Transforming Your Body & Mind

Interview by: Skylar Anderson
Written By: Skylar Anderson and Allanah Taylor

As a child, Kira had acute asthma that prevented her from doing a lot of things that other kids could do. Kira had negative associations with exercising, but now she’s working towards getting her personal training certification with ACE and uses her story to give hope to others who may feel like it is impossible.

After graduating high school, Kira went to college to be a pastry chef, which was both her passion and poison. From the beginning of college to her breaking point, she had put on nearly 50 pounds. What was Kira’s breaking point you might ask? It was when she packed up all her belongings and moved to Hutchinson for a job, where she was fired from soon after moving. She grew depressed and felt terrible. Kira stepped on a scale and said “No” to 215 pounds.

With guidance along the way, Kira has lost 85 pounds with a lifetime of intention gained. In three and a half years, Kira went from 215 to 130 pounds. Now, Kira has a mission to help others with her story of overcoming defeat. Luckily, Kira’s past has given her a purpose and a mission to help others with her story of overcoming defeat. Kira currently works with adults and couples, but she also wants to teach the Wichita youth all the amazing benefits of exercise and nutrition. Although it wasn’t easy, Kira broke her addiction to food and sugar through changing her inner thoughts and self-talk to positive reinforcement.

“I had to hit rock bottom before I could learn to rock my life!” – Kira Ottaway

What made you eventually decide to change your unhealthy lifestyle?
“I had sworn that I would never get over 200 pounds. When I saw I was 215, I couldn’t believe it. Something in my head immediately clicked.”

How long did it take you to reach your healthy weight of 130?
“About 3 and a half years.”

Did you have moments where all you wanted to do was give up?
“There were moments where I had setbacks; with emotional eating and stress. But I never felt like I wanted to give up. I always knew that I had another chance to make the next healthy decision.”

What is your favorite type of exercise?
“I like to use HIIT.” (High Intensity Interval Training)

Did you receive any personal training?
“Actually, I went to Bill Phillips Transformation Camp.” Bill Phillips’ camp is located in Golden, Colorado. “I learned there that living a healthy lifestyle is simple, but not easy.”

What are some healthy foods that you regularly make?
“Chicken quesadillas, beef/turkey burgers on whole wheat buns, roasted vegetables, and fruit.”

Did your friends and family help support you during your time of weight loss?
“Oh yeah, definitely! My friends and family were my number one support system.”

Kira notes, humorously, that chasing the ice cream truck was the extent of her exercise as a kid. In order to change her unhealthy ways, which she admits, wasn’t easy, she had to break her addiction to food and sugar. She had to change her inner thoughts and self-talk to positive reinforcement. This is essential when it comes to turning your life around for the better. After all, if you want to change your life, you’ve got to change your thoughts. Her next step was getting out of her state of denial. She had to come to terms with what she had missed out on as a child, and that now she had to fight even harder to make up for it.

What were the steps Kira took? She learned how to lead a healthy lifestyle at Bill Phillips Transformation Camp. There, she was taught how to eat healthy and exercise in the most efficient manner. She notes that she had to break up her goals into small, manageable pieces. During this time, she also received much help and support from her family and friends. “I trusted myself and knew I was destined to be great,” Kira declares.

Today, Kira has surely developed a positive attitude towards leading a healthy lifestyle. There are so many benefits that come along with it. It provides you with a clearer mind, helps prevent illness and disease, decreases depression, and you will develop a confidence for yourself that nobody can steal from you. It CAN be fun! Exercising and eating right boosts your endorphins which make you feel good– the benefits are unending. “Diet and exercise are the most powerful, yet underutilized, drug in America,” Kira states. Kira’s vision is to empower people, beginning with the youth of Wichita, to recognize their full potential by adopting a healthier lifestyle.

Follow Kira on Facebook @ www.facebook.com/rockyourlifefitness