Oh, my husband. How I love him so. He's my perfect match, made especially for me and I'm sure of it! As you've read, you can't really know me unless you know something about those that are around me. Of all people, he's the one that knows me the most and owns the most square feet of my heart.
Much like my dad Korey's a good 'ol country boy. (In fact, he's pretty much a near replica of my dad, just 40 years younger!) He grew up in Eastern North Carolina in a "town" by the name of Maysville. This is the type of "town" that most people never leave if they were born there. If you're from there, you know everyone there and are probably related to them in one way or another. Fortunately for ME (because I am admittedly selfish this way) he made it out of Maysville to the big city of Raleigh where we met when we were both attending NC State.
The summer before my senior year and his junior year were the beginnings of the life that was meant to be shared by the two of us. A twisted triangle of drama and emotions worked its way out and spawned a love that you could never truly describe unless you've felt it for yourself. There was just something about him from moment one that lead me to believe that I was going to be his wife one day. As much as I was independent and swore off the idea of marriage, HE changed me--and the rest is mostly history.
We got married in May of 2008. It was the best day of my life. I cried uncontrollably through every second of the ceremony (strange feeling to not be able to control tears streaming down your face or SNOT dripping out of your nose!). We were both so happy, so blessed...and still are to this day!
Korey is a Registered Forester. He works in the woods. That's what I can tell you. I'll admit I'm not that keen on exactly what it is that he does. I figure as long as he enjoys it and makes a decent living and we are secure in our mortgage/savings/fill-in-the-financial-blank, then we're good! Needless to say he's active all day, trekking up and down and up and down. This is his exercise. In fact the last time he worked out on a regular basis was spring of 2010 when I basically "made" him do P90X with me in an effort to get him working out again. He made the 90 days (which ironically ended on his birthday), and after that it's once in a blue moon that he'll do some push ups or hang the pull up bar. Bless him. He's still fit and looks great, but I'm still constantly encouraging him to stay fit enough so his back/shoulder/fill-in-the-joint doesn't hurt.
His nutritional history, you ask? Let me hold back the disgust and disdain! Or NOT! Let's just say his mother was never (and still isn't) a fan of vegetables. If it didn't come from a can and wasn't a soggy green bean, it didn't get served when he was growing up! Well, I take that back...potatoes and corn were in there every now and then, BUT I said vegetables and these certainly don't count in my book! Then there's the cooked cabbage. By the term "cooked" used here, I mean "boiled to death and devoid of all that could have made it a healthy choice." Korey grew up eating frozen pizza, boxed hamburger-enhanced dishes, family-sized cans of spaghetti, all with absolutely no nutrition other than calories. Did he make it out alive, yes, but I'd say barely! At least he made it out of Maysville!
When Korey and I first started dating, I was a "healthy" eater. I should probably just chalk one up and admit that I was a victim of conventional wisdom back then--a low-fat (mostly NO-fat), high-fruit and high-grain, and adequate protein kind of eater. I was aware of what I was doing and I was an avid exerciser (in hindsight I now know I was an OVER-exerciser). He had carried the same eating/food preparation habits to college from Maysville. The one and only time he's ever cooked a meal for me consisted of processed kielbasa, boxed mashed potatoes, canned green peas, refrigerated-bake-and-eat croissants, and sweet tea. Yes, I ate it even though that was stepping outside of my comfort zone even then. Did I mention this was the only time he's ever cooked for me?
We've both come a long way since.
Since we've been together, we've both evolved. He had a little farther to go than I did. The first time he ever touched a sweet potato was in the form of a sugar-laden, dessert-like sweet potato casserole I made when his grandmother passed away. Sweet potatoes were one of those things he "didn't like" even though he'd never even tried them. I hate that, don't you? Now he has them on a daily basis...sans the CRAP!
He does a great job now of keeping his eating as clean as he can manage. Back in February I encouraged him to do a Whole30. I told him I would do it with him to support his efforts, although all I had to give up was stevia extract and protein shakes (I should mention I haven't had either since completion, so it goes to show you the power of that 30-day program!). He had to give up sodas and really watch it with bread. He can control what he eats at home, but since he's on the road every day for lunch, he'd been known to stop at some mom-and-pop joint and have a burger and fries. During the 30 days, he eliminated soda and when subject to the mom-and-pops, he choose a meat and the vegetable "of the day" type of meal. After the thirty days he's only added back Sierra Mist, because in his mind it's the "best of the worst" since it's "natural." I won't go there...
In all that I've gone through from a health standpoint, he appreciates the importance of eating the right foods. Unlike a lot of folks around me, he doesn't think I'm radical or fanatical. He doesn't think I have an eating disorder. He loves my creativity in the kitchen and he's learning to prepare paleo-style meals for himself when I'm not there to cook. I couldn't be more proud of him. I'd say that he'd probably say the only downside to this lifestyle change for him is how frustrated he gets when he goes home and is subject to the same crap he grew up on. Not to mention he wants to explain to his family why what they are eating isn't healthy only to get slapped in the face with an unwillingness to listen and make changes. The saying "ignorance is bliss" has come up before when we've looked back on how we've changed--back then when we didn't pay attention and didn't care, we certainly weren't frustrated when our families were shoveling crap down their throats and ours.
Korey has learned a lot. He's learned enough to pay it forward. This is all that I really ask of him, after simply taking care of himself first. He's my love, my best friend and my sous chef (and gladly so!). I couldn't ask for a better partner in life...and I'm pretty sure he feels the same way!
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