People who look at me may think I’ve never had an ‘out of control’ moment in my life where food is concerned. And while it’s true I make my living as a Personal Trainer and Nutritional Consultant in Hollywood, my road to fitness and healthy living has been long and hard earned.
I grew up on Chicago’s south side, lost in longstanding family patterns of eating whatever i wanted. We ate what we could afford and our table was always full. Every Sunday after church my family and I feasted on cornbread, fried chicken, barbecued short ribs, potato salad, collard greens, and ham hocks. Eventually, my thighs started to inevitably looking like ham hocks since I absent-mindedly ate the wrong things. But at the time I had absolutely no awareness of nutrition and the power of food to either enhance or harm my body.
That awareness came slowly over time and began when I moved to Los Angeles. Because I missed my family, food became a source of emotional comfort, and I vacillated between binge eating and working out at the gym to compensate. Truthfully it felt like I was on the treadmill to nowhere. I’d lose ten pounds and gain four. Eventually I was 30 pounds overweight and at a loss as to how to stop the cycle.
I met Diamond Dallas Page six years ago and he introduced me to the YRG workout…a powerful combination of strength training, Pilates, mixed martial arts, cardio, and yoga. I began to gain not only upper body strength, but confidence as well…and became the first certified YRG instructor. My increasing strength and stamina laid the foundation for other changes: I began learning how to satisfy my emotional needs in ways other than food. And my newfound energy motivated to study nutrition. It all became crystal clear: when I gave my body what it really needed, the out-of-control eating began to dissipate. First to go, were the processed foods and their laundry list of additives that exacerbate carbohydrate addition. I realized that food and fitness are a partnership: what good is working out if it’s followed by a banquet of junk food? Coming up with healthy recipes that actually taste great proved to be my winning strategy.
The domino effect of my healthy lifestyle continued and for a time I worked for a major national weight loss franchise, training their counselors in the principles of nutrition and fitness. In addition to being a certified YRG Instructor, I’m a Certified Personal Trainer and Food Consultant who recently worked with Carnie Wilson on her “Unstapled” reality series.
Eating clean, healthy foods that are truly tasty (and given the thumbs up by Picky Eaters) is what has allowed me to keep my shape and health for the long haul. I have no special cooking credentials. I’m a self-taught home chef and whatever I do in the kitchen, you can too. Wherever you are on your path, don’t look at the whole road ahead of you and feel discouraged. Fitness is a journey that never ends, and I’m here to bust the myth that it has to be drudgery. Actually, being physically active and eating clean is quite the opposite. With the right approach, they can be invigorating, exciting, and very, very delicious. I would like to share one of my favorite passages with you.
If one advances confidently in the direction of his dreams…he will meet unexpected success in the common hours. HENRY DAVID THOREAU
Angella Cole
