I used to weigh 235 pounds. Here’s how I got there and then here . . .

I think I'm like a lot of women. I was married and had three children. My marriage ended and I found myself solely responsible to support myself and three kids. I never went to college so I didn't have any real skills that would enable me to find a job that would support us. Long story short, I ended up on welfare. Not the most proud time of my life. I worked full time for $4.25 an hour and started nursing school.

It was a crazy, stressful time. Everything had to be done quickly as there wasn't enough time in the day to even breathe! Meals had to be fast and cheap. So we ate a lot of pasta, and pre-made meals. I was working, sitting and studying and taking care of my kids the best I could. I was putting on weight but was really too busy to care. We made it through though and I've been a Registered Nurse for almost 20 years now.

One of the things I love to do is garden. I'd be out in my yard all day long, but it got to the point that I just didn't have the stamina to do it anymore and it made me sad. It was about this time I quit smoking, thinking it would help. It didn't, I just gained 30 more pounds!

At my yearly checkup in 2005, I learned what I weighed (I never had a scale). I also learned my blood pressure was 167/103. OMG! I knew I had to do something. At the time I had three grandkids with one more on the way. I wanted to not only be around, but I wanted to be involved. I wanted to be around for their baseball games, school plays, all the stuff I watched my kids do. I had to do something.

My sister and brother-in-law were members at Razor Sharp and encouraged me to come with them a few times. I'm not going to lie, I was so nervous and embarrassed because of my size. I was wearing size 20-22 blue jeans. It was hard but I joined and stuck with it. I began working out 3 -4 times a week. The weight started coming off slowly but surely. I started dieting and I went on 1200-1400 calories a day for 5 out of 7 days. I was very strict about what I ate Sunday through Thursday; Friday and Saturday I pretty much ate what I wanted within reason. I had to do it this way because I knew I wouldn't stick to it otherwise. I wrote down everything I ate and what the calories were and that's been the key for me. It kept me in check. I try to work out alt least three times a week.

It took about a year for me to lose 85lbs. I felt good. I maintained pretty well for about 5 years. This last year has been pretty stressful and I did put on about 10lbs. I thought to myself, "No way! You are not doing that again!" So out came the calorie book and my note pad again. Then I thought, why not go for an even 100 lbs? I hit that goal about a month ago and I now weigh 134 lbs and wear size 4-6. I don't think I wore this size in junior high school.

I can do anything now. I have so much energy!

Kim Sheppard

 For more information on how Razor Sharp can help you look and feel you best, contact the Membership Department at (262) 321-0200.

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