As a United States Air Force Special Operations veteran and former personal trainer, you’d expect Ali to be the pinnacle of physical fitness. But after turning 39, Ali realized her body was changing. She’d hit a plateau and her slowing metabolism meant she was seeing no results after her workouts. She knew it was time to re-examine her overall lifestyle to discover a new path. Ali focuses on nurturing her mind, body and spirit.
This single mother of two has plenty on her plate as an Information Services Program Director for a Software & Services Company, Public Relations Officer of the Tuskegee Airmen-Brigadier General Noel Parrish Chapter, volunteer at Lighthouse Ministries and a member of both the Professional Women’s Forum and the Air Force Association. “I create a realistic workout schedule and goals that support a balance between all commitments,” she explains. “My workout schedule is static. This routine helps me stick to my commitment.” She incorporates her family into her workout schedule; they stay active together at the Beaumont YMCA.
For Ali, setting attainable goals and sticking to the commitment is the key to fitness success. She also believes it’s important to focus on the positive. “At the end of your workout, give yourself a huge hug and love,” Ali suggests. Ali’s personal mantra is: “Give your all, work hard to be your best and accept the rest. No one body is perfect or identical.”
Over the last year, Shelia has lost 30 pounds and gone down 6 dress sizes! How did she find time to make that change?
“Fitness is a priority because it’s my ‘me time’,” Shelia explains. “It is the perfect stress reliever and my time to concentrate on a healthier me.” Serving as a childcare director and acting as the Women’s Ministry Team Leader at Bethel Harvest Church certainly keeps this single mother of two boys busy, but she says her sons’ unconditional love and support keep her motivated and focused on her goals.
Shelia sees personal trainer Morgan Rawlings at Flex Fitness and takes Zumba classes. Her favorite snack is sliced bell peppers, but she admits that she enjoys splurging on chocolate occasionally. Her diet has three main rules: zero calorie drinks, minimal fried foods and minimal sweets intake.
Shelia encourages others to get fit by being a good example. She shows others her lifestyle change and talks to them about how they can do the same. Being an example to others can be a great source of accountability and can be truly inspiring to someone who doesn’t know where to begin with their physical fitness or healthy lifestyle.
Reflecting on her own experience, she advises others wanting to get fit, “Begin with an end in mind. Take things one day at a time and if you have a bad day, tomorrow is a new day to start over. Get an accountability partner that will help encourage and support you.”
Daren admits that he hasn’t always been fit. As a boxer from ages 15-21, Daren broke both of his wrists, his right foot and his right hand. Racing motocross for 9 years also took its toll on his body. He suffered a torn ACL, MCL and medial meniscus, as well as several concussions. In 2007, a plane crash broke two of his vertebrae and the whiplash resulted in arthritis in his back. “Needless to say, I rarely had the energy or desire to work out.”
After his company opened a gym and workout facility, he and his wife began running and working out with several coworkers. Together, they trained for a competition called “No Guts No Glory”. He joined Crossfit Maximus in June and began working out 4-5 days a week, often with his wife. “I’ve noticed a significant increase in my energy level, my attitude and my overall well-being.”
Daren challenges himself to be fit for his family. “I also enjoy the added energy it brings that makes a difference each day with my wife and kids. I’m motivated to stay fit and healthy for their sake,” Daren explains. “We enjoy hunting, hiking, camping, water sports and skiing, all of which take a high level of fitness to accomplish, so I enjoy being fit in order to do these activities with my family!”
“Exercise has always been important to me,” says John, Co-Founder and President of MESA Medical Group. “In my younger years, it had more to do with competing than wellness. I am a competitive person by nature and exercised in order to maximize my abilities in competitive sports.” In his youth, John participated in football, basketball, baseball and track. As he got older, though, John says that exercise became more of a way of life, a way to reduce stress and a means of continuing to participate in sports. Now, he enjoys skiing, golfing, running races and playing basketball. “I think one has to have feisty persistence in order to stay fit over the long term,” he explains.
He admits his life is busy, with his career, children and relationships. He remains focused on fitness nonetheless, refusing to let it fall by the wayside. “I make my health one of my top priorities and manage to find time in most days to focus on it,” he says. “I have noticed that most people that do not maintain their level of fitness consistently do so because they are too quick to make excuses for not making their exercise routine a priority in their life.”
John wants to stay fit to stay healthy, avoiding disease and chronic health problems at all costs. He says, “I want to stay active the remainder of my life and do all in my power to delay the aging process.”
Being involved deeply with community health is one of Lisa’s most important commitments. She works with the Bourbon County YMCA and is chair of the Pioneering Healthy Communities Program, which addresses childhood obesity. She works with the Bourbon County Department of Health and has a strong passion for Hospice of the Bluegrass. Her work with these organizations has highlighted for her the importance of fitness. “I think exercise and fitness is crucial for health,” Lisa says. “My work with childhood obesity and my legal work in the health care area have educated me about how important being active and fit are.”
Since she was a child, Lisa has been fencing, playing tennis, swimming, playing soccer and taking ballet/dance lessons. “Over the years, I have found exercise to be a great stress reliever as well as a great way to make friends,” Lisa explains. “Some of my best friends are step class buddies!”
Lisa participates in rowing and cardio-barre classes at Sweat, spinning classes at Cycle You, doing Pilates with Shannon Slayton and working out with her trainer, Bambi Todd of Body Structure. “It takes a village to keep me active, interested and committed,” Lisa says. “We are blessed with so many wonderful exercise opportunities in Lexington.”
Family is one of Lisa’s most important motivators. Lisa says, “I know the importance of being fit and I want my children to be fit and healthy so that they may live long healthy lives. I am motivated to set a good example for them.”
When David suffered a heart attack in 2003, he underwent emergency quadruple bypass heart surgery. One of the bypasses collapsed six weeks later, resulting in a second heart attack. From then until January 2011, he had 12 stents to open other blockages.
So in March of 2011, when his daughter asked if he’d like to run a 5K, David was hesitant. “My answer was no because running wasn’t something I liked to do and I didn’t feel physically capable of doing,” David explains. “She encouraged me to use an app on my phone called Couch to 5K. I started the next day and was amazed when I finished easily.” He ran his first 5K that August.
David enjoys jogging, biking, doing Crossfit and participating in bootcamps. He says that variety is the key to his fitness success. “I get bored easily just doing the same type of exercise; with Crossfit it is something different every day,” David says.
This husband, father of four and grandfather, tries to schedule his workouts as a regular part of his day. Since his work is unpredictable at times, he says he runs whenever a typical workout isn’t possible.
David, who is involved with Central Kentucky Riding for Hope, tends four horses, a donkey, two dogs and 20 cattle. He attributes being able to keep up with it all to his fitness. “I believe that exercise has been a huge factor in overcoming my heart disease.”
After damaging his hand on a table saw six years ago, David knew it was time for closer focus on his health. T’ai-chi Ch’üan was the ladder he needed to climb to get out of that wellness rut. Over the last 25 years, David has redefined a T’ai-chi set he’s dubbed “The Neoclassical Long Form” and a set of longevity exercises he refers to as “Drinking From the Fountain of Youth”.
Generally, David favors doing T’ai-chi somewhere surrounded by nature. “Anywhere, where I can settle in and enjoy a graceful set of T’ai-chi or a few minutes of Yi Ch’üan (Standing Meditation), while tuning in to all that is going on around me, is usually quite enjoyable,” David says, “but we do have somewhat nebulous boundaries, so stay tuned for David and Sonya’s T’ai-chi flash mobs at the Lexington Civic Center and other locations near you!”
For two and a half years, David has been doing what he calls the “20 things diet”. He maintains a high fat intake (focusing on coconut oil and red palm oil) and high protein count, along with a low intake of carbohydrates.
With five children and six grandchildren, David says he’s staying fit for his family and the future. “The unknown beautiful future awaits us and I want to see it! I want to play with my grandchildren’s children and be part of whatever world we are forging from the present,” he explains. “How enjoyable it is to be almost six decades old and still feeling as spry, strong and spunky as I did in my early thirties.”
After a horse riding accident in 1990, Terry had Harrington rods surgically implanted to support her spine. She is also recovering from a double mastectomy and knee surgery. In spite of all of this, she says she’s still committed to her health. She past participated in the Turkey Trot, Reindeer Ramble, a marathon in Virginia and jumping her horse, Johnny Dollar (their record is 6’9”!)
Terry loves being fit because it makes her feel good and keeps her mind sharp. For her, fitness has always been a way of life. “I have always been fit and I eat healthy,” Terry explains. She attends classes at the YMCA, swims, walks, does Pilates and works out with Pam, her instructor at the YMCA. She also attributes much of her fitness to farm work!
In order to manage her schedule, Terry says she just keeps at it. “Keep moving from one activity to another,” this mother of one teenage daughter advises. By incorporating fitness into her daily schedule, there’s no chance she’ll push it aside. Terry, who owns Fairlawn Farm with her family, loves to snack on fruit, and occasionally splurges on frozen yogurt.
Sharing her experience is how Terry likes to encourage others to get fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle. She volunteers with the Arthritis Foundation and in her spare time, enjoys horseback riding, and training horses. For anyone who wants to get fit, Terry’s advice is simple: “Join the Y!”
At age 45, Cinder broke her back while sledding and had to have Harrington Rods surgically implanted to protect her spine. She had another health setback at age 54 when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. Cinder underwent a double mastectomy. “After my cancer diagnosis, reconstructive surgery, and chemo, the staff at the [Beaumont YMCA] encouraged me and helped me with an individualized program that addressed my special needs,” she explains. “Through the process, I was able to recover quickly and discovered Pilates which has helped me rebuild and maintain my core.” She says she stays fit by participating in cardio classes, spinning, using free weights and laughing.
“The majority of my time is spent at the Beaumont YMCA, for both physical and social activities, with almost daily stops at the Beaumont Library,” Cinder says. “In my spare time I enjoy traveling and exploring all that Lexington has to offer with family, friends, and neighbors.” This mother and wife of 30 years has worked with the Lexington Humane Society and participated in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, in spite of having a broken foot. Recently, she returned from a mission trip to Kenya with Assisting Better Living Everywhere.
“As a cancer survivor, I think it is important to balance taking care of myself and finding joy in every day,” Cinder explains. “I exercise in the mornings then have the rest of the day to play.”
Eddie says he’s been fit since his college days. He started running to get in shape and never stopped. He’s participated in 3 full Ironman triathlons, 8½ Ironman triathlons, 82 marathons and 50+ half marathons. In his career, he’s run over 94,000 miles, including 16 Boston Marathons. Not too shabby for a man who is managing hereditary high cholesterol with medication. Eddie says his goal is to finish 100 marathons and to log 100,000 miles of running.
This husband, father of two and grandfather is a pastor, Distance Coach for Henry Clay High School track team and FCA Chaplain for the Lafayette Football Team. He manages to do it all because it’s what he loves. “We find time for things we are passionate about,” Eddie explains. “Being fit helps me be a more effective Pastor and Christian. Also, I love to compete and stay fit.”
Eddie’s diet consists of mainly chicken and fish, though he does eat some red meat. He enjoys salads, oatmeal and almonds, raw broccoli and Kashi cereal while avoiding fried foods. His favorite “splurge” food? Chocolate chip cookies.
Eddie runs, bikes, swims, lifts weights and does core work. He runs early in the morning to pray and think about the day ahead, then works out with his wife in the evening. For others wanting to get fit, Eddie’s advice is to start slow, but get active. “Make it a part of your lifestyle,” he advises. “Anyone can do it.”
When John’s daughter was born in 1971, he decided he needed to get fit. “I wanted to be able to climb Mt Everest with her, if it was one of her dreams,” John explains. “We did Ironman Louisville together, instead!”
In April 2000, he was struck from the rear by a pickup truck going over 50mph. The wreck broke his back, pelvis, left tibia and left fibula in multiple places. “I had 13 months of physical therapy before I could ride my bike again!”
John has survived malignant melanoma and prostate cancer, but has nonetheless been a regionally competitive runner for over 40 years. He’s done 25 marathons/ultramarathons, he’s a member of the USA Triathlon Century Club for completing over 125 triathlons and completed two Ironman competitions, as well as the Ironman 70.3 World Championships in 2011. He loves staying fit and competitive. “I enjoy excelling as an age-group triathlete and/or runner,” John says.
John works out at least 8 hours a week year-round. “I try to swim three times a week, run three times a week, ride a bicycle four times a week and lift weights or do Pilates three times a week,” John says. He also enjoys trail running, hiking and mountain biking in Colorado in the summer. He has ridden the Monarch Crest Trail and climbed 25 Colorado 14ers (mountains over 14,000 feet).
“Today is the first day of the rest of your life!” John suggests, “Find someone who knows you well enough to provide advice that you will follow; set an achievable goal; and ‘just do it!’”
It helps to be Fit & Fabulous when your spouse is just as committed to your goal as you are! Dan’s wife, Cinder, is also featured in this issue. The couple exercises together at the Beaumont YMCA. In his spare time, Dan says he enjoys “exercising, reading, traveling and volunteering for whatever my wife signs us up to do.”
When Dan was just 17, his father passed away from a heart attack. He says he began exercising then and hasn’t stopped. By strengthening his back muscles, Dan has kept his scoliosis in check without treatment.
Dan keeps his diet in a set ratio to ensure a steady balance. He tries to consume 60% proteins, 20% carbs and 20% healthy fats. His favorite snacks include almonds and protein drinks, but he enjoys an ice cream sundae once a week. He uses free weights, does spinning three times a week and does Pilates Reformer, which he’s very proud to say he started at age 70. He advises, “It is never too late!”
Dan says he stays fit to keep up with his family. “All of my children are regular exercisers, and I hope it was because they saw a good example,” Dan says. He and his son attended former Mr. Olympia Lee Haney’s Animal Kingdom Bootcamp together.
“Learn the correct way to perform whatever form of exercise you choose; take the time to do it correctly and remember that gains come slowly,” Dan suggests. “Sometimes ‘easier’ is much harder.”
This January, Susan will be inducted into the Kentucky Athletic Hall of Fame. Since 1989, Susan has participated in 22 International Triathlon Union World Championship events, earning 18 medals at 11 Age Group World Titles. In total, she has competed in more than 200 triathlons. Certainly, that’s no small feat!
Arguably the most decorated female age-grouper in US triathlon history, Cox serves as the UK Wildcat Masters Swim Team Head Coach and is a USA Triathlon Certified Coach/Instructor of water exercise at Transylvania University. For her, being fit is something she’s never had trouble finding time for. “It is a way of life for me. Everyone can make time for anything they want to do,” Susan explains. “You just have to discipline yourself to continue.”
Susan coaches triathletes for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training events. She is also on the steering committee for Bluegrass Triathlon Club, swim coordinator for the Susan Bradley-Cox Tri for Sight triathlon and she volunteers for many local races and triathlon events. She enjoys swimming, biking, running, Pilates , TRX, yoga, cross country skiing, h2O jogging, ice skating and shoe shoeing. This mother and grandmother says, “Whatever the season, I will find a reason to embrace it actively!”
Susan enjoys many different activities, so she tries to do it all.
“I just want to ‘keep on keeping on’ so I can continue exercising and working out with my friends,” Susan says. “Put one foot in front of the other… go and keep going!”
This fifth degree black belt has always had a relatively active lifestyle. After undergoing various major cancer operations over the past 8 years, Audrey has found fitness, family and friends to be her key to staying motivated. “Fortunately rebounding [from cancer] has been good,” she says. “Having my martial arts practice and friends to return to has been invaluable.”
For the past 22 years, Audrey has been practicing Shaolin Martial Arts, including Tai Chi and Chi Kung with Master Hiang Thé. “It’s a very well rounded activity, touching many aspects of physical fitness and overall health, including mental,” she explains.
She has taught Tai Chi and Tai Chi Sword in the past. Audrey is a member of the Markey Cancer Center Patient Advisory Group. She enjoys reading, writing, creating art, gardening, and Zen practice. This wife, mother of three and grandmother enjoys staying fit to “feel happier, healthier, agile and able.” She has studied piano and had Foibles, a comic and art book, published last year. Audrey balances all these commitments by playing it by ear. “A regular schedule isn’t my preference.”
“My lifestyle has always been a relatively active one, fitness being just an extension of whatever was/is the current activity, from homesteading, swimming, sculpture to karate,” Audrey explains. For others seeking a fit and fabulous lifestyle, she advises, “Keep moving and enjoy yourself.”
At 83, Jesse says that one of his biggest accomplishments is maintaining his level of fitness for so long. He skis 2-3 weeks a year in the western mountains and travels. “What I enjoy doing gives me incentive to stay in decent shape,” Jesse explains. “Skiing at high altitudes—over 10,000 feet, sometimes—can be pretty demanding, even dangerous; especially for someone my age unless one is in reasonably good condition.”
Jesse’s favorite ways to stay fit have varied over the years. He’s enjoyed working out at Flex Fitness, running, walking, bicycling and working with his personal trainer, Susan Wagers. He enjoys a low-fat, low-cholesterol diet. On his globe-hopping excursions, he skis and hikes; which for him, is the ultimate motivator. “The most important thing is to have a serious, demanding incentive for doing what needs to be done, whether it be a health or personal problem or a recreational activity,” Jesse says.
Jesse flew small airplanes and gliders for more than 35 years. His current hobbies include writing, photography, travel and learning about ancient Greek history. His historical novel, set in 17th
century BCE Greece, is now under review. He is also working with Ann St. Clair on a photo book of the Greek island of Skopelos, where part of the movie Momma Mia was made.
For others wanting to get fit, Jesse has some advice. “First, have a heart-to-heart talk with yourself to decide if you really and truly want to do it,” Jesse suggests. “Then see a personal trainer who can help you begin to achieve your personal goals.”