The Biggest Winner

How many times have we have chosen to listen to the voices that say, "It can't be done."?

How many times have we allowed society to dictate what we can or can not do because of gender or other stereotypes?

How many times has our health and wellness has been challenged or compromised by illness and/or injury?

These moms will demonstrate their successes by sharing with us the paths that they chose born of the desire to attain and maintain fitness and better health and wellness. They may be competitors or leaders in their communities who have implemented programs to pass on their passions to youth and other community members. They may have achieved amazing physical transformations. They may have survived and overcome debilitating injuries and illnesses to go on and lead healthy, happy, fit and productive lives. Regardless of how they've succeeded they are all examples of "The Biggest Winners".

My interview with Kandi Sensebaugh, a 40 year old mother for four children ages 15, 13, 10, and 7 from Hollidaysburd, PA began just after her workout. She joked that she was "all sweaty" in response to my inquiry regarding how she found herself feeling that day.

Have you always struggled with your weight or was it something that just crept on you with time?

"Yes I have always had a weight problem. As a teenager I was chubby and a yo-yo dieter. I would lose some and gain more back."

Why do you think you allowed yourself to gain so much weight and get so out of shape?

"By using the excuse that I had 4 children so I didn't care about myself. I used the excuse that I was a mom. ...late night eating and eating, fast food because it was easy."

So when did you experience that "aha moment" where you knew you had to gain control of your weight and your health, essentially taking your life back?

She answered that she had seen herself in a Christmas photo taken in December of 2008.

"I thought, why would I let myself go? What example am I giving my children? I want to live to see them succeed in life; to see my children grow up and raise their own children. I was 38 years old in that photo. January 13, 2009 is when I decided to take my life back."

So how did you set out to attain that goal?

"I started with walking. I couldn't go very far without being winded and breathless. Then I saw an infomerical for Turbo Jam and it looked like fun so I ordered it. I always loved to dance and the commercial made it look like something I would like. The Turbo Jam package came with a diet manual and I followed it at first. But since I did love to cook, I decided to cut back my own calories and make my own food. I have a collection of cookbooks and I used those, just made changes in the fat content"

In the first month Kandi lost 15 pounds by working out 20 minutes, 3 times per week. She cut out soda and drank 8-10 glasses of water each day.

Did you find it hard to fit these changes into your busy life being a wife and mom of four?

"I work part time. Exercise and healthy eating was something I wanted to do for myself; something that I'd never done before. I am a very busy mom but I can always fit in an hour of exercise. I just give up an hour of television or I get my but off the computer!"

At her heaviest Kandi weighed 265 pounds. 16 months after she began her quest to attain better health and fitness she's gotten her weight down to 160 pounds; gone from a size 24 pants to a size 11/12. Her shirt size is now a medium down from a 3X and she enjoys working out for about an hour, 6 days a week.

What led you to the desire to become an independent Beachbody coach?

"My life has completely changed. I know Turbo Jam has given me my life back. I love the products so much that I became an Independent Beachbody Coach. I would recommend the products to anyone who wants to become healthy and fit. In a little over a year I have lost 100 pounds. I couldn't believe how depressed and overweight I was but each day it got easier and easier. And it was fun! ...something I never thought exercise would be. I actually look forward to exercising every day."

For anyone who would like to learn more about Kandi's inspirational "biggest win" please contact her directly. She is living proof that the road to better health and fitness doesn't require a lot of complicated details or even a great financial investment. You just have to make the decision to do it, arm yourself with proper information and participate with enthusiasm as you gain control over your own destiny. As long as you are facing the right direction you need only keep putting one foot right in front of the other.