and a 5.0-level
pickleball
player. As a vital
contributor
to the
success of the
Hawaii Open
tournament,
Richard’s
117-pound
weight loss
story is an
inspiration.
“I really just
wanted to be
here longer for
my wife and
daughters,” he
says. He had also found that the extra weight was causing
too many injuries for such an active person.
Through pickleball, Richard met “Uncle” Kevin Teves,
who opened his gym to him and offered nutrition tips
to kick-start his weight loss. Kevin also helped Richard
stay active with workouts and pickleball practice six
days a week.
Richard felt that cutting out white rice was important,
but living in Hawaii makes it hard
to do. He also stopped drinking
high-calorie fluids such as soda and
sports drinks. He admits to drinking
a lot before deciding to lose weight,
and stopped eating late-night meals
as well.
Richard says his girls keep him
accountable with their watchful eyes
and brutal comments only daughters
can get away with—“I thought you
weren’t drinking soda, Dad!”
The Pro: KaSandra Gehrke
KaSandra is a physical education
teacher turned full-time
professional pickleball player, thanks
in part to her weight loss success.
She had been an active athlete
throughout childhood, but found
weight creeping up on her in college
when she transitioned from playing sports to coaching.
With her busy life, she ate out a lot, and before long had
gained 70 unwanted pounds.
KaSandra credits pickleball as her motivation to lose
those pounds and keep them off. In 2017, she lost a 5.0
tournament because she physically couldn’t
keep up with the competition in the finals.
That day, KaSandra decided to make a
change. “I was motivated to keep a better
eye on my nutrition so I could compete at
the highest level,” she recalls. “I began to
feel better physically and mentally, and that
kept pushing me for the next three years.”
Nutritionally, KaSandra made quite a
few changes. She used the 16/8 form of
intermittent fasting, where she chose a
specific eight-hour window to eat each
day and fasted for the other 16. She also ate
high-protein foods like eggs and protein-
fortified pancakes, and high-fiber snacks
like fruits and vegetables to keep her fuller
longer. She stays hydrated with water,
drinking at least 100 ounces each day.
During her weight loss period, she also made time
for an hour of cardio and weightlifting every day with
Orangetheory Fitness in addition to evening pickleball
practices. This wasn’t easy with her packed schedule; it
meant she had to work out at 5 a.m.
KaSandra is thankful for the support of her mother,
Wendy Mattie, who has always believed in her ability to
do anything she puts her mind to. KaSandra now hopes
to help others succeed
and leaves us with the
motivational words,
“Losing weight takes hard
work and dedication, and
for years I was not ready
to put in the work. It feels
so much worse not to put
in the work. It feels better
to be proud of what I’ve
accomplished and what
I can do. You CAN make
the choice to change your
life and, trust me, it’s
totally worth it.” •
Brandi Givens has been a registered dietitian
since 2010. Questions or comments can be
posted to her blog at www.abitdietitious.com.
APRIL/MAY 2020 |
MAGAZINE
69