Todays

WOMAN

FR

EE

LANCASTER, SC SUMMER 2015

Life in
a NYC
closet

OBESE?
NOT ANYMORE

Sowell retiring
from public life

BUILDING A
BUFF BODY

Working
9-to-5

15 ways
to save
$ on your
vacation

Baby
Love

t
e
e
w
S
H om e
e
hom
tiny

photos courtesy of

Mary Helen Rowell

ThisphotoshowsoneendofMaryHelenRowells90-square-footapartmentinNewYork
City.Theotherendofher7x12-footspaceisdevotedtoherkitchenarea.

Lancasternativescloset-sizeNYCapartmentfeaturedonnationalTVshow
by Cathyleeen Rice for Todays Woman

or the past two years, a Lancaster native has been doesnt have much that makes a house a home, such as a
living in a 90-square-foot apartment on the upper
full kitchen, living room, comfy chairs or a nook with comWest Side of New York.
fortable pillows. Instead, she has a single wall for a kitchen,
Mary Helen Rowell, 26, was happy to find the 12-by-7and a bathroom she shares with a neighbor.
foot apartment for $775 a month and call it her own. In
(It) is like sharing a bathroom with roommates, just
New York City, Rowell knew that anything bigger would with private bedrooms, which is an upgrade from having
have been three times what she was willing to pay.
actual roommates, Rowell said.
After graduating from the University of South Carolina,
Appearing on the Rachael Ray Show on April 13,
Rowell, then 22, thought trekking to New York City for
Rowell shared some tips on how to make the most of small
graduate school in fashion merchandising was the perfect
spaces, without spending a ton of money.
adventure.
A meticulous organizer, Rowell uses every space in her
I knew the small town life wasnt for me,
apartment as a way to liven up the place.
she said.
A great way to save space is to go vertical
A friend Rowell met along the way accompaand hang everything, she said. Command
nied her on her big trip.
strips, plumbing pipes and hooks hang clothes
Our thought process was to go big or go
on the walls, purses, kitchen pots and small
home, which Rowell said was one of the best
works of art.
decisions shes ever made, although it turned
Stuck in a tightly packed sardine can, Rowell
out to be ironic given the size of her NYC
keeps everything else on the shelves she built near
Mary Hele
home.
the apartments only window and in bags she coln Rowell
Stretching her arms out the length of an
lects from buying very few items.
eagles wing, Rowell is able to touch the walls
One thing I like to do to maintain organization is to
on both sides of her tiny home.
abide by a strict one in and one out policy, Rowell said.
After finding the 78-inch-wide room two years ago
As I buy something new, something old has to go.
through New York Universitys student listserv, Rowell
She loves getting rid of things because her too-small
immediately took the tiny box for rent.
apartment only allows minimal furnishing.
But it wasnt until she attempted to build a Murphy bed
Its my favorite thing, Rowell said of discarding old
that panic closed in on her. Reality set in as she realized her
items. If there are three things on the floor, its a disaster.
apartment was indeed tiny.
Rowell has ingeniously mastered living in an area no
Forced to build a bed frame basically just a mattress larger than some closets.
on a platform, Rowell and a friend built storage underTo see her segment on the Rachael Ray Show, visit
neath the bed to store what couldnt be on display in her
http://www.rachaelrayshow.com/tips/20142_space_savmicrostudio.
i n g _ t i p s _ f ro m _ a _ wo m a n _ w h o _ l i ve s _ j u s t _ 9 0 _ s q u a re _
With such a small space for an apartment, Rowell feet/#sthash.0cLH29Fq%0A.

Summer 2015 Todays Woman 11

MOTHER

WIFE
Multiples

MAIN PHOTO BY

HWY 9 FOTOGRAPHY

COURTESY OF LATONDA BARBER-CLYBURN

RIGHT:LaTondaBarber-Clyburnflexes
toshowoffherstrongbackmuscles.

PHOTOS BY

CC BY LESLEY

COURTESY OF LATONDA BARBER-CLYBURN

BY CATHYLEEEN RICE FOR TODAYS WOMAN

COURTESY OF LATONDA BARBER-CLYBURN

LaTondaBarber-ClyburncompetesintheGeorgia
StateandSNBFchampionshipsinSuwanee,Ga.,on
April 11.

12 TODAYS WOMAN SUMMER 2015

CHAMPION

orn and raised in Lancaster,

Clyburn participated in dance
and soccer before graduating
from Lancaster High School in 2001.
Leaving Lancaster to attend the
University of South Carolina Upstate in
Spartanburg, Clyburn earned her bachelors
degree in business administration and then an
MBA from the University of Phoenix.
While in college, Clyburn participated in many
5ks and 10ks, where her passion for fitness
began to grow.
As the spark continued to burn, Clyburn began
training with Hanshi James White at Universal
Karate Studio in Lancaster. There, she later received
her cardio kickboxing certification and participated in
boot camps and kickboxing classes.
As part of her training for entering her first bodybuilding show in February 2014, under the supervision
of John Lankford at Nautilis Fitness, Clyburn began an
extensive
six-day-a-week routine with a supervised
meal plan that kept her light and fit.
By learning the process and consulting various competitors, Clyburn worked her way into the big leagues.
Although Clyburn is busy shes married to Mario
Clyburn, has an 8-year-old son, Cameron, and two stepchildren and works 9-to-5 at QS1 Data Systems in
Spartanburg she found time to work toward her bodybuilding goals, hitting the gym for weightlifting and
cardio for an hour or more six days a week.
On June 14, 2014, Clyburn placed third in her class

This trio of photos of LaTonda

Barber-ClyburnwastakenApril2at
NautilusFitnessCenterinSpartanburg,
where she trains six days a week.

as a figure competitor in
the
19th
a n n u a l
Carolina
Supernatural
Bodybuilding
Competition.
As the competition grew stiff,
Clyburns perseverance and hard work
in the gym paid off.
On April 25, she
competed
in
the
WNBF (World Natural
Bodybuilding Federation)
Amateur South Carolina
Bodybuilding Competition
as a figure and Ms. FitBody
competitor. That
night,
Clyburn won overall, placed
first in all events and received
her WNBF Pro Card.
Today, Clyburn, 32, motivates others by teaching fitness classes, training others to compete and conducting posing classes.
Clyburn will enter her first professional show, the SNBF
(Supernatural BodyBuilding and Fitness) Pro & Amateur Grand
Finale onNov. 7 in Suwanee, Ga.
As Clyburn continues her journey toward winning a professional bodybuilding title, she never forgets what her father taught her
about having the 3 Ds drive, dedication and determination.

Lancaster native pursues bodybuilding titles

SUMMER 2015 TODAYS WOMAN 13

OBESE? NOT ANYMORE

Label spurs Indian Land woman to shed 40 pounds
BY CATHYLEEEN RICE FOR TODAYS WOMAN

eing able to fit into your old skinny jeans or

dresses from college are a blessing these days
for most women.
Around the first of every year, many women make
New Years resolutions to lose weight. However, actually losing that weight is a milestone very few reach
due to the lack of self discipline.
But not Andrea Nahum.
In the past year, the 42-year-old Indian Land resident has jumped off the sofa, thrown away the bad
foods and has taken back her life.
After learning she was considered obese during a
doctors visit, Nahum became unhappy with the 182
pounds she carried.
It was an embarrassing moment and a real
eye-opener, Nahum said.
Motivated to break the family curse of being obese
and to be an inspiration to her son, Chris, 18, and
daughters, Savannah, 8, and Jordyn, 10, Nahum has
gotten her health back in order.
My mom is obese and Ive watched her yo-yo on
and off diets for years, Nahum said. I saw how she
was unhappy with herself, and I decided one day, I
didnt want to become like that.
So in May 2014, Nahum joined Weight Watchers
Online. After losing the first five pounds, Nahum kept
going until she reached her goal of shedding 40
pounds within six months.
PHOTOS COURTESY OF

Joining Weight Watchers helped Nahum

make smarter and healthier choices as she
committed herself to staying on track and
progressively losing weight.
If it wasnt for the support from my family
and the people online from Weight
Watchers, the journey wouldve
have been much harder, she said.
Nahum encourages and supports her co-workers at Central
Academy of Technology and
Arts in Monroe, N.C, as well
as family members who join
her
weight-loss
success,
sharing recipes and regimens
to keep the weight off.
We do physical activities
and eat better as a family,
Nahum said. I never looked at
what I am doing as dieting, but
making a lifestyle change through a
healthier commitment.
By walking twice a week for 30 to
45 minutes and being careful of the
portions she eats, Nahum is no
longer disheartened, but is wholeheartedly content with herself
and confident in her appearance.

ANDREA NAHUM

BEFORE:AndreaNahum
weighed182poundswhen
herdoctortoldhershewas
consideredobese.Hereshe
iswithherfamilybefore
she made the lifestyle
changeslastyearthatledto
her weight loss.

14 TODAYS WOMAN SUMMER 2015

AFTER:
Andrea
Nahum
afterlosing
40 pounds