In an exclusive interview with Obesity Campaign UK, Supermodel Kim Alexis reveals her diet and exercise routine and advises on how to get rid of obesity.
About Kim Alexis
Kim Alexis is an American model and actress. Alexis one of the top models and identified along with Gia Carangi, Christie Brinkley, Kelly Emberg, and Paulina Porizkova.She graced the cover of over 500 magazines. Miss World Pageant - Co-host.
She hosted several television shows on the Family Channel and Lifetime, as well as film and TV acting. She appeared in the 1998 movie Holy Man with Eddie Murphy. In 2005, she appeared on VH1's reality competition "But Can They Sing?"
(1Q)Please tell us about yourself as a person and your hobbies.
I am a wife and mother. I love being both. I love to stay fit and eat healthy. It helps me deal with my busy life. My hobbies are watching my 3 sons play sports and then working out myself.
(2Q)How did you get started in modeling?
In my senior year in high school early in the fall, I picked out University of Rhode Island for their pharmacy program and swimming. I had enrolled early so that I did not have to think and worry my senior year. Then I looked around to think how I could make extra spending money to be a bit independent from my parents. Many people had told me I could model. I went to an agency in Buffalo to check it out and found that I had to take a class first before I could be in the modeling agency. In the class, which I had to squeeze in between full high school classes and 5 ½ hours of swimming, band practice and youth group, I attended class. I felt so out of place. The other girls (women to me) were so confident and prepared. I never really paid attention to my outer looks. I was too busy. One night in class, I got pulled out and sent to the owners office. I thought I was being kicked out. Instead, there was a scout there for Elite, wanting me to go to NYC and model although I told him no 5 times as I was going to be a pharmacist! I finally let him take pictures. The rest is history.
(3Q)Tell us about your experience in the movie Holy Man with Eddie Murphy.
It was a one day shoot. When I finally got in front of the camera, the director told me to forget the lines and ad lib. I was to sell a ridiculous hair product. We did about 5 takes. My “hamming it up” personality came out and the cast all laughed. It felt great!
(4Q)What are you currently working on?
There are so many thing I am working on now. I have my own jeans www.curve-appeal.com a supplement line coming out for women my age, a encouragement book from my past experiences, a series of cozy mystery books with B&H publishing, spokesperson for thyroid awareness…
(5Q)What's your goal in life?
To set a great example as a wife, mother and woman while encouraging others to be their best. I want to relate to women and what they go through and then give them practical advice as to how to overcome.
(6Q)Please tell us about your CD Praise Workout.
Years ago, Integrity Music was looking to re package and sell their fitness tapes. They had compiled various artists who had great Christian music to work out to. Integrity asked me to package and promote this music. They knew of my love for working out and worshipping God also. Why not both together?
(7Q)Please share with us your secret of staying in top shape?
First of all, you have to find something that you look forward to doing. After years of swimming, I found that it was much easier to run than find a pool. Swimming was too much work! I learned to get out of the house and just start running. I learned that my mind became clear and I felt better after a run. I maintain as I love the feeling of strong, healthy muscles ready for anything!
(8Q)Please tell us about your normal diet (ie. generally what do you eat or breakfast, lunch, dinner)
Over the years, I have tried almost everything. I was born strong with a bigger frame. I learned to live with it and do my best. I will never be a skinny, reed thin person. Once I accepted that, I learned that I would rather eat more because it was healthy and filled with natural fiber than eat small calorie filled meals. I have had to find what kinds of food make me feel good and what drags me down. I learned to change my attitude about food. It is not focusing on what I CAN’T have but focus on what I can have. I try to make a vegetable juice every morning. With a juicer not from a can! I love going to the grocery store and having the checkout clerk as if I have a bunch of rabbits to feed! I also learned that certain foods make me retain water and tired from doing a blood test for food sensitivities. I used to eat certain foods and would wake up the next day swollen and looking like I gained 10 pounds. I now keep away from eggs, pineapple and rice. Those are my sensitivities! So, small coffee for breakfast. I like cold coffee with milk and raw honey. Then a run, then yogurt, fruit for breakfast. Salad for lunch and steamed chicken, turkey chili or fish with lots of vegetables for dinner.
(9Q)Tell us about your workout routine.
I try to run 5 times a week. Then if it is bad outside (I run in the snow with my chocolate lab) I do DVD’s. I like light weights with my cardio up. Sometimes it is arms, sometimes abs, sometimes a dance routine or plymetrics sometime a butt workout! I mix it up. I have also had a trainer a couple of times a week. I have to watch that I don’t build muscle too fast or work out too hard as I gain weight from too much exercise. It isn’t fair but I can’t do those workouts where it is yelling boot camp. I love them but I don’t thrive on them. I must tax my system too much and my cortisol goes up. You have to listen to your body (except when it tells you to be lazy!)
(10Q)How have you motivated yourself so long to eat healthy in daily life?
It is a mindset. A personal choice. I would rather be healthy all the time, maintaining. I do not focus on what is fair and why other gets away with certain foods or lifestyles. I know what makes me happiest and that is to wake up each morning feeling my best from the choices I made the day before. My rewards are not only personally feeling good but also good feedback from others now that I have just turned 50.
(11Q)What message / advice would you like to give to our obesity campaign readers as how they can get rid of obesity.
First of all, love yourself. You have to love yourself enough to start something new. Many people learn to sabotage themselves for one reason or another. There comes a turning point somewhere, where you have had enough. You have to want to make changes. Find others to encourage you, teach you and train you. There is a perfect weight for each one of us. It is not healthy to over or under weight. If we go back to eating basics (stop buying into the food commercials) and change how we think about food, then that is a right step in a healthy direction. Women, we will never eat as much as guys. Did you ever notice that the girls in beer commercials are always thin and young? Also, the older we get the less food we need to eat. We don’t need as much food as we think!
A few more things I find work for me...
EXERCISE:
When running (or any exercise) breath out. Breathing in takes care of itself. Look up for inspiration and forward to the future. The past takes care of itself and down leads to despair. If I work out too hard, I find that the next day or two, I can feel depressed and worn out. Less exercise daily helps me maintain my weight, mood and energy level.
Find what motivates you to get out of the house to exercise... a friend to walk and talk with, a dog to walk, an exercise class to take, a race to train for, a workout partner or trainer... I have a chocolate lab that looks at my running shoes daily with longing eyes. She can't wait for me to put them on! It's okay to nap, I do.Be kind to yourself. Negative self talk is not healthy and others pick up on it but also don't think more of you than others. I find I am happiest when I put others first.
EATING:
Vegetable juicing in the morning gives my body the minerals it needs so that I crave less food. I love to eat nutrient dense foods...even raw. There are
days that I fast from some types of foods so that my body can replenish and regenerate. I have to have healthy snacks around. If I am hungry and there is only junk, I'm going to eat it and pay for it later.
Eating is about attitude. I am grateful for the food from its most natural state. Fresh fruit, unprocessed foods...don't look at what others eat. And yes, it's not fair that they can eat certain things. Get over it. Fruits, nuts, whole grains...YUM I keep good protein powder around as sometimes that is all I want with water or juice. I don't eat what I make for my kids or husband. They eat one way and I steam vegetables and eat lean protein. I maintain a good attitude about it. I am blessed to be able to cook for them, I love that I eat my own foods. I make the best of it and don't feel denied.
If I have to cheat, I do it in the most healthy way possible. Example: I love chocolate chip cookies. I use organic whole flour of some kind (spelt, buckwheat, or wheat...) coconut oil, applesauce instead of egg for me, organic chocolate chips or carob, raw nuts...get the drift?
I try to cleanse my organs, liver, kidneys, skin, bowels...like an engine, I run better cleaned out from junk and on clean fuel. I like lemon juice and water with stevia (a natural sweetener) between meals. Water vs most any other drink most of the time is best. Try different teas and drink often too. Hot or cold, they are good for you. Simple meals seem to be the best for me. Eat less than you think. If you drink enough water you may find you are not as hungry. Your body will get used to smaller meals. Don't quit.
To know more about Kim Alexis : Kim Alexis official Site
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