Kelly Money
Grand Prize Winner
UBC # 8 – Orlando, FL

What UBC Means to Me
First, let me give you a little background.  All my life I have been active, some might have even called me hyper, so I never really had to worry about weight or exercise.  A lot of people would say that I was one of the lucky ones.  Two years ago that all changed.  Within an eight month period, I had four surgeries, all within my abdomen area.  Two of those surgeries were intensive.  With recuperation time I believe I laid in bed a total of six months.  Within that period I gained 55 lbs. and had lost my muscle mass.  I was completely distraught.  I was completely miserable.  I had no joy.  I was sick and tired of people asking me when I was “due.”  They assumed I was pregnant because my abdomen was so inflated.  I believe I cried every day over this.

So, I joined a gym, and for the next year, starting off very slowly, I attended pretty faithfully and constantly pushed myself.  At the end of that year I had accomplished losing 30 lbs. and gaining back some of my muscle.  But this just wasn’t cutting it.  All you women out there who are over forty know how hard it is to take weight off once you’ve gained it.  At this point I felt well enough to try something challenging.  I needed a boost!

My boyfriend had been attending Wah Lum Kung Fu & Tai Chi for a few years and he told me about this course that they had started teaching.  When I signed up for UBC, I made a commitment from day one that I was going to give this my all.  I wanted my old body back.  I wanted to live again and be happy!  When I received my manual, I read it from cover to cover and then over again.  I listened intently during the orientation.  I had seen pictures of the people that finished the course before me, and WOW!!  I wanted THAT!!

UBC has changed my life and the way I feel about life.  This course has enabled me to instill a regimen of exercise that I thoroughly enjoy and taught me the meaning of feeling good.  It has also enlightened me on the meaning of eating right and eating well.  All while in the environment of others that have the same goals.  

I was a little skeptical of the use of the resistance bands at first.  They looked so meager.  I remember saying to myself, “ I will do the bands, but how much good are they really going to do?”  They didn’t seem much to me.  How wrong was I?!  Within weeks I was discovering muscles on my body that I have NEVER had.  I would go to scratch an itch, and- wait a minute- what’s that?!  Wow!  Then I would flex in the mirror and not believe my eyes!  My body was actually taking shape and I could foresee a beautiful figure underneath hiding, just waiting to emerge.

The kickboxing portion of the course is what I enjoy the most.  I was very unbalanced and clumsy at first, especially with the kicking part, but with guidance from the trainers and practice, I believe I can pack a pretty hefty punch.  I never enjoyed doing cardio workouts- they were just so much… work!  But when you focus on a skill, time flies.  All the while seeing for yourself the improvement you’ve accomplished.  You know, I never felt invigorated when I would leave from my ordinary gym workouts.  Most of the time, I felt worse than when I entered.  When I leave from UBC class, however, I have energy and am ready to conquer the day!

There are so many different diets out there and vague suggestions on “what to eat” and “how to eat” and “when to eat,” and believe me, I have experimented with a vast majority of them within the last year to no avail.  When I read the nutrition part of the manual, it made sense to me.  It was written in laymen’s terms, and it spelled out exactly what should be eaten, how often to eat and, most importantly- why.  When I incorporated this lifestyle change I began to feel better… healthier.  I started to shed the pound.  It was unbelievable. 

When I run into someone who hasn’t seem me in a few weeks, the first thing they ask is, “Oh, you are on a diet?”  My reply is “No, I have changed my diet.  I now eat healthy.”  At first it was difficult to adjust to not eating junk (as I put it), but gradually my body became adjusted to the good stuff.  Now when I do eat “junk,”  I feel fatigued and bloated.  People ask me if I can maintain eating properly after the course.  Let’s just put it this way:  My body wants the good stuff now.

Another important part of this class is the surroundings.  I cannot say enough about the total support and commitment of the teachers at Wah Lum and my fellow classmates.  Every time I walked into class, it made me smile.  Everyone is there for the same purpose and goal.  When you are in a group, you tend to push yourself more;  the support of each other fuels you.

I totally loved the time I had taking this UBC course.  I would highly recommend it to anyone.