World Physique

Interviewed by: Tammy Renee'

WP: Usually I begin an interview with allowing the person I am interviewing to introduce themselves. But this time, instead, I'd like to take your story step by step in the interview. We will move slowly because I don't want to skip anything. It is amazing that you use to weigh 288 pounds! What type of toll did that cause your body and to you mentally?

 KH: I honestly didn’t even realize it, until now, how physical things were so much more difficult. However, the mental aspect of being heavy, is something that no one will ever know, unless you are in that position. To feel like on the inside, you are this different person, then what people see on the outside. I had, and still have many insecurities. It’s amazing how your ‘weight’ can put such a mental block in your mind, preventing you from showing who you really are on the outside, despite the insecurities.

 WP: Could you tell me what challenges you faced to lose the weight?

 KH: My biggest challenge, I have to say, was myself. I had tried on my own, several times to try to lose weight, but always seemed to fall off the bandwagon. I could never get my mind in the game, and keep it there. I love food toooo much!!! Food is definitely a huge weakness!!

WP: I understand. I use to be over 350 pounds myself and I felt I was my own enemy because I allowed food to take control of me. What was the heaviest your weight got before you realized it was time for a change?

KH: I knew that I was heavy, and I knew that I was just getting heavier, but I was at a time in my life, that I didn’t care. I was content, not really, but it was easier! After I had my 2nd child, I was on maternity leave, and I actually had gained more weight on maternity leave, than I did throughout my entire pregnancy. My heaviest weight was 288 pounds. I knew that I had to do something, as I was so upset with myself. I started to lose a little weight on my own, and decided that I needed a bit of a support system, which took me to my first weight-loss meeting.

WP: Reality is hard to face, but it's needed to move ahead. Did you suffer from health problems when you were over weight?

 KH: No, fortunately. I lost my weight before I made it to that point.

WP: Now that you have lost the weight, looking back, how did you feel about yourself when you were overweight? I hear so many overweight people say, "I might be heavy, but I am happy!" I know, for myself, I was miserable and just didn't want to admit.

KH: I hated myself. I was never large as a child, but I was always ‘the tallest one’, say on average size 14-16. As I continued to get larger, my self-esteem went way down. I was so unhappy, with myself, and everyone around me. When you are unhappy on the inside, it will definitely portray itself on the outside. So to be direct, I hated what I saw in the mirror, I hated what I had let myself get to, that I had honestly let myself go.

WP: Did you find yourself hiding your body when you were over weight?

KH: OH MY GOSH!!! All the time. I would always wear the baggiest jeans, and sweatshirts, coats, you name it. I didn’t want anyone to see how large I had allowed myself to get.

WP: To what extent did you take to lose the excess weight?

KH: In all honesty, I worked my butt off. I did not have surgery, or even use ‘diet’ pills. I did, however use a fat burner, after I had lost weight. When I was getting ready for my first bodybuilding and figure competition, only because after such an extensive weight-loss, I actually plateaued, it did help give me that extra boost, but for the record, I lost close to 120 pounds without anything, but diet and exercise, and a ton of hard work

WP: How much do you weigh now?

KH: My weight fluctuates! I try to maintain about 160-165, competition weight is 148-153 pounds. The funny thing is that I FIGHT MY WEIGHT ALL THE TIME!!! I have come to the conclusion that it is inevitable that I will always fight my weight. But, as I train to compete, I honestly don’t get on the scale. I HATE THE SCALE. When I am training, or helping new clients, that is one of the most important things that I tell everyone. No one know’s, unless they have it done, how much of their weight is lean, and how much is fat. That is why the scale is so horrible! For the record; I fight it! I look at food and gain pounds! I am more normal than the average bear!

WP: I know what you are talking about. When I started losing my pounds, I would get on the scales every morning. Then, I was taught not to get on the scales and just see my weight loss in my clothes because I could be losing inches instead of pounds. When I started that, I really made some progress. The scales always had me down and sad. If you could tell someone who was overweight anything, what would you tell them? How would you motivate them enough to make them want to lose weight?

KH: First of all, expect great change OVER time. Just because you are exercising, and eating clean, you may not see a noticeable change on the scale right away. That is ok. Your body will change from the inside out. I had many discouraging days in my weight-loss journey and I have been there. It is imperitive that you allow yourself time to make those changes. There is nothing more gratifying than making those changes, and doing it on your own without surgery. If you can SEE it and you BELIEVE it that you can ACHIEVE it, you will BE it.

WP: It didn't take over night to gain the weight and it's not going to take over night to lose it. You're so right! While losing weight, did you ever consider giving up? If so, why and explain how you were feeling.

KH: All the time! I had so many ups and downs it’s redicilous. Did you catch earlier that food is my downfall!? I had to learn how to have the things that I love, and still continue to eat healthy. I always have given myself a ‘cheat’ meal a week. Unless I am training for competition, than I only allow that up to about the 4 or 5 week mark. I would work so hard to lose, get on the scale, and get disappointed. Then I would eat, feel guilty, and start over again! I finally learned to stay off the scale and cheat 1 time a week!

WP: How did people treat you or "see you" while you were overweight?

KH: Funny, I never really realized how people treated me, or saw me, until after I lost the weight. Now, it seems like, everyone accepted me for who I was, but after a significant weight-loss journey, and many health lessons learned, many more now, ‘want to be my friends’. I, however, am a very loving, giving person, with the intentions of being able to advise and help as many people that I can, as if I can do it, anyone can do it. It only takes the motivation and the discipline.

WP: What was the hardest part of being heavy, that you can remember?

 HK: Hardest part was wanting to be accepted. No matter what I looked like.

WP: Wow! That is really touching, but true! It's sad that we live in a society that respects you by the way you look. Do you feel you ate out of comfort or out of emotions?

KH: I ate out of everything. Comfort, emotions, a bowl, a basket, a bucket, a trough! I ate everything for any reason!

WP: Ha-ha! It's great that you have a sense of humor about it. Did a point ever come to where you felt that no matter what you did, you were made to be heavy for the rest of your life?

KH: I think that, as a heavier person, you do reach a point where you pretty much face the fact that you probably will be heavy for the rest of your life. Until you reach that breaking point. Like I did. And decided that was it!

WP: Tell me, were there some little things you did to help control your feelings and thoughts about yourself while you were losing weight?

 KH: Like I had stated previously, I had good days and bad days. I would get discouraged more times than not, but I kept pressing forward. I would constantly try to picture myself as a ‘thinner’ me; the person that I wanted to be. I would think about me and what I would look like at the ‘size’ that I wanted to be. I would use little ‘cheats’ to get me through, even if it was allowing myself 1 little ‘snack’ size candybar, so I could have some chocolate! I did what I had to do to try to keep from depriving myself of the things that I loved.

WP: At what point in your life did you start losing weight? Who was it that helped motivate you to lose weight?

KH: I started after the birth of my son, my second child. I started a weight-loss program in my home town, where I had to weigh in every week. To be honest, that was what kept me motivated. As I would see little changes week after week, it made me want to keep going.

WP: How long did it take you to lose your weight?

KH: My initial goal was to lose 87 pounds. I accomplished that in about 15 months. I maintained that for a while, but actually ended up gaining back about 25 of it. My local gym, where I worked out, was adveritsing a 12-week body transformation contest. I decided that was what I needed to re-motivate me and get the 25 pounds off that I had put back on. So, I signed up. Little to my dismay, I ended up winning the contest. I won $1,000.00 and the opportunity to be promoted on their advertisement cards that was mailed out to the area with my before and after pictures on the card. After winning that contest, I knew that I wanted to try to train to compete in a Bodybuilding and Figure competition. I wanted to really see if I could do it. From that point on, I worked 5 to 6 days a week training harder than I ever had in my life. Cleaning my diet up, like I had never done before. From the moment I stepped on stage at my first competition, I had lost a total of 140 pounds, and it was almost exactly 5 years to the day from my very first weight-loss meeting.

WP: What a story! I have chill bumps! How did your life change once you started losing weight?

KH: I started to be more accountable for what I was eating and what my children were eating. I had to make it. It was one of the most important things I was doing. As no one is going to changes my lifestyle, or my kids lifestyle, but me. I now have the pleasure of helping others do the same thing with an in-home personal training and nutritional consulting business. I go into my clients homes and help them get on the right, and the new track of a new and healthy lifestyle. My life has changed for the better. It’s amazing how sometimes our lives turn out so differently than we expect them to. God has had total control of my destination and I know in my heart, that I will do whatever I can in my lifetime to make a difference in as many lives a I possibly can.

WP: You have a home personal training and nutritional consulting business? That is so outstanding! What is your outlook on your life now since you’ve lost weight?

KH: Life is too short to not make a difference. You don’t know what tomorrow may bring while sometimes things just don’t turn out the way that we want them to. I have been blessed with the strength to make a difference and I chose to make a difference in as many lives as I possibly can. I want others to know that they can do anything that they put their minds to.

WP: I believe, just sharing your story, will make a difference to many. What have you accomplished since you have lost weight?

 KH: Wow! Where do I begin? My weight-loss journey has opened up so many doors and avenues. I never thought that I would actually be asked this question, as the list is unbelievable. First and foremost, I lost 140 pounds! I lost 140 pounds on my own! No surgery! That in itself, is my largest and biggest accomplishment. Since my weight-loss, I have competed in 3 competitions, within the 1st year. I took 2nd place in my first competition with the NANBF, in October 2007. Taking 2nd in Women’s Novice Bodybuilding, and Women’s Novice Figure. From there, I competed in August 2008 with the NANBF, unfortunately taking 4th in the Figure Class. September 2008, I traveled to Las Vegas to compete in the Flex Magazine's Bikini Model Search. 72 women took the stage at the Mr. Olympia Expo. I was only a face on the stage, however, I made it there. Being 288 pounds at one time, I never would of thought that I would of actually been competing in a bikini contest!

Outside of the competitions, I have started a new business called ‘Phatchix Fitness, Inc’ which is an in-home personal training and nutrition consulting program. I help people from all walks of life; kids, women, men, anyone from someone just wanting to lose weight and tone up, to training them to compete, or MMA fighters needing that extra strength and conditioning training to nutritional help. The exciting thing is watching them all transform their bodies into something that they never thought they could do.

I have also been featured in H2O Magazine in a ‘fat burner’ ad for Anabolic Xtreme’s Stimulant X. I am currently the spokesmodel for ‘Egg Whites Intermational’. They are featuring my story and my before/after pic in their monthly ads in Oxygen magazine. Egg Whites International was actually a very beneficial supplement that helped me, and continues to help me with my competition diets, and my and my families diets everyday. I now am awaiting the publishing of my first book, called ‘The Phat Chick’… ‘Now I Eat to Live, and Don’t Live to Eat’. This is a motivational fitness book that I have utilized all the information that I have gathered over the last few years, placing it into a book that I hope with benefit others, that may be in the position that I was in, to change their lives for the better. The funniest thing is that all of this has happened within the last year and a half.

I am also a hairdresser 4 days a week and a full time mommy. My family is above and beyond my greatest accomplishment, as I know in my heart, that my only true accomplishment is to continue to provide for them, and be the best mommy that I can be.

WP: You are truly an amazing and wonderful woman! I am so proud of you! You have me so motivated and inspired! By the way, I want a copy of your book. Compare your diet now to that of when you were heavy. How do they differ and what changes have you made in your diet?

KH: Funny you ask this questions. I continue to really try to watch how much I eat. My diet is only REALLY strict when I am training for a competition. I try to still enjoy the finer things in life; food! Although now, I am more aware of how much I am putting in my mouth! Don’t get me wrong, I still LOVE to eat and it is still a constant struggle. I am only human. But, I now know what my body can handle and what it can’t. I am more aware of working out and being faithful with exercising to keep everything under control.

WP: You have to remember that I was there once, too. That is why I know the questions to ask! Ha-ha! I'm glad you said what you said about your diet. I want people to understand they don't have to starve to lose weight or maintain. It's all in making the right chooses. How do you feel about yourself now?

KH: I am proud of myself. I am proud of my accomplishments. But, if there is one thing that I can say, is that I still have good days and bad days. I still have good weeks and bad weeks. For the most part, I continue to press forward, and I always have ‘brainstorms’ on what am I going to do next! I think that will be a never-ending thought process in my head. God has blessed me and continues to bless me for my accomplishments. I am humbled. That is it; humbled.

WP: What keeps you motivated now?

KH: My prior accomplishments and my family is what keeps me motivated. My best friend, my soul mate, my fiancé, Mike, is always telling me that ‘I can do it!’ I get discouraged, but I know how far I have come. I know that I can now do anything that I put my heart and my mind to. When I am having a day or a week that I just can’t ‘get it together’, Mike is definitely there to remind me how far that I have come and that he is there to support me 150%. It is wonderful having so much support from home. It really does make a world of difference, having special people in my life that believe so much in me. I love you, baby.

WP: Awww heck! That is too precious! It's greating have constant support and people that believe in you. What is the one food you still love and eat although you know it's not good for you?

KH: Pizza! Pizza, Pizza! I love chocolate, potato chips, and all the junk that I know that I can’t have too much of!

 WP: You've mentioned how important your family and fiancé is to you. Tell me more about them.

KH: As I mentioned earlier, I have 2 babies of my own. Kaytlyn Elizabeth and Little Jerry Michael. Kaytlyn is 11 and Jerry is 7. I also have a soon to be step-son, Taylor, and Step-daughter, Jessica. Taylor is 12 and Jessica is 18. Mike, my fiancé, has been so special to me. He has been my rock, continues to be my best friend, and my soul mate. God has given me many great things, but to honestly, have this man in my life that loves my children and myself as he does has been nothing short of a blessing. I am looking forward to our future together. I thank the Lord for placing Mike, Taylor, and Jessica in my life. I feel like I am the luckiest woman in the world! There is nothing that could ever replace my feelings and my love for my family.

WP: Any future projects?

KH: The sky is the limit! I am open to whatever projects may find there way to my path! I am constantly thinking of new idea’s and ways to ‘keep pressing forward’! It’s funny, but I don’t feel like I’m ‘working’ if I’m not running in 20 different directions! I definitely want to compete some more. I don’t know when or where. I can only train for it and when I feel like I’m ready for another competition, than I’ll do it. I might write another book! Like I said; the sky is the limit!

WP: What makes you?

KH: First and foremost, God. Then my family and my accomplishments. Then my everyday walk, with whomever I may come across that I may be able to help or motivate. I love helping people. That makes me who I am.

WP: God is so important to me, too! Are you different inside since you have lost weight or do you feel you’re still the same person?

KH: I feel like I am a bit different. I have become more open to talking with people. But, I am still the same person. I am more confident. The older that I get, I am becoming more wise to people. I am the same person, as far as who I am way down deep. I don’t think that when that is embedded into you as a child that, that part really changes. I had a great upbringing. I had a wonderful mother whom has earned her wings over and over again. I like to think that my loving and giving side comes from her and how she raised us kids. Thanks mom. I love you!!

WP: You have so much love in you! It unbelievable! I see why you are so loved! Any shout outs?

KH: Yes! Shout out to my mom and dad. Of course, ro my kids; Kaytlyn, Jerry, Taylor, and Jessica. To my wweety, Mike. And to anyone that is contemplating a weight loss program; don’t just think about it, do it. There is no greater power or strength within yourself than overcoming an obstacle that seems near impossible. God Bless!

WP: The interview is coming to a close. Is there anything you would like to mention that I may have forgotten to ask?

KH: I would say that this has been a pretty thorough interview! If I could just say to anyone contemplating weight-loss, competing, or any type of physical change; just do it. I am in the process of getting an online support system going with my website and I would love to hear your success stories. I am also working on a cardio and strength training DVD. So, keep your eyes peeled. Don’t forget the release of my motivational fitness book that should be out by summer '09; ‘The Phat Chick’. Remember... I can do ALL things through Christ which strengthens me ( Philippians 4:13). Godspeed and may God Bless you all. Thank you so much for this awesome opportunity.

WP: I will keep my eyes open for the DVD and the books! I am excited! What you are doing on your website with the success stories will be amazing! It’s been a pleasure interviewing you! Thank you for taking out the time to share your story with thousands and good luck in your future endeavors!