The Weight-ing Game...

Some of you know me, I work at the Y. I love working out and being around members who like to do the same thing. I love finding challenging workouts and pushing myself.

But for the past 4 years my scale was stuck-I couldn't get past a certain range. And believe me-I was working out. I was eating pretty healthy 5 days out of the week and not really caring about the other 2. I started shopping at Trader Joe's in 2010 just to try and eat cleaner. I even got my thyroid tested because I couldn't believe with all the working out I was doing and the healthy food I was eating-the scale still wasn't moving. Once my thyroid checked out fine- I just assumed where I was at, was the weight I was supposed to be. I would gain a little holiday weight but always end up back in what I thought was my "normal range." Overall I was healthy-but I wasn't as fit as I would have liked to be.

But something changed. Something at the time I wasn't happy about, but I couldn't be more grateful now.

A little less than a year ago I started working with our Aquatics team at the Y and I had to do training, swim lessons, and learning about water fitness...all requiring wearing swim attire year long. YIKES! I've had anxiety attacks getting a suit when it was in-season.

But I can tell you it was a turning point for me-in a fitting room at Dick's Sporting Goods on December 31st trying on bathing suits...I felt completely awful and I just didn't even feel like myself or the way that I wanted to be. The way I knew I COULD be.

I made a promise to myself and had a start and end date and wrote out some goals I was committed to accomplish in 90 days. I even blogged about it-not so I could brag or tell the world what I was doing-but more to hold myself accountable.

1st: I had a workout program I followed for the full 90 days (I only missed  maybe 1 workout in the program). I worked out 6 days a week.

2nd: I had to track every thing I consumed. At first it was a pain, but it doesn't  take that long. Hardest thing is not knowing what you're eating. Especially when you go to restaurants and the food isn't listed any where.

3rd: No alcohol for a month. This was pretty tough for a wine lover like myself. It was a long month-but I survived. :)

4. Limit myself to just 1 cup of coffee a day except on Sunday's. Surprisingly easy. But only because I switched to herbal tea (not caffinated). I actually LOVE tea now.

5. Didn't want to get injured-and make improvements on the workouts.

I ended up losing more than my original goal! But it's not so much about what I lost but what I gained-I feel like the me I'm supposed to be! FINALLY! This is what I so wanted 3 years ago. And I'm kicking myself now wishing I would have just worked a little harder back then. I'm glad I didn't give up on myself or "settle" for what obviously wasn't making me happy.

This summer when I went to put on the suit I bought last summer-I couldn't wear it-it literally was falling off me. It was like one of those weight loss commercials but in real life!

A lot of people struggle with their weight-but
....you're not stuck in a weight range
....it's not too late to get in shape
....it's worth your time
....you can find healthy food you enjoy
....you can do it!

See you at the Y!