat, freezing cold, whatever. I made it to that class because I knew how good I’d feel after it. I lessened (not eliminated) carbs (my bff) and sugar. I started eating food I never thought I would… like roasted vegetables.

And I feel better than good. I feel great. I feel healthy. I have energy. I have a confidence I don’t think I’ve ever had before. My life changed in a lot of ways, but I think above anything, I realized that I was keeping that weight on for a reason. My entire life, that weight was my security blanket and kept me safe. Letting go of it was scary and anxiety-inducing. It made me vulnerable. I remember having panic attacks on a monthly basis because of it (and sometimes still do). But I kept going. I kept going because it was worth it. I realized I deserved it and I was ready. CKO Kickboxing helped me realize that I was ready to finally live the life I was meant to live. I was ready to be happy and healthy. And I am.”