Cove woman overcoming tragedy, depression and health problems with boxing training | Copperas Cove Herald

“I bought on the dimensions and I used to be on the heaviest I’ve ever been,” the 36-year-old Copperas Cove resident mentioned earlier this week. “I broke down crying. I used to be borderline diabetic … and a complete lot of borderline stuff with my well being. That had by no means occurred to me earlier than.”

Walker mentioned she misplaced her first little one six years in the past. She additionally defined that attributable to a situation she has, she should be on mattress relaxation for the complete time period if she will get pregnant once more.

“Then, I misplaced my second little one in November 2018 attributable to sepsis,” Walker mentioned. “I used to be 20 weeks and 6 days, and my child was stillborn. I flatlined (and) I used to be on life assist for three-and-a-half days. I went into coronary heart, lung, and kidney failure, and was hospitalized for 2 weeks. I needed to discover ways to stroll once more — do easy issues like drink out of a straw.”

Walker defined that she went residence to Missouri, and after she got here again, she dealt together with her melancholy by consuming.

Frightened by her well being scare, Walker was driving via Copperas Cove in the future final September when she noticed Manny Morales’ Crossbox Health Membership on South Farm-to-Market 116. The fitness center, which opened not lengthy earlier than, is residence principally to up-and-coming younger boxers coaching for fights, however she was intrigued and determined to cease in.

“I noticed the tire(s) outdoors, and I assumed, ‘That’s what I want.’ I felt like I wanted somebody to carry my hand, push me, and inform me that I may do it,” Walker mentioned. “So I got here in and met Manny. I ran via my story with him and instructed him I’d be again (the subsequent) Monday.”

At first, Morales doubted her dedication.

“I mentioned, ‘Sure, I’m. I’m not going to let my well being get me down once more.’ And I confirmed up,” Walker mentioned.

Morales, a former skilled boxer, remembers:

“She got here in in the future and she or he was like, ‘I’ve bought to drop extra pounds.’ She was underneath plenty of stress and the physician instructed her she wanted to do one thing,” Morales mentioned.

“She began coming and I began pushing her and pushing her. (Lately) the physician instructed her that her numbers (ldl cholesterol and different blood work) have been trying good. I take her to go run; I take her to the monitor; I take her to Temple (Excessive College) stadium and we run the stands on Sundays.

“She hits the bag, flips tires, swings the sledgehammer, does the battle ropes — she does all the things right here. I’ll get within the ring together with her and we’ll do mitts. She does the entire thing. I’m actually happy with her.”

Walker has come a good distance since she began, shedding what she guesses is about 25 kilos to this point. Though the numbers on the dimensions haven’t dropped as quick as she would love, she sees an enormous distinction in her physique composition and her general dimension.

“With my weight, I’m at a standstill, however that’s as a result of I’ve been constructing extra muscle and shedding inches. Garments sizes are dropping. I can’t see it a lot on the dimensions, however I can see it in footage.

“Lots of people have seen. They take a look at my footage they usually’re like, ‘Oh, wow. What are you doing?’”

Walker joked and laughed when she mentioned she didn’t need to be too skinny.

“However my ranges and all the things have been down, so I’m not borderline (diabetic) anymore,” she mentioned. “My objective proper now’s I simply need to lose this abdomen. This abdomen is sticking with me like we’re finest pals — and we’re not.

“After I bought right here, I couldn’t do a single pushup. Finally, there was in the future after I did over 120 pushups. I did it girl-style; knee pushups.

“I’ve labored my butt off. I used to be the one feminine for some time, and the blokes have been so encouraging. No matter we did, everybody was like, ‘You bought it, ‘Nika; you bought it.’ That motivation was so vital.

“I made positive I pushed myself to do what they did. Once they go working, I’m proper behind them. After we go on a seven-mile stroll, I’m proper behind them. I is perhaps able to move out like a fish with out water, however I simply hold pushing. They’ll all be forward of me, however I simply don’t cease.”

Together with common exercises, Walker has cleaned up her eating regimen and drinks numerous water every single day. She is aware of there’s plenty of work to do, however she is happy with herself for what she has achieved to this point.

“Belief me, generally I don’t need to do it. Generally, I nonetheless slip into my melancholy moments and I don’t need to do something. However Manny will name me and say, ‘Come on; let’s go,’” Walker mentioned.

Walker praised Morales and his household for being, “the sweetest folks ever.”

She mentioned that Morales and his household are supportive and loving, and added that she’s by no means been to a fitness center that’s extra family-oriented.

“I by no means in one million years would have thought I’d be doing one thing like this. It relieves a lot stress. You possibly can go to that (punching) bag and simply hit, hit, hit — go residence, take a bathe, and be happy with myself, as a result of I bought up and I confirmed up,” Walker mentioned.

Though she trains with fighters in a boxing fitness center, Walker says she has no aspirations of really changing into a boxer. She is, nonetheless, changing into a boxing fan.

“To get within the ring with someone and truly combat — no. However I might be able to knock someone’s head off their shoulders if they struggle me,” she mentioned, with a smile.