at home with
At Home With Gina Neely Text by Janna Herbison | Photography by Anna Leppert
Give us a snapshot of your life these days. Things are great, and busy! I’ve gone through a lot of changes in recent years, but through my faith and a lot of reflecting, I have rediscovered myself…and recharged my spirit. I finally found the courage to take control of my life and make some positive changes. I’m in a very good place now, and excited about the next chapter! I am also living in an amazing condo in the heart of Downtown Memphis, and I love it! The Downtown area has grown so much in recent years, and I am proud to now be a part of that.
You have embraced a healthier lifestyle recently. What are some of the positive results you’ve experienced? It all started through the George Foreman brand—they challenged me as a spokesperson with a goal of losing 25 pounds in 12 weeks. That really opened the door for me. Once I committed to it, I began losing weight and feeling a lot better, both on the outside and the inside. For years, as co-owner of a Southern fare restaurant, I didn’t always make the healthiest choices when it came to cooking for family or myself. I started making a few small changes that delivered big results. I also began exercising regularly. It was as if the sun started shining brighter, which helped me really take things in and notice the positive blessings in my life. I lost weight, and I also began to rid myself of negative thoughts. I even started a personal blog, which has now made a big impact on my life. I was about to turn 50 and just wanted to be happy and be my best self!
What type of work are you currently doing? I'm pleased with everything I've done and hopefully I’ve helped others. I am currently moving behind the camera to submit treatments for different networks as well as working on my book, Rediscover Your Cha-Cha. My goal is to submit it as a series platform to share with all women. I am also traveling and speaking around the country, along with various appearances on television, radio and podcasts. I was recently featured in an episode of Where Are They Now on Oprah’s OWN network and did a Thanksgiving segment last month as a representative for Wal Mart on Harry Connick, Jr.’s new syndicated television show called Harry. I helped launch a new cooking segment as guest judge on The Real, and I have an article out this month in Dr. Oz’s magazine. Another special visit: I spoke at an event in Buffalo, NY, to share my journey with other women on how to collectively move forward by supporting one another. 22 | At Home Memphis & Mid South • December 2016