As part of my new web series, The Role Model In You, here is my most recent interview. The Role Model In You series discusses how individuals were influenced as a child to lead a healthy lifestyle. It covers who influenced these individuals, the changes they made in their life to be healthy, and the message they would like to convey to the youth of today. Our guests include doctors, soccer stars, Super Bowl champions, NBA players, Olympic gold medalist, entrepreneurs, celebrities, and just regular people looking to share their story. I hope you enjoy it!
1. Your name, title, and age? What do you do (or did you do) for a living?
Ruby Whitmore, BA, 29 years
2. Who was the person that inspired you as a child to eat healthy and stay fit? What was their relationship to you?
Both my grandmothers, each in their own way!
3. What did they do to inspire you?
My mother always spoke about her mother’s healthy ways: going out for a walk every day (despite being over eighty) and eating in moderation.
As for my father’s mother, she was a fantastic cook. Not in a ‘chef’ type of way, but she always used the freshest produce (often straight from her own garden) and knew how to prepare cuts of meat to bring out their best flavor.
4. How did their lesson change your life?
I grew up believing that keeping your body moving was the way to stay healthy and fit as you aged. This has made me view fitness and a healthy lifestyle as more than a way to look good.
My paternal grandmother’s meals made you feel at home, and very much loved. I owe my love for real food to her. I’ll take real butter over margarine any day, and enjoy those types of foods in moderation.
5. Do you convey their message to kids in your life presently?
I have a daughter who’s two years old. She knows I go out running, and she also wants to go! We all sit down for meals as a family, and the meals are as wholesome as possible.
6. What would be your main message to children today to lead healthy lifestyles?
Get to know YOUR body, and what its likes and dislikes are. Experiment with different foods and different forms of exercise. Everyone is different: maybe you enjoy three hearty meals a day, and love to walk. Or perhaps you’re a “grazer” and you like to play a team sport. Find out what feels good to YOU, keep doing it, and you’ll set the foundation for a healthy and long life.
7. Do you have a web site you would like to promote….web address only?