1 Year of Fitness

This time last year I was miserable and unhappy. I had once again made my same old new years resolution of getting in shape and losing weight. I said ok this year I am finally going to do it. I will finally loose weight. By summer I will be down 20 pounds I just know it. Of course January and February went like they did all the previous years. I would loose 10 pounds then gain back 20. This seemed like a never ending cycle, and I did not think I could ever break free from it. Finally on March 4 2013 my husband and I joined a gym and we signed up for personal training. I was excited and nervous about this. This was something I had never experienced before. I thought oh no I am not supposed to lift weights. I don't want to get too bulky. This is sadly a lot of women's thinking about lifting and is completely false!! With cardio of course you will burn more calories in one session, but  as soon as you step off the machine or stop running you stop burning calories. With weights your body continues to burn calories 24-36 hours after you've stopped lifting. So which one sounds better to you. Anyways I digress. :) I found my love of lifting. I was very intimidated to step into the weight room surrounded by all these men and women who were in such great shape and know what they are doing. I think that if I did not work with a trainer for a few months I would not have gotten up enough courage to brave that room. I am so thankful I did.

I worked with him for 4 months, and they helped change my life forever. I changed the way I was eating along with getting in exercise. I started following their diet. Which was very helpful, but I realized I don't want to be on a diet. I know as soon as I go off of it I will go back to my old ways and gain all the weight back. I need to change my lifestyle and just eat healthy foods. One big thing for me was cutting out sodas and drinking at least a gallon of water everyday. I started researching lots of different foods and ways of eating. I was so surprised at the chemicals that were in our everyday foods. I finally came upon the concept of clean eating. This is not a diet. This is just a way to eat whole healthy foods everyday. I am not a nutritionist so I would never try to recommend ways that other people should eat. I know this is what works for me and my family. My advice to everyone is to research your foods. It took awhile to finally figure out my eating, but I finally figured out what works for me. Eating whole, clean healthy foods is what I do. I eat organic on most if not all of my foods. I look for non-GMO labels while shopping and also try to find local foods. I incorporate vegetables, proteins (not just meat, but other proteins as well), complex carbohydrates, healthy fats and fruits. I will enjoy the occasional treat meal. Let me say this is a meal not a whole day, but since I am not on a diet and this is just the way I eat what I want. I do not believe in ever depriving yourself. I take my old favorite recipes and make them over with healthy clean ingredients. So whoever says eating healthy is boring is wrong. I believe nutrition is 80% of our heath and wellness and the other 20% is exercise.

Like I said I worked with my trainer for 4 months. So July of last year I was on my own to stay healthy. I was a little scared, but knew I could do it. I had learned a lot along the way and gained so much confidence. I continued working out at the gym along with doing different challenges at home with a mommy fitness group I joined. During the spring of last year I also did the bikini body program from muffin topless. Which was very helpful to me as well. I started a Facebook page to help keep myself motivated and encouraged. This page turned out to be amazing. I have gained so many fitness friends. I have had people tell me I have encouraged, motivated and inspired them, but honestly it is the other way around. I am amazed by the people I have "met" in this fitness community. They are all amazing. I started doing T25 in November. Which was another great program that I have really enjoyed doing. Seriously you should try it if you are up to it.

So January of this year I did not make the same old resolution that I have made in the past and did not stick to it. I made myself promises that I was going to keep going on my healthy lifestyle. I am proud to say that I am sticking to this lifestyle. I enjoy finding what works and what doesn't work for me on my journey. I am looking at my healthy eating and fitness as a lifelong journey. Let me say for anyone that is on their journey whether just starting, months in, or years in be proud of yourself! Know that you are worth it, and never give up on yourself. You are worth it, and you can do it. Stick with it. You will have ups and downs, but it is a lifelong journey. So just keep pushing yourself. Also take good measurements and progress shots along the way. Most importantly surround yourself with good positive supportive people. I am always here to help motivate and support you if you ever need it.

I am happy to report that after a year on my fitness journey I am down 102 pounds and 70 inches.


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