Advance Derby girl gets fit, triumphs over anxiety

Wednesday, August 6, 2014
Kristin Simon photo Ford, left, warms up with roller derby team mates.

With her sweet voice and bubbly personality, one would never guess that Advance resident Misha Ford suffers from anxiety disorder.

"With anxiety disorder, you're always thinking you can't do it. You have to constantly fight with yourself and prove that you can do it," Ford says.

Ford's anxiety often made her want to stay home and avoid interaction with others. This, along with giving birth to four children in five years led her to gain weight. "I was a couch potato. I was 265 pounds. I had four kids but I couldn't keep up with them. I wanted to be the best mom I could for my kids and I couldn't cook healthy for them or stay up at night to help them with homework. Something like that lights a fire under your butt."

Kristin Simon photo Ford, right, helps a teammate perform leg lifts.

After her last baby was born, Ford saw a potential turning point in her life. Her oldest child said, "Mommy, you don't have a baby in your belly anymore. Can you come jump on the trampoline with me?" She did, and had so much fun that she realized that she wanted to get healthier for her family and kids.

Ford began walking in the park. She walked very early in the morning for two reasons: She had to be home before her husband went to work, and she wanted to exercise before anyone was out and about to see her struggle. She says, "It was super hard at first but with repetition it got easier." She also started watching what she ate, cutting out processed foods and nixing meals at restaurants. Friends came into her life who helped her learn how to substitute healthier foods and reach her goals.

After seeing a commercial for the Cape Girardeau Roller Girls, Ford decided to give roller derby a try. The first meeting terrified her. "The girls were big and tough but ended up being really nice. They were a community and were so positive. I just soaked it up. As I worked, I learned a lot about myself. It allowed me to self-assess and figure out what was missing in my life. You have to change what you're doing that's not helping you in life and focus on going forward and getting out of the funk."

Kristin Simon photo Ford, left, practices blocking. Blocking involves preventing the "jammer," who is the point scorer, from breaking through a line of skaters.

The roller derby trainer told Ford when she stared skating, "You are going to fall down but it doesn't matter. It just matters how fast you recover and get back up." With that motto in place she has lost over 90 pounds and is gearing up for her first roller derby bout on August 9 at 6:00 p.m. at the AC Brase Arena Building in Cape Girardeau.

Working out has become Ford's way of releasing anxiety. "When I get home at the end of the day I know I accomplished something and I feel good about that."

Ford's advice for others seeking a healthier lifestyle is this: "Take baby steps. Every day try some small new thing. Be proactive."

Look out to see Ford practicing her skating skills around town in Advance!

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