Kim Knapp is sixty six and her husband John Kilbride is seventy years old. Their fitness story is one of personal transformation and dedication. Like many, she faced a wake-up call that changed the course of her life. In October 2010, John then 248 pounds, suffered a mini-stroke (TIA). While the event was brief, lasting only about fifteen minutes, it served as a sobering reminder of the importance of taking care of their health. At the time, Kim and John were newlyweds, and this scary moment became the catalyst for their commitment to better health.
John’s follow up visit to the cardiologist was the turning point. The doctor’s message was clear: to have a long and healthy life together, John needed to lose weight and start exercising. This advice hit home for both of them, sparking a determination to make lasting changes in their lives. They found their “why” and began their exploration toward better health.
Their starting point was humbling. Kim and John’s first attempt at exercise was a simple walk in the park, barely half a mile. They sat down to rest, exhausted, but they didn’t give up. Instead, they researched fitness and nutrition and began following programs like Body for Life, Transformation, and Eating for Life by Bill Phillips. Armed with knowledge and newfound motivation, they committed to weight training and eating six meals of proper nutrition a day. Their progress was gradual, but within eight months, both had lost forty pounds each, astonishing their friends, family, and even their doctor.
But Kim didn’t stop there. Her transformation sparked a desire to help others, leading her to become one of the first twelve certified Body for Life coaches under Bill Phillips’ mentorship. Kim delved deeper into fitness, nutrition, blood work, and body composition, constantly advancing her knowledge.
For the past fifteen years, Kim has not only maintained her weight loss but has also gained strength and energy. She and John now focus on helping others, especially those over fifty, achieve similar results.
“I’m all about education. There’s so much information out there and we are not about fad diets. Most people think they can just go to the gym and don’t think about the overall approach. It’s important that they focus on what they can do,” Kim said.
Kim and John think it’s important to be surrounded by like-minded people, so they use a virtual team approach.
Kim says, ““Back in the day, my grandparents ate whole foods and that’s the foundation of our approach. We run twelve week programs. It’s a constant check-in with accountability and comradery. When people are part of a team, they have a higher success rate.
Their story is proof that if you’re willing to do the work you can have a better life. Learn more about their story at the kfactorcoaching.com.
