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Momma Gone Fit!

December 12, 2014
Macaroni Kid Family Fitness loves to celebrate moms and dads who have taken the leap to better health because a healthy parent is a major step towards a healthy family!            

Want to share your journey with us? Send an email to jennys@macaronikid.com answering the seven questions below, include an image, and you could be our next featured parent!

What is your name and what town are you from?

Keri Poi from Glen Ellyn, Illinois

Who makes up your family?
My husband Matt, daughters Ariella (6) and Zoey (4) and son Felix (6 months)

Briefly, tell us your struggles.  
Over the last 9 years, I have slowly gained weight due to sedentary work at the computer and bad choices in eating. It seems like so many years ago I was running half marathons and in better shape. For a variety of reasons, I stopped working out after my second child was born. I built up an excuse wall in my head (I want to spend more time with my kids, I need to work more as I bring in the only income, I am too heavy to run anymore, etc.). The last few years have been quite a roller-coaster with job losses and job changes for my husband. We also had a flood (a federally-declared disaster area) that damaged half our house in 2013 that has led to financial strain. Due to excuses and stress, my size and the number on the scale over the past few years just kept growing to over 200 pounds.  

What was the turning point that made you change the way you care for yourself?
After my son Felix was born in May, I made a promise to myself to get healthier and be more positive. I was a size 18 (barely, I used rubber bands on the buttons to make them fit), but in reality I was a size 20 in denial. I told myself that I was glad to get pregnant because then I had an excuse to be heavier and wear maternity pants. I was embarrassed at my 20-year high school reunion and I hated being in pictures.

Things were looking up with life and my health needed a kickstart to become a stronger person inside and out. I wanted to be that former self that ran half marathons while I was 5 months pregnant and revive all that positive energy. Plus, I know better. My degree is in nutritional sciences! Even more importantly, my family has a history of heart disease. My new goal is to see 100 years of age and see my children grow into adults. I needed to get control of my health while setting a good example for my kids.  

What actions did you take to become healthier?
In June 2014, I started walking, and then running in July. I signed up for my first half marathon after a 2.5-year hiatus. It took me nearly 3 hours to finish but I did it. During this time, I was approached by a colleague to join a fitness and nutrition online challenge group that helps you stay on track with your goals. After the 30-day challenge, I joined her team of health coaches to continue on my journey of better health and fitness while helping others meet their goals. Being a coach holds me accountable because I need to practice what I preach! It is so energizing and motivating to see others achieve their goals while I work hard to reach for my fitness and nutrition goals. 

I am now a size 14 and I am working hard to reach my optimal heart healthy body weight.

How have you implemented (or plan to) your new habits with your family?
We eat out less, cook family dinners together and we choose healthier foods. This is balanced with trying to adhere to a diet for our daughter that has eliminated dairy to control her eosinophilic esophagitis. The girls often join us while we play our workout DVDs and nothing is better than watching your children do yoga moves for fun and do side plank better than you. They also cheer me on and critique me, leading me to work even harder when they are watching.