2.5 years in the making

Today I stopped and questioned how long I have been on this journey to better health ... it seems like it has become such a part of my every day I couldn't remember. 

I determined that it was January 2011 that I finally said screw it .. I need to do something for me and I finally joined the Gym. Personal training was something I never considered nor had it ever interested in. That being said I'm glad I did my trial with Shawna in March 2011 because my life has changed so much since then.

The big "ah-ha" moment for me was that I couldn't just count points and do the occasional walk in order to lose weight. I had tried for years to cut calories without much success. I needed the exercise component to get my metabolism going, build muscle and make my healthy lifestyle happen.

Now that I have fully embraced my exercise routine in COMBINATION with a healthy diet I have seen maintainable success .. I sleep better, I'm happier and generally a more productive person .. I can run with my students and I can keep up with them too... something that was eye opening for me was seeing Jillian Michaels speak and having her admit that she doesn't really "LIKE" exercise but she has grown to love how it makes her feel and who it has made her become. 

I can relate to this . .because if I had the choice between being at the gym or catching up with a friend I'd obviously chose the latter. That being said I have made exercise a priority and I have had to make it a priority in order to stay healthy and feel good.

I'm almost at 70 pounds lost and 2 weeks ago I ran a 5km in just under 30 minutes. I was in tears at the finish line realizing I had beat my record which was so symbolic in my journey towards a healthy life.

It has been 2.5 years and there is NOTHING in this journey that is easy ... so for anybody who's struggling out there ... if there was one thing I could tell you it is this: It is so hard .. you will doubt yourself, you will want to give up, you will get emotional, you will purge eat .... but in the end with enough dedication, will power and time and energy you WILL be successful. It is so worth all the low points of self-doubt when you reflect on how good you feel both physically and emotionally once you've embraced a healthy lifestyle.

I'm so thankful for all the people that have helped me on this journey because I couldn't do it alone... I'm pretty sure they know who they are.

68.5 pounds lost and feeling great!!