The Secret: How I lost 50 lbs after my FIFTH child & worked out in less time!

People ask me all the time, “How do you look like that after having five children!?” I must say I enjoy this response every time I hear it, for many reasons. One, is because I enjoy the compliment. Two, I know that I have an education that can work for anyone, at anytime, anywhere. I want to share it with you.

First, I am going to share my journey with you, on how I discovered this incredible ‘secret’…that is no secret. I am 34 years old, and I live in Woodland Hills, California. I am a filmmaker, writer, and artist. I had three children by the time I was 24 years old and I stopped having babies for nine years. During this time I took inventory of my body and noticed what having three children (including nursing) could do to a body-a young one at that!

I did not feel strong, and I got tired easily. I felt as though I had not recuperated from my pregnancies fully, and the last one was the hardest one since my body was suffering from fatigue and depletion of all my vital minerals and vitamins. I looked anemic, and I was for the most part unhealthy. I did not like who I was in the mirror, and I was only 24 years old.

I did not have the first clue about diet and exercise. My dad was tipping the scales at 320 lbs, and my mom had good genes, so she rarely gained weight, but she was active. I looked at magazines, and talked to people at my local gym. I bought exercise equipment, and I started walking. I began to eat healthier, and I noticed my body responded. As I begun to get healthier, I wanted to also get fit and toned. I then became obsessed with being thin. I was working in Hollywood all the time, and to be a size zero was the norm.

BINGING & DIET PILLS

I then started taking diet pills, and I started to get thin. I starved myself, and I would binge. I would work out on the stair-climber for hours. I got down to a size four. I am five foot nine, and if I got to that size in a healthy way, I would say this was great news. But, it wasn’t. I cheated, and short cut my way to that size.

Any new diet, or fad…I did it. I read fitness magazines, and watched late night infomercials. I bought equipment. But, I felt dark inside. I knew I was cheating, and there was no way to deny it to myself. I also had a sneaky suspicion that I would gain it all back, if I stopped the starvation, and the diet pills. I was right.

I was tired of my racing heart, and my jittery nerves. I was unhappy about not being able to eat. I wasn’t happy. So, I stopped the diet pills and gained almost 30 lbs in three months. My adrenal gland was exhausted, (the gland responsible for producing adrenaline, and fluid balance) and my metabolism was out of wack.

I started studying the negative side effects to diet pills and I saw that I was suffering from side effects from using ephedrine based diet pills, and ‘all natural weight loss pills’. And that’s just the beginning. I will go in more detail with this in another article, but for now I will stick to my road to victory.

I thought if I hiked and ate salads, and healthy foods I will get into shape, as well as working out at the gym. I began to work-out, but noticed right away it was a lot of work! There was some suffering involved, I missed eating foods with protein, and I was not losing weight to any noticeable degree.

GYM INTIMIDATION

I would walk into the gym and would be so intimidated by all the machines, and bar bells. I wouldn’t even know where to begin. So, I went to the easy machines, and would swing my weights around a couple times, call it reps and went home, once again unfulfilled. This went on for at least three years. I was now 29 years old, and I figured that I might as well get used to the body I have because I was going into my thirties, and that meant to me…there was no hope.

I then met my current husband, and he was an ex football player for Rutgers University, and he was in great shape for 39 years old. I figured he had good genes, never asked him about how he stays fit, and continued what I thought was best for me. I was healthy at least, so I was content. But I was not totally happy with my weight, or body.

I got pregnant with our first child together, which would make this my fourth child. The pregnancy went smooth, I gained 35 lbs and I noticed I was much more active with this baby than with any others. I had three older children to keep up with, and I had a lot of activities to do, especially it was summer. I thanked my body for being strong from all the years that I did stay active.

I heard about pregnancy Yoga, and I signed up. I walked into the Zen pregnancy haven, and a new world opened up to me. Needless to say the next eight months were about yoga, yoga, yoga. I learned about breathing, and all the meditation you can imagine. I read books, and websites, went to classes and work shops. I loved it. I had a peaceful pregnancy and an emergency c-section. My first one. I was disappointed, but more than that I was scared about the cutting of my abdomen, and the ability to strengthen those muscles again. The baby was perfect, but my body was far from it.

I had gained 35 lbs, and was about 175 lbs walking out of the delivery room. After 6 weeks, my doctor gave me the green light, and I started working-out my way, but this time, I added yoga to the routine. I was healthy, but no where where I wanted to be after nine months post partum.

PREGNANT WITH BABY NO# FIVE

I started to fit into my size 10 pants again, when I found out I was pregnant with baby number five. We were thrilled, but I was nervous. I wasn’t sure about how my body was going to handle this next pregnancy. This one was a little tougher, and I was older now at thirty-two years old.

I felt more aches and pains this time around, I wasn’t as active, although I worked 3 times as hard. I was exhausted, and we planned another c-section. This time I gained 50 lbs! I saw the scale creep up all thru my pregnancy reaching numbers they have never reached before. This was not the time to diet, and I was not eating unhealthy. I maxed out at 200 lbs on the day of the birth. I had a 48 inch stomach, and I knew every single one of those inches I gained; I was going to have to lose.

Six weeks later, my doctor gave me his blessing to start working out again. This time, I was 180 lbs, and I was a size 14 easily on a good day. I had my second c-section, this one was in a new place on my tummy, so I had two separate scars. I was beyond desperate. I was scared. Was I ever going to lose this weight? How was I going to do this with five children? I can’t keep up with the demands of the household, and I was worried I would have no time. I had to get help. We could not afford to go get a personal trainer which I dreamed about night and day, so I started reading on-line classified ads.

I was looking for something, anything to help me. I was so beyond lost in this world of health and fitness. My body had grown and shrunk five times 48 inches around. I was mentally exhausted, and physically torn down. I felt like an old lady. I did not look healthy once again, and I was trying not to go into ‘the feeling sorry for myself after baby blues’. I knew being active was the only way out. But how?

I saw an ad for a fitness infomercial show that was casting. Free personal training for 6 weeks. I couldn’t believe it. After my story compelled the casting director to call me in for an interview, I almost jumped on her desk convincing her that she would not regret picking me. I will not let her down, I will lose the weight. She’ll see. I was so excited about the possibility.

POUNDS MELTING AWAY

I was picked. I showed up on the first day scared to death. The class had a variety of people in all age ranges and sizes. I painfully sweat in the corner for 6 weeks. I cried during the first few weeks and the cardio was just torture. For two weeks I could not swing my legs over the bed in the morning. I wanted to quit, but then I started to see the pounds melting away. The cardio training was melting the fat. I was so relieved. I lost 20 lbs in that class. So, now I was only tipping the scales at 165 lbs.

But, the class was over now. I panicked once again. I had to find something equivalent, quick! I started hunting down gyms with classes. I never took a class before like this, so the closest I could find was an intense power-kick class. I joined and went every other day, if not every day, and it was so grueling. My relationship to working out was clear. I hated it, but I had to do it. The fitness instructor even backed that theory up. Why did working out have to be so miserable? For the next three months my weight fluxuated, but would not break 160 lbs. I felt a little tighter, and toner but for the amount of time and sweat I put in the results were not measuring up.

I was giving it all I had. I wasn’t cheating in class, and I ate properly too. But I was experiencing the ever famous plateau. So, I started training in the gym with the machines. I had no idea what I was doing, and would watch people practically, and literally asleep on the machines they were so lethargic. I was not inspired to say the least.

MY ROUTINE THAT PRODUCED NO RESULTS

I thought maybe I had to take different classes, mix it up. So I took the cycling class. Well, I almost passed out the first day, and the second day, and the third day. I did not like the dark, sweaty, loud room so I quit. I tried the boxing class. I don’t care how many gloves I was wearing, for my long fingers, I thought for sure were going they were going to snap off. My hands hurt more than anything, so I quit. I tried swimming with a friend a few times, but that meant I take the two babies and it became too much work. So I did the cardio machines; the stationary bike, the treadmill, and the stair climber. They were doing something, and I kept my suffering down to a minimum so I did not change my routine.

I still wasn’t inspired, and I felt that I will always stay at 160 and a size 10 pants. I still had a lot of jiggle, and for all this work I was doing I was a little disappointed. Then looking in the casting notices one day, I saw another opportunity to be on a show. This time it was a make-over show. I thought this would be perfect. I sent the letter, and a picture and I met with the casting directors. Well, I got it! I think they felt sorry for me or something, so they thought I would be perfect. But, there was a catch. I would be show-casing some lingerie on a runway. What?! I didn’t even own lingerie. I panicked again. I ran to my husband and asked him about this work-out he’s been telling me about for years.

I didn’t have anything to lose because I had tried it all. I thought that this ‘work-out’ he talked so highly of was really only for men. I thought that way because it derived from a strength training coach, Dr. Paul Kennedy, a strength coach at Penn State University & Rutgers University. He was also a second alternate in the Olympics in his division for strength training. My husband trained under this man, and this system he developed was called ‘The Kennedy System’.

WALKING THE RUNWAY IN LINGERIE

I hesitantly walked into the gym with my husband. I had 45 days to get lean, mean and hot enough to walk on a runway, on a national TV show…in lingerie. I was mentally ready. I never worked out at the gym with my husband before like this. I watched the DVD’s at home of the 13 episodes that DR. Paul had done, and was so amazed how the littlest variations in a rep was crucial to the results. I also learned how I was doing my work outs wrong on the machines. I saw where I was waiting time. I finally learned how my muscles work. Finally.

Within the first three days, I knew there was something very, very different going on here. I was actually happy at the end of the work out. I also was able to do a total body work out (from neck to ankles) in 30 minutes. With my husband, it was an hour (for two people). I had fun doing it, and I’ll tell you why. You start out doing your 8-12 reps on the weight amount that you can handle. You do it exactly how DR. Paul demonstrates. Positioning is KEY.

Then after a couple minutes resting time you do the reps again, at a lesser weight. You do your rep until your muscles goes to momentary fatigue (you can’t do it anymore). You then have your partner help you lift, then he will resist you while you do your rep. (So you go against each other). Do it three times if possible. Your muscle will go to temporary fatigue.

You do this in a systematic way, starting from your large muscle groups, and working your way to the smaller. Now, this is the part that is no joke. I saw results right away.

THIS FEELS TOO GOOD

You take a day off in between to rest. The next time you go in, you can actually lift more weights. I would be stunned as my husband pulled the pin out and went to the next one, and I lifted it. Every day I was stronger than the day before. My chest started to get that nice cut, lifting my bosom and my abs started to appear on the sides. I was so excited, I could not wait to get back to the gym! I was excited to go in, and happy when I left. During the day off in between I felt incredible. I was walking taller, and I felt stronger. I could lift my baby with one arm and carrying groceries in the other with no problem.

This must be a miracle, How was this possible? People were constantly asking me how did I do this? The Kennedy System. The best part, I ate as much as I wanted, because the muscles-being the biggest and the hungriest had to replenish themselves, so eating good is recommended. Dr. Paul also has included a nutritional guide, and smoothie recipes to support your new fun way of eating.

I say ‘fun’ because that is exactly what it has become. People stop us in the gym, and ask us what we are doing, and we tell them. I am morphing in front of my very eyes. I have lost a total of 17 inches, and I am down to a healthy 150. I have a 60 day plan where I will continue to work out and my goal is to get ripped. Yes, ripped. Not out of control, competitor ripped…but can you believe I know it is possible with this education.

JUST AN EDUCATION

And that is all it is, an education. No pills. No fads. No gimmicks. This is simply an education showing you how to PROPERLY work out. It is simple, and effective and my favorite words: FAST & FUN.

I became the spokesperson for The Kennedy System, and I also enjoy so much talking to Dr. Paul Kennedy because he is literally a walking encyclopedia on fitness. He is in his 50’s with a body of a 25 year old. He has such a passion, and drive for educating the public on how the body responds to working out, and strength training. He even has done 100’s of hours of radio broadcasts, talking phone calls from the public.

My husband and I own an independent film production company, and we love the product so much, we bought it! So, now with my utmost pleasure and joy, we bring you The Kennedy System for yourself, your family, your friends and anyone you see that has an interest in becoming the fittest they have ever been with less time, and less energy, and less money.

Once you purchase the 4 DVD set, you will see that not only could you watch it over and over, but there’s nothing else more to buy. That’s it. Dr. Paul’s 30 years of education in 13 episodes, so that you can understand how to work your body, and have your body work for you.

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Bobbi is a mother of five children. She weighed 200 pounds walking out of the hospital after the birth of her fifth child in Woodland Hills, Ca. After years of various workouts, Bobbi learned The Kennedy System. She sculpted her body in 45 days for a national lingerie TV show. She is the spokesperson for The Kennedy System for the dramatic results she achieved. She is a spokesperson consulting women, and writes articles on losing weight and being fit. www.TheKennedySystem.com

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