i am committed!

(healthy) food for finance is a column where we talk about how fitness and finance correlate with each other. join us on our journey to be both physically and financially fit.

I have to brag on my on my husband! He gets the husband of the century award!

My 1st trimester was a big carb-fest for me. It was the only thing I could keep in my belly that made me feel better. Poor Kyle started to gain a little weight.

So he decided to go to weight watchers to lose some pounds! (he only needed to lose 10-12 pounds) He was going to do it online (to learn the new system) but then we talked about asking my mom to go. She said yes. So every Thursday, Kyle and my mom went to WW.

I have not heard of a husband that would go to WW with their MIL!! It is unheard of. And everyone in their class loved that they came every week. He melted lots of hearts. They'd say "what a great SIL you are" to Kyle. He'd just smile!

On top of that, he went to the WW meeting that is held about 1/4th of a mile from my parents. He works 20 minutes south from my parent's house and we live another 20 minutes south of that. So basically after work, he'd head the opposite way to meet mom at WW, then have to drive 40 minutes home.

That is commitment! To me, my mom, and health! This is why I love Kyle! This is why he is going to be a great dad!

One lady asked my mom if Kyle was her husband! That made her day.

Then when mom 1st signed up, she told the lady "we are having a baby". Kyle said "no, not we....her daughter and I are having a baby!" Mom said "that is what I meant!"

In June, their WW group did a 5k.

Kyle is committed to my family! And to be fit!

This made me laugh! It made their website!

The walk!

They tailgated afterwards and everyone brought healthy snacks and shared recipes!

They went to the WW meetings for 3 months until Kyle met his goal weight (he lost 14 pounds). Mom lost 16 I think. She has not started back yet but I hope she does soon. She's lost her support person but she might have me after this baby gets here!  Kyle still weighs in every Thursday and calls my mom to share his weight. It is a lifestyle change!



central pecks

...to be continued from the last post. I left off talking about how Kyle lost all of his weight by not stepping one foot into a gym.  When I met him, he was ending a 3 year membership at a local gym to which he rarely used.  It CAN be done without going to a gym! Kyle is living proof!

Most of you will remember the TV show "Friends."  The coffee shop they all hung out at was Central Perk. We actually live behind a park called Central Park and some of the road names in our subdivision are named after New York City land marks.

Kyle and I were running in Central Park and we noticed these...

WHAT?! We have our very own outdoor gym!

I've named it Central Pecks! It has a great ring to it!

I took a few pictures of some of the workout equipment. 

I love telling Kyle, "I'm heading to Central Pecks, see you in a bit!"  It is only about a 10 minute walk from our house. 

I'm very proud of my city for supplying this!

Kyle is working on his 6 pack!

Upper body workout! I was sore!

And this is the machine that gave me the idea for the name central pecks! Work those pecks Kyle!

Here is a "how to" video presented by Mr. McCoy himself!

We really do have a passion to inspire and encourage people.  Especially since Mississippi ranks as the # 1 most obese state in the country for the sixth year in a row.  I've mentioned before that we're on the Dave Ramsey get out of debt plan and our "Central Pecks" workout center is the type of gym we need...FREE! This year, Kyle and I are all about keeping our mind funds, body, and spirit in check.

This scripture comes to mind as I strive to stay on track this year. "Do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your body." 1 Corinthian 6:19-20

I like this one too! "Do not be conformed any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing, and perfect will." Romans 12:2

One more thing, Kyle went for his yearly physical last week and his blood work came back PERFECT!  Last year it was "barely normal" and now his labs came back in the middle!! He's done even better than last year! Again "weigh" to go Kyle!

fit happens

  I've always heard that most Americans gain any where from 5 to 7 pounds between Thanksgiving and New Years.  However, according to the National Institute of Child Heath and Human Development, only about one pound is gained. Even still, Americans will gain weight during this time of year. So Kyle decided to have a holiday resolution:  His goal was to lose 5 lbs during the holiday season. WHAT? Who does that?   He does!  And he did!  Not only did he lose 5 lbs, he surpassed that and lost 6.5 lbs!  He is 2 lbs over what he lost originally. He currently weighs 188 lbs and has lost a total of 62 lbs!  

Here is a picture of us at a friend's Christmas party. The shirt he is wearing is suppose to be "fitting." Not anymore, it's a little big! How did he accomplish his holiday resolution? He ate really well during the week, he didn't over indulge when people would bring holiday food to the office (or he just simply said "no thank-you"), and he ran. He did this so that he could enjoy his food with his family during the holidays! He said that it tasted better that way! *Weigh* to go Kyle! To read about Kyle's weight lose journey, click here. 

To keep fit all year, we signed up for the Road Race Series through the Memphis Runners Track Club. It consists of 10 races from July-November.  two 5k's,  two 5-milers, two 10k's, two 10-milers, two half-marathons. Kyle completed 5 races while I ran 6.  I ended up doing both half marathons.

AND I ran the St. Jude Half (so did Kyle but under a different alias...we ran under some friends names!) so that meant that I ran 3 halves in 4 weeks! I had originally lost 2 lbs but then I gained it back! I was even! Whew! Boys can lose weight faster right?! Kyle PR'ed (set a personal record) at St. Jude running it in 2:05!! Too bad it wasn't even under his name!

I also participated in the Memphis Runners Track Club women run/walk program. Such a GREAT way to begin walking if you don't do any sort of exercising! OR it is a great program to increase your speed if you already run a lot.  OR if you just want to begin to start running.  They have groups for all types of walkers/runners.  I've done this program before and each time, my 5k time improved!

We've started a running group, the Southaven Striders.  We decided that since we already run, why not invite people in our community to come with us. Also, there were no organized groups in our area so we thought we'd start one. So far, so good.  Kyle really wants to pay it forward.  We invite all types of runners! Slow and fast (but not to fast! ha!)

I just wanted to share with everyone how proud I am of my hubby!  When we were engaged, he weighed 250 lbs AND had a membership to a gym.  He lost all of his weight when he was NOT a member of a gym. To be continued....

my favorite present

Kyle went to the doctor on Christmas Adam (the day before Christmas Eve per my friend Lindy) to get his blood work checked again since he had been going every 6 months. We got the call on Christmas Eve that Kyle's blood work was all NORMAL! What a blessing! In June of 09, it was "almost normal." So after a year and a half of hard work, Kyle is NORMAL! It is hard to change your lifestyle, but it can be done with the right support and motivation. Way to go Kyle! I love you! If you have not read Kyle's story, it is the blog before this one. Read it and enjoy!

kyle kicking the kalories

Kyle has already blogged about his weight loss. Now it is my turn! Let's start back when Kyle and I met in 2007. When we met, I was training for another 1/2 marathon. I ate pretty healthy as well. Once we started dating, Kyle said I was a good influence and that he wanted to start eating healthier and run a 5k. We were picking up Subway one night for dinner and he ordered a sub and he then proceeded to grab regular chips. So I said "Kyle, are you sure you want those chips?" So he grabbed the baked lays. Hey, he told me to help out so I was his voice of reason! He also completed his 1st 5k (see "got the runs" blog) in 2007!

Kyle at my 10 year high school reunion Oct 07. He was hot even back then!


In March of 2008 (a month before we got married), Kyle went to his doctor to get his annual physical. It was a slap in the face. He was told his triglycerides were high and cholesterol (both HDL and LDL) were out of whack. Diabetes runs in his family. His dr told him to lose 10 lbs, get on a diet, exercise and come back in 6 months. He had already been doing those things to an extent. He hung the lab report in his bathroom and was determined to get this blood work right! (After the honeymoon of course, that food was amazing!)

Kyle in Cancun on our honeymoon weighing 250 lbs.


After the honeymoon, we returned to reality and I moved in. When we went grocery shopping, he had me to help pick out healthier foods. He changed his eating habits. We don't eat out a lot and that is where a lot of people gain weight. It is so hard to know what is in the food cooked and it is always too much of it on the plate. Ironically, a McDonald's open up by his work last year! He told me that if it would have opened up before he met me, he really would have been in trouble. He tells me I have no idea the leaps and bounds he has made to say NO to unhealthy food.

He went for his 6 month check up (sept 08) and had lost 15 lbs! His dr was elated. He was running and eating healthy. But his blood work still came back high. The dr said he needed to come again in 6 months.

6 months came and he lost 10 more lbs (march 09). But his blood work was still high. The dr said he was going to put him on cholesterol meds if it didn't get better by the next visit. He was doing everything right. Losing weight, exercising, even training for a 1/2 marathon....Kyle was not happy that it might be genetic. The dr wanted to see him in 3 months to do blood work and decide the next step.

He then started weight watchers to lose the last 18 or so lbs. I did it with him and lost 9 lbs! We didn't go to meetings (I think if I went people would have thrown rocks at me) so we did it ourselves and had weekly weigh-ins like on the biggest loser. We had a spread sheet that calculates the point system. Here is a video of Kyle's 2nd weigh in. (turn up your volume)



Weight watchers was hard for me! I was only allowed 19 points at 1st and Kyle had 34. Not fair! I was taught to read food labels and make even healthier choices so that I could save my points and not waste them on empty calories. Then when I lost some weight, I only had 18 points!

Here was Kyle's weight from Tuesday, October 27.


We do eat bad...we have to reward ourselves for being so good! Especially during football and tailgate season. We eat our bad food in moderation. It tastes even better that way!

Kyle went for his dreaded check-up in June of this year and FINALLY, all his blood work was pretty much normal! His overall cholesterol went down 50 points from March of 08. The only pill he took was a fish oil pill 3 times a day. Whew, what relief. He will go back in December to see if he is maintaining. We still weigh in weekly to make sure we don't fall off track (we do this on the same night the Biggest Loser comes on...we are chessey like that!)

Kyle labor day weekend showing off his sky box ticket his mom gave him.

If you would like to donate to the "Kyle lost weight and now needs all new clothes" fund, please let me know! Your money is going to a good cause! Just kidding! Look at Kyle in his 42 inch pants! WOW!

Kyle's mom bought him his first pair of 34 jeans since high school. Everyone is so proud of him!

Here is Kyle's biggest loser moment. Please turn up your volume.

Previous weight: 250

Current weight: 195.5

Total % of weight lost: 21.8%

Total weight lost: 54.5


Hey this is Kyle, I'm very impressed with the blog. My wife has done a great job with the blog and motivating me to lose my weight. First off, I needed to lose weight because I was fat and my doctor even told me so. I had very unhealthy eating habits and was heading towards being a diabetic and heart disease. I also needed to lose the weight because I married the love of my life and I needed to be around as long a possible for her and our future kids including Boomer and Bailey. The key to losing my weight was not a diet, but a lifestyle change. Diets are temporary. Lifestyle changes are forever. You have to have the full package. You have to mentally prepare yourself each day to face food challenges that are on every corner (even a McDonald's by my bank). I'm proud to say I have only had a salad from McDonald's with light dressing and I think that is pretty impressive considering I have to smell the fries they cook everyday. Don't get me wrong it is very tempting. You also have to have support from your family and friends. My wife has done a great job having a lifestyle change with me and helped me become a better person inside and out! Even Boomer has lost 2 pounds by switching his treats to carrots. I want him to live as long as he can! Losing this weight has been great for me physically and mentally. I feel better than I ever have in my entire life. You never know, this may motivate someone else to begin their lifestyle change. There is no reason you can't do it, I don't care what you weigh. Just remember this: If this fat boy can do it, you can too. Thanks for reading.