Kathy Ireland first made a name for herself as a famous super model, appearing on countless magazine covers and she went on from there to become quite a successful business woman. The only problem was that, between all the business success and life as a busy mother and wife, she did what so many other women do– let herself go. The catch was, Kathy did not even realize she was letting herself go and it took a non-airbrushed candid family photograph to open her eyes (see photo above).
Before she saw photo she was like many other busy mothers, focusing on all the other necessities that needed to be taken care of rather than taking care of herself. She often found herself skipping workouts and eating on the run or skipping meals altogether.
Taking time to exercise or plan healthy meals for my husband and me seemed like a luxury I could no longer afford,” she says.
This went on for quite awhile–until she saw the snapshot her son so innocently took. She did not like what she saw one bit and even recalls her daughter saying ‘Mom, you look pregnant’.
Then it began floating around the internet and her friends began telling her it was no big deal, that she would “lose the weight, put on a bikini, and go on Oprah.” Yet, for Kathy, it was more than an embarrassment factor; it was a health factor. I wanted to push the delete button. I saw someone who looked overwhelmed, overstressed, overworked, overweight, over. . . everything,” she says.
When Kathy found the courage to step on the scale she found that 25 extra pounds had crept up on her over the years at the rate of about a pound per year and, having lost a close friend to a sudden heart attack at the age of 42, Kathy knew first hand the dangers the extra weight could cause.
Kathy’s friend was thin with no previous symptoms of heart problems, yet tests conducted after his death concluded that his blood contained high triglyceride levels (a type of fat found in the blood) and C-reactive protein (a protein known to increase heart attack risk). His death was because he did not make the time to eat right and exercise or find out the true health of his heart via medical exams.
The memory of her friend’s untimely death, coupled with seeing the photo, left Kathy dumbfounded that the media was making such a big deal about her weight as related to her looks and not her health.
Nobody was asking ‘What are your cholesterol levels? What about your triglycerides?’ For me, it wasn’t about looking a certain way; it was about being healthy,” she explains.
So she hired a personal trainer and nutritionist which led to less snacking, less sweets and more vegetables, fruits, and whole grains. Now, she makes it a point to include salads as part of her family’s meal plans.
Since the photo, Kathy has also made it a point to take the time to exercise and stay fit. Although she will readily admit that organized fitness activities are not her cup of tea, she stretches on a regular basis to help maintain her posture as well as walks, bikes, hikes, swims, and even surfs because she would rather be doing something fun that incorporates physical activity.
Now that she is back to her “normal” weight she likes to share with other women the importance of focusing on your own health.
There is no shame in weight gain and beautiful people come in all shapes and sizes, ” she says, “but don’t put off your health. It’s too important. Every mom I know has a to-do list. Put yourself and your health on that list.
Source http://www.remedylife.com/
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