Issue link: http://digital.copcomm.com/i/214242
FEATURE TIFFANY MOORE William Green Elementary School, Lawndale Teachers Association Tiffany Moore now. She shed 128 pounds. Today, the 5-foot-6-inch second-grade teacher weighs 30 pounds more than her total weight loss. You do the math. Moore, 43, gained 70 pounds in a single year during her early 20s, when she was going through a stressful time in her life. The self-professed "emotional eater" continued turning to food when times got tough, working late and ordering fast food from the drive-through window before heading home from school. She told herself she didn't have time to go to the gym. She was diagnosed with high cholesterol and high blood pressure. Her heart specialist wanted to put her on medication; she begged him not to and promised to lose weight. He said, "You're never going to lose weight. You've been fat for years." And something inside her said, "Oh yeah?" At 40, at a friend's urging, she joined a "fancy" gym that cost $200 a month. She worked out daily to get her money's worth. Once that happened, she began eating healthier. Weight dropped, as did her cholesterol and blood pressure levels. She dropped dress sizes, too, from a size 24 to a size 6. Her doctor didn't recognize her. That was the sweetest of victories. Moore encourages her students to eat healthier (she's introducing them to almond milk, spinach and smoothies) and to be physically active (she does kickboxing exercises with them once a week). To learn more, visit her webpage, facebook.com/meltmindandbodyfitness, or follow her on Instagram @meltmindandbodyfitness. PEOPLE DON'T RECOGNIZE I eat healthy by… prepping my meals on Sunday for an entire week. I eat five or six small meals a day. One might be boiled chicken, fruit, a handful of nuts and a banana. I make sure I have protein and fiber. A snack might be a boiled egg or apple with a bit of almond butter. Tiffany Moore dropped from size 24 to 6 by eating five or six small meals a day and exercising regularly. Exercising on a regular basis… became a serious lifestyle choice for me. It took me two and a half years to lose all that weight, and now I'm maintaining it. I'm lifting heavy weights and reshaping my body. Women can lift weights and not be afraid of getting bulky. It's important to have some muscle. What I've learned… is that it's important to take time for me. I felt like I had to give every moment to this job, but teachers need to have balance in their lives. I'm happier and have more energy and clarity. Finally, I feel like I have become the person I'm meant to be. Before: DID YOU KNOW? Losing weight is simple math. 12 Educator 11 Nov 2013 v2.1 int.indd 12 NOVE M B E R 2013 11/13/13 6:31 PM