Kevin Higar can speak from experience about the hazards of being a foodservice consultant.
In his time with a foodservice research firm and a restaurant company, he visited thousands of restaurants. Over one very long day, he started at the bottom of Ohio and worked his way up to Cleveland, having 17 meals from the time he woke up until the time he went to bed.
When he hit 280 pounds, he decided to make a change, earning a certification as a personal trainer and then winning a spot in the 200-meter dash at the upcoming 2017 National Senior Olympics in Birmingham, Ala.
Of course, none of this happened overnight. Now the founder of Dallas-based Flying Feathers Foodservice Consulting, Higar took years to find direction, work toward his goals and lose 75 pounds.
Q: What tipped the scales, as it were?
A: In 2013, I left my last job; I worked for both Technomic and Brinker International. While talking with a friend, I remembered how I missed sports and competing. Traveling so much, I couldn’t do team sports. My friend suggested the Senior Olympics.
Q: “Senior Olympics” conjures up a few images.
A: Well, it’s not people using walkers. It’s serious, mature athletes genuinely preparing to compete.
Q: So these Olympics inspired you?
A: I told my friend I would try to qualify. I used to run the 200-meter dash, so that was a good place to start. I went to an open track and timed my run. It was a minute. I was horrified. If you watched the summer Olympics, they run the 200 meters in 19, 20 or 21 seconds. I realized it was unrealistic to qualify, so I decided to first learn about nutrition and fitness. The best way to do that, I thought, was to become a certified trainer.
Q: What did that involve?
A: In 2013, I found the National Academy of Sports Medicine. Their certification program took six months, so at the end of March 2014, I took the exam and became a personal trainer. But I found the whole process addictive. When you become a trainer, you can specialize in things like weight control, corrective exercise or exercise for seniors or kids. I’ve added 14 specializations on top of my core certification.
Q: Do you have clients?
A: I advise a few people regularly, but it’s not in my DNA to charge.
Q: What kind of advice do you give?
A: I talk a lot about hydration. For your muscles to work properly, they have to be hydrated. I also tell people that today’s workout fuel is what you ate yesterday. You want carbohydrates for energy and protein to protect your muscles. After your workout, you’ve got a two-hour window in which you want to replenish. The body is looking for a nice mix of proteins, carbs and fat.
Q: So what motivates you?
A: If you put in the work, you’ll get the reward. Life’s not always like that. With running, it’s more scientific than you think. For example, this morning I focused on how I start out of the block. I have to work on the angle my front leg is coming from and where my back leg is pushing. It’s a lot of hard work, but there’s a strong sense of reward at the finish line.
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