From Health magazine
Katherine Harvey of Dixfield, Maine, always felt a calling to run for public office, but at 196 pounds she was too insecure to go for it. “I hadn’t felt good about myself since my first pregnancy 21 years ago,” she says. Katherine knew she didn’t have the stamina to run a grueling campaign. Then, in early 2006, rising cholesterol and a weight-loss contest got her motivated. She cut sweets and limited carbs to 30 grams a day. She started using an elliptical trainer five or six days a week and lifting weights every other day. And she’s now into running; see “Her gift,” below.
Free of 65 pounds, Katherine set out to become a member of the Maine House of Representatives in 2007. She lost by a small margin but considers just being a candidate a victory. “I don’t think I’d have done it if I hadn’t lost weight,” says Katherine, who plans to run for office again. “Once those pounds were gone, I could just be myself.”
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Her “three-day” rule
That’s how long she allows herself to get off track. “Any longer than that, and I’ll develop a bad habit that I’ll have to break,” Katherine says.
How she fills up
To keep spinach and spring-mix salads interesting, Katherine adds her favorite toppings, like red kidney beans, cranberries, almonds, and carrots.
Early bird special
When Katherine was campaigning and going door-to-door in the afternoons, she’d get up at 4:45 a.m. just so she could still work out every day.
Her gift
Since Katherine now walks or runs about 30 miles a week, New Balance sent her a pair of their new 1224 running shoes ($139.95) to help her keep up the great work.
More about running:
Comments (2)
Katherine is a wonderful role model for the kids she serves through the afterschool program she manages in Maine. What a gret way to demonstrate a healthy lifestyle.
Katherine is a great person and she is an awesome role model for her girls and the children that she works with.