Overcoming Through Perseverance and Faith

By Craig Fairfield

Overworked, overstressed, overwhelmed — Tammy Wingo was all of those things and more. Her job as National Director of Employee Relations for Atria Senior Living kept her on the road, taking care of her three kids kept her on the run, and trying to balance everything else kept her on edge.

As if all of that wasn't enough, her marriage was shaky, her mother had just died of cancer, and her recent hysterectomy had caused her to gain weight. It was Christmas 2000 and her life had spiraled out of control.

Tammy knew she had to make some changes. Losing a little weight seemed like a good place to start. When she was younger she had been athletic and had always enjoyed physical activity, but somewhere along the way, regular exercise had become a luxury that she didn't think she could afford. She barely had time to take care of her other responsibilities, much less exercise. Still, she decided to carve out a few minutes each night to spend on her new treadmill.

At first it wasn't easy, Tammy felt guilty, like she was being selfish when she spent time walking or running on the treadmill. She thought about all of the other things she could be doing with the time: laundry, cleaning, working. Before long though, something interesting happened. She started to feel better. She was more relaxed, had more energy, and was better able to handle stress. By taking control of her physical being, she had started taking control of her mental being.

Tammy was on the right path, but not out of the woods yet. If her life was really going to change permanently, she knew she would need help. She felt called to rekindle her faith and look to God for guidance. Soon she found a new church home, and with it, another key ingredient for success; a support group in the form of Myra, Vickie, Kathie, and Vanda, fitness-minded members of Tammy's new church. The newly formed team decided to meet three times each week for a morning run. As you might expect, this informal support group provided Tammy with accountability, motivation, advice, encouragement, fun, and the occasional kick-in-the-pants that we all need to stay focused.

With the help of God, her new friends, and energy derived from her healthy new habits, Tammy slowly pulled her life back into focus. Her stress level came down as she learned to release it. Her confidence went up as she shed the extra pounds that she had accumulated over the course of three pregnancies and a hysterectomy. She regained peace as she reclaimed her faith. She became a better mother, more able to concentrate on her children's needs. Her unhealthy routine had been changed into a healthy one, and she was now equipped to take on new challenges. The next dragon to slay was her job.

Tammy had worked in human resources her entire adult life, first at Providian, then at a prominent Louisville law firm, and finally at Atria. She had accomplished much, but had become disenchanted with working for a large corporation. At work, she felt like just another cog in the machine, like she really couldn't control her destiny. She was dissatisfied and frustrated. Emboldened, Tammy decided to try something daring and new. She decided to open a unique fitness boutique and give it a name that described her philosophy about life; a name that would inspire other women to be strong in the face of adversity – Moxie – which means “overcoming through strength and courage”.

With God's help and assistance from many friends, Moxie – Activewear for Women became a reality in September of 2006. Moxie offers unique clothing and accessories for women who want something different to wear for yoga, golf, tennis, running, or just running out to lunch. More importantly, Moxie gives Tammy control over her destiny and her life. It allows her to channel her energy into being a positive influence on other women who may be facing the same challenges she did. Tammy hopes that Moxie can become more than just a store. She wants it to be a place where like-minded women can come together for inspiration and encouragement. As part of this effort, monthly parties are planned, each of which will feature a motivational speaker from a different branch of fitness. Not surprisingly, they will also involve plenty of food, fun, and friendship.

With determination, help from friends, and rediscovered spirituality, Tammy Wingo turned her life around. Now she wants to inspire other women to do the same by encouraging them to develop healthy habits that they can maintain for life. If her recent past is any indication, chances are good that she will succeed.

Craig Fairfield is a freelance writer and a marketing consultant with Group Nine in Louisville. His hobbies include hiking and biking with his wife and three children, working in the yard, reading, and just hanging out. Craig is a summa cum laude graduate of McKendree College in Louisville with a BBA in Marketing and is currently pursuing an MBA in International Business.