Do You Really Know Me? Here's My Story To a Healthier Lifestyle

As I begin working on my new website and reflecting back on who I was and who I've become, it's amazing to see the changes I have made and the new life I lead today. Whether your goals are small or big, it's amazingly rewarding to look back and then look in the mirror to see all you have accomplished. Be proud of those goals and keep striving to only make you better and stronger both mentally and physically! I want to share that there is a reality to making a lifestyle change and it's something achievable. Being active, healthy and in shape does not mean vanity, deprivation or obsession. It gives you a whole new outlook on living life with energy, confidence and passion.

Other than playing soccer and being a dancer for recreation I was never really active in sports or fitness. Before 2003 I had never been to a gym, touched weights and my idea of cardio was swimming in the pool with a cocktail! At the age of 28 I finally had reached 177lbs at 5'5" and wearing a size 14. At this point I realized I had to make a change. Between the battle of depression, body image issues and lack of self esteem I was causing more damage than I thought. At the rate I was going with my weight gain shortly I would be suffering from high blood pressure, possibly diabetes to immobility. So many family members have suffered from strokes and I was not about to let it happen to me at such a young age! I had to stop being depressed and stop making excuses! Of course it was hard and I was intimidated especially since I had never been into a gym, picked up a weight or heck even thought of exercising. I had to do this for myself and I had to surround myself with others who would support me. Many times this is the toughest battle to a healthy lifestyle change, but the first steps are about changing you.

It was just 7 years ago when I first began exercising on a regular basis. Although this was a good start, I needed to learn more about nutrition and exercise to get me on my way to reaching my health and fitness goals. I have found great pride in the dedication, drive and motivation I have within myself to get my mind and body into such amazing shape, and I am proud of who I have become. As I have changed my life for the better it no longer is so exhausting and challenging to make it through an exercise. Remember I didn't get this way overnight and I was not going to get thin and in shape over night. Like I said it has been 7 years of thinking differently, making better choices for myself and not about fads, trends or starvation! If you lead a life where you are aware of what foods you are consuming 80% of the time, it's much less damaging when you do indulge.

A lifestyle change is not something you think about for short term, but rather something you think about daily just like brushing your teeth and getting dressed. It becomes part of you, part of your every day routine. It's not really self discipline, it's about desire, passion and need to be better, to feel better and to think better. What steps are you taking today to be a healthier you?