Local
Alum: From 307 Pounds to Personal Trainer
Reprinted from a press release July 23, 2007
 Kelly
Coffey ’02, owner of in Northampton, hasn't always been athletic. In
fact, Coffey was morbidly obese for most of her life. Raised
on a steady diet of nutrient-deficient foods and no physical
activity, the native New Yorker topped out at 307 pounds
in 2003. "It wasn't just my body that was unhealthy," said
Coffey. "The weight was putting an unhealthy spin on
every aspect of my life."
After long consideration,
Coffey decided to have weight loss surgery in March 2003.
She lost all of her excess weight quickly, but felt anything
but healthy. "I was weak;
I felt like I was just extra skin and bones. Then I started
to gain the weight back!"
Most people that undergo
weight loss surgery, as well as the vast majority of dieters,
find themselves regaining weight shortly after they stop
losing it. Because they haven't increased their activity
level or changed their relationship with food, surgery
and diet efforts can become compromised before long. According
to the National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and
Kidney Diseases (NIDDK), it is estimated that as few as
20 percent of patients will keep the weight off long term
after having certain weight loss procedures. The numbers
are even more discouraging for those who go on traditional "diets." Coffey
realized that she needed to take action if she wanted to
be truly healthy and keep the weight off.
"There was a time when
nothing short of a fire would get me up off the couch," joked
Coffey. "I was
depressed and self-conscious even after I lost the weight,
and all I wanted to do was eat to numb the feelings."
Motivated by part inspiration
and part desperation, Coffey began to prioritize her health
and wellbeing. At first, it was difficult. "I didn't
have anyone to model myself after. There was no one who
knew what I was going through that I could go to for guidance." With
the odds stacked against her, Coffey forged ahead. Day
one, she walked a quarter mile. Day two, she read up on
how to prepare fish at home. One day at a time she relearned
how and what to eat and experimented with different forms
of exercise.
Today, Coffey is healthy, happy and active. The exercise
experiments inspired her to study anatomy, physiology and
nutrition, eventually leading to coursework and certification
as a personal trainer. Thanks to a cardio and weight-training
regimen of her own design, she has a body she loves, remains
at a healthy weight and has replaced inner boredom and turmoil
with enthusiasm and gratitude. Armed with knowledge and the
unique qualification of personal experience, her next move
was obvious: to help others trying to make the same change
in their own lives.
One such client, Liz Washer
of Northampton, sought Coffey’s
guidance after struggling for three years to maintain a non-surgical
80-pound weight loss, with more still to lose. “I’d
had some success, but I was yo-yoing and had no idea where
to begin with a much-needed exercise program,” said
Washer. “I wanted to work with someone who knew how
difficult exercise can be for a larger person, both physically
and mentally. Meeting Kelly, who had already walked in my
shoes, was a happy accident.”
Washer began weekly sessions
with Coffey in the early spring, incorporating strength
training and cardiovascular exercise along with ongoing
nutritional advice and support, and has already noticed
significant results. “Not only have
I lost weight, but I’m feeling stronger, more confident
and more capable. I used to avoid the weight room at the
gym at all costs -- now I’m a regular!”
Coffey acknowledges that
the road to good health and a healthy weight can be incredibly
challenging. "I only wish there
had been someone helping me along who knew where I was coming
from," said Coffey. "But at least now I can help
make the journey easier for others.”
Coffey is available to train
Smith OneCard holders at the Olin Fitness Center. She also
trains locally at Universal Health and Fitness in Northampton
and is available to travel throughout Western Massachusetts
for clients who are committed to prioritizing themselves
and their health.
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