About Me- Updated 8/8/10

Hi, I’m Kelly, the girl with the Red Sox Cap!

What’s My “Healthy Living” Story?

I was fortunate that growing up, I had an extremely active and nutritious family. I was definitely taught what healthy living is at a very young age. Unfortunately, some of those lessons were forgotten when I went to college. It’s not that I didn’t want to be healthy, it’s just that it was dining hall food, there was candy everywhere and I was not great at managing all the choices. Okay, so I guess it's that I wanted to be healthy while eating 4 servings of pasta for dinner, with a dessert of reeses soup (what my roommates called my frozen yogurt that had more topping than actual yogurt). This got even worse when I went to Australia and the dining hall was truly terrible. I lived on pizza, Pringles, Mars bars and apple crisp (the only thing I liked at the dining hall). I went to the gym almost every day in Australia and I still gained at least 10 pounds in 6 months.

After I got home I met Eric and I made so many classic “eat like a guy” mistakes. He introduced me to Dunkin Donuts and I got my coffee with cream in it, ah! I did manage to lose a bit of weight during senior year, but I gained most of it back eating 3 meals out a day during our trip to Europe that summer.

Fortunately, after college I moved back home and back to my mom’s nutritious cooking. It was also during my first year teaching that I developed Irritable Bowel Syndrome, and back when I didn’t know what it was, I would feel nauseous for days on end. Although I would not wish it on anyone, it was definitely the miracle weight loss disease for me. I lost about 10 pounds that first year, and almost 10 more when I learned that I could control IBS by eating healthier and getting to the gym as often as possible.

Would I gain all the weight back if IBS suddenly went away tomorrow? No. Here’s why:

1. Minus the stomach problems, I have never felt as great as I do now. I eat healthy, I exercise regularly, I get enough sleep and so I feel energetic and happy almost every day. While I do believe food is meant to be enjoyed, I also have to remember the top reason to eat is to fuel our bodies, and that cannot be done with brownies and chips. When I eat healthy, I feel healthy and that is more enjoyable than Pringles could ever be.
2. Having IBS has forced me to learn more about nutrition and learn more about what is in my food (especially at restaurants, yikes!). Now that I know this information, it would be hard to go back to eating terrible for me foods.
3. One of the best things about IBS (and there is pretty much nothing else good about it) is that there is really nothing I can’t eat a small bite of. IBS is not a food allergy, so if I want a bike of chocolate cake, I can have a bite. I’ve found that most of the time I don’t even mind not having more than a bite. In the end, it’s such a healthy way to enjoy delicious, but not healthy foods, in very small doses.

Why Start a “Healthy Living” Blog?

I started this blog for myself, as a way to chronicle my training for my first triathlon in July 2009. I quickly learned that blogging is not an isolated activity, there is a whole blogging community out there and so many people I can learn from. I have been known to tell stories about my blog friends as though I know them personally and I definitely feel like I do.

Blogging has challenged me in ways that I never thought it would have. I have completed my first 5k and my first sprint triathlon since I started blogging. I took up spinning and tried kettlebell classes. I have tried new foods, new restaurants, and even met some new people.

I hope my readers can identify with me because I am a lot like you guys…I try to be healthy, but I have good days and bad days. I try to get to the gym, but I get bored and I have to try new exercises. I have a love/hate relationship with my job. I eat too much ice cream. The list could go on…

What Do We Want to Know About the Girl Who Wears a Red Sox Cap?

Well, #1 I look terrible in hats and I very rarely wear them. However, I am a huge Red Sox fan and I got the idea for my blog name from the Kenny Chesney song, “She’s From Boston.”

I graduated from Boston College in 2006. This is my fifth year teaching Kindergarten. I got my masters degree in Reading and Language in May 2009. I am loving ever minute of not being a “student” anymore for the first time in almost 20 years, whew! Everyone who knows me in real life thinks it’s weird that I am a Kindergarten teacher because I don’t quite fit the stereotype., whatever that might be…

This summer (7/10/10) I got married to my best friend, Eric…who is much more likely to be found wearing a Red Sox cap than I am. Eric is also a teacher, but he teaches Physical Education to middle school students. Right now Eric and I are training to run a 5k together!

I have a wonderful and supportive family, who I have to credit for 90 percent of my healthy ways. My sister Caroline, has been captured by the blog world as well. Even though she is my younger sister, she is definitely someone I look up to as far as living an active lifestyle. If only she had gone to college first, perhaps I would've realized the possibilities as far as being healthy in college. My brother Jake is also a college student, known for his sense of humor and knack for finding trouble. But he also has that protective "brother" way about him and if anyone dares mess with me, watch out. It would take too long to get in all the reasons my parents are the best, but trust me on this one. However, ready to hate me? I also got gained the most easy-to-get along with, welcoming in-laws probably anyone has ever had.

When I'm not blogging I like to plan trips (and go on them), eat out at restaurants, spend time with my family and friends, read, write, attempt to cook and do yoga (not at the same time). Also, Eric and I have been known to find touristy things to do, even if it's at a place 10 minutes from home.

If you happen to stumble across my blog, please leave me a note. I love to learn who my readers are, especially if they have blogs I can become addicted to...