My Journey (So Far!)

My "health revolution" as I've termed it, began in January 2009 - I know what you're thinking, New Years Resolution Time! Actually, the time of year was really more of a coincidence for me than anything else. I owe the start of my journey to The Biggest Loser. As an avid fan, I sat down on the couch with my boyfriend, each of us with a pint of icecream in hand, ready to watch the season premier. Within 5 minutes of the show starting, Bob Harper (amazing trainor) came on the screen and said "The Biggest Loser has helped so many people over the years, and has been an inspiration to millions both on the show and at home" (this is where the yelling started) "but it doesn't mean ANYTHING if you're going to sit at home on the couch, eating icecream out of the containor!!!" Mid-mouthful my boyfriend and I turned, stared at eachother, and immediately dropped the spoons. I woke up the next day and signed up for the Biggest Loser Club (BLC) Online. A decision that changed my life forever.

Now, let me backtrack a little and explain how I got to the point of feeling like it was ok to eat a pint of icecream in front of the TV... and where Beachbody comes into play.

For most of my adolescent to adult life I was "pudgy" - nothing too serious, just always the biggest girl out of my skinny friends It was however, always enough to make me incredibly uncomfortably and self-conscious. I didn't play sports because I didn't want to have to run in front of people. I did at least 1,000 daily comparisons of my body to every female that walked by - wondering "is she fatter that me?"

I gained weight all through college - I transferred schools twice and had trouble finding my footing - as an outgoing girl this was pretty jarring. I was alone a lot and I ate a lot. No excuses, it wasn't emotional eating, it was boredom and laziness eating. Each year I saw my 5' 2" frame go up a clothing size 8, 10... My senior year of college is where it really spiraled out of control, I moved in with two female roommates, and we had all just turned 21. Enter the excessive calorie-filled drinking and 3:00am Chinese food orders. And welcome to size 12...

My actual size and weight was not what terrified me, it was the realization that every year I'd gone up a size, was there any stopping point?? Would I continue to gain weight... FOR-EV-ER???

When I saw that Biggest Loser premier and signed up for the online program - I entered my stats, and at 5' 2", 160lbs, I was officially "obese". And I thought it was nothing serious. It was time to get serious.

Two years before January 9th, 2009 (the day I started on the BLC), I was housesitting and one early morning caught the Beachbody program Turbo Jam infomercial on TV. As soon as the infomercial ended, I turned my computer on and ordered it. Within the first 5 minutes of doing my first Turbo Jam workout, I both loved and hated it I couldn't breathe, and I was FULL of complaints and excuses about why and how to get out of it. Needless to say, Turbo Jam did not become part of my regular routine in 2007. Yet, starting in 2009, I worked out to Turbo Jam 6 days a week, without fail - and fell madly and wildly in love with it What changed you might ask? Clearly the workouts were the same in 2007 as they were in 2009, DVDs don't magically get easier or provide magic results when they sit around for 2 years. What changed was my mental state. After that Biggest Loser episode, I decided it was time to stop pretending I "didn't care" about my horrible heath habits, and that I was actually going to do something about it. I had conquered the first part of the Beachbody mantra - Decide.

As soon as I made my decision, I jumped in head first. I decided I would work out every week day and always ALWAYS had to work out one weekend day no matter what (no more "undoing" all the hard work I'd put in during the week). I scheduled my workouts in as appointments that could not be broken, no exceptions. I found out my ideal calorie range, began journaling my food, and stayed in my calorie range nearly every day. I began drinking as close to 64oz of water a day as I could, no more diet soda (this was big for me) and only one cup of coffee a day (this was HUGE for me as a graduate student!). I took a multivitamin and wore a pedometer. I found a support system, and learned how incredibly crucial this was to achieving my health and fitness goals. It wasn't easy at first, but it wasn't nearly as hard as I made it sound in my head all the years before I made the decision to change. Following this regime, I began to lose 1-2lbs a week! This was the first time in my ENTIRE life that I had actually seen change - why? Because I had decided to Commit to my choice. And boy did it pay off. In less than 6 months I had lost 30lbs and reached my initial goal weight of 130lbs!

Reaching my goal felt so amazing, but what was truly the best feeling was the realization that I LOVED being healthy and active. I looked forward to Turbo Jam every day, I couldn't wait to Punch, Kick, & Jam I found a new sense of respect for myself, and a rejuvenated identity. I had never felt this good in my entire life. Now three years later, I have continued to workout 6 days a week, eating healthy, and being happy. Last year I began using Turbo Fire and I also began attending Turbo Kick group fitness classes (a big fear of mine in the past) and was even certified to teach Turbo Kick and PiYo (two formats by Turbo Jam creator Chalene Johnson)! Even MORE amazing was the decision to change my career path and enter the health and fitness industry. Today I am employed through Instinct Health Sciences, Inc., helping people to reach their weight loss goals through the nutritional structure of the "I-Diet" and in 6 months I plan to begin teaching Turbo Kick and PiYo classes of my own! In one word, I've Succeeded.

Well, long story short (HA!), it was the totality of this experience that made me begin a career in health and fitness and helping other reach their health and fitness goals. I wanted to share my experiences, what I had learned, and what I continue to learn about fitness and nutrition. I want to be the support that someone needs, that accountability that pushes you just a little bit farther, the voice of a "real" person who was able to begin a healthy lifestyle and stick with it. I would not be where I am today if I had not found that along my journey. All YOU have to do now, is take that first step, and Decide.

And always, ALWAYS...*keep shakin it!!!*