I started going to the gym towards the end of February because one of my students referred me to a gym that her mom had recently purchased. She told me it was all classes, which is what I would always prefer to do at LA Fitness, and she intrigued me when she said they offered a class called "booty camp yoga." The first time I tried it I thought I was going to die. My legs hadn't worked that hard in years, or maybe ever. The gym offered a free 14-day "challenge" that included a free diet plan and asked you to workout just 30 minutes a day. The workout didn't even have to be at their gym. This seemed easy enough so I went for it. I could go on a 30-minute walk and it would count. The hardest part was taking the "before" picture, because it made me truly see what I had done to myself. I actually enjoyed the new foods I was eating and loved that it wasn't too restricting. It was totally do-able! I also enjoyed how much better I was feeling. All of the gastrointestinal issues I had been suffering from are now long gone. I went to so many doctors to try and fix my abdomen pain and all I really needed to do was start working out and eating better. That's it! It's really that easy. I know everyone says that, but it's so true. There's no magical science to it at all. The hardest part is making the commitment to make a change.
I am truly the healthiest and happiest I've been in a really long time. I am also addicted to being sore and working out now too! I love seeing the results of the work I'm doing. The only part I don't like is when people ask me if I'm on a "diet" (cringe), or how long I'm going to be on a "diet", or why I'm trying to lose weight. Let me be clear: I'm not on a diet and I'm not trying to lose weight! I am trying to maintain a healthy lifestyle that involves eating food that is fuel and not damaging to my body. To me, this is like asking a vegetarian when they're going to eat meat again. A vegetarian has made a lifestyle choice to not eat meat, and I too have made a lifestyle choice to not eat junk. It's not a phase, and it's not that complicated. I actually haven't lost much weight at all- probably less than 5 lbs! But I have lost a lot of body fat, and gained a lot of muscle. I know that what I'm doing may not prevent recurrence, and it may not be for everyone, but I do know that it has made my whole perspective take a positive shift, and I am so thankful that I began going to My Garage Health and Fitness. Laura truly changed my life by making her gym so welcoming and her food advice so feasible.
My mom passed away in January. She was only 68. She did not make a lot of healthy choices for herself, and definitely did not have a motivated mindset. She has demonstrated for me that life is truly about choice and our minds can really do damage or good for us, depending on the choices we make. I also had two friends pass away this year who were my age. Both made some unfortunate choices and were sadly suffering in their own minds. It breaks my heart.
I love my new gym family, my new lifestyle, and my new attitude. I am excited to continue making good choices for myself. I have to live in this body for the rest of my life. Rather than being sad about that, I can finally be happy. Although I cannot take away my scars, they can be my daily reminder that taking care of my body should always be a priority.