Kara Richardson Whitely knew she could reach the summit of Mt. Kilimanjaro. She had done it once before. But she failed in a second attempt, struggled with food addiction and looked for ways to cope with feelings of failure and shame. Her weight shot to more than 300 pounds. Deep in her personal gorge, Whitely decided the only way out was up. She resolved to climb the mountain again-and this time, she would reach the summit. And she would do it without waiting for her plus-sized status to disappear. "Gorge: My Journey Up Kilimanjaro at 300 Pounds" is the story of her ascent from the depths of self-doubt to the top of the world.
Kara Richardson Whitely and is coming to Utah for an event at REI Salt Lake City on Thursday, May 14th from 7:00 to 8:00 p.m. and she joins us for Tuesday's AU. We'll talk about Fat Shaming, Compulsive Overeating and Food Addiction, Plus-size Fitness and Confidence, Open Trails, Life Lists, and more.
Kara Richardson Whitely has been a journalist for the past decade, writing for Self, Every Day With Rachael Ray, and Runner's World magazines and other publications. She is a national American Heart Association lifestyle change ambassador, and a motivational speaker, appearing at such events as the World Obesity Congress and Women's Health & Fitness Expo. She lives in Summit, New Jersey with her husband and two daughters.