A little history and the bottom line

Since I have no workouts to write about so far this week I thought I would write about a little bit of my history.

This used to be me.........

April, 2006

And this is me now..........

November, 2010

I, obviously, have not always been a runner, or into endurance sports, or into healthy eating, or into a healthy lifestyle.  In high school, probably like a lot of people, I really didn't have to worry about what I ate or working out.  I played soccer for a couple years, but I wasn't "athletic"  I was just one of those lucky skinny girls.  In college, I started working out, but still ate what I wanted and partied like a rock-star a college student.  I am sure I gained some weight, but I was maintaining something I was happy with.

Then I met Jeff.  We worked in a restaurant in college, so there were late nights, and lots of eating and drinking.  Then we got married, and were so happy I guess we didn't pay attention to our weight.  We continued on with the partying.  Let's see, then I had back surgery, and after I was so worried about re injuring myself that when I did work out I know I didn't push myself, and I still ate whatever I wanted.

Then we moved to TX, still partied........well I think you get the point.  So then in 2008 I saw I picture of myself I had taken when I was visiting some friends from high school.  It pretty much looked like the first picture I posted.  So that was my aha moment, my wake up call.  Whatever you want to call it.  At that moment I decided I never again wanted to feel like I did about myself when I saw that picture.  

I hired a personal trainer to jump start my work out routine.  I totally changed the way I ate, progressively cutting unhealthy things out of my diet.  I started seeing results and liking it.  Not to mention I FELT better, healthier.

I got into running, basically because the time of my spin class changed at my gym and I couldn't make it after work.  In all honestly, I started this whole lifestyle change because I wanted to be skinny again.  But now, I love feeling fit and healthy (and being skinny isn't so bad either.)  I feel accomplished after a run, even a bad one.  It makes me dig deep and push myself in ways I never knew possible.  Going for a run can turn a total crap day into an awesome day.  And even better, my husband joined the lifestyle as well, and it has made our marriage even better than it already was.

Last night, a friend asked me what program I went on to lose the weight (50lbs by the way).  I actually get asked this question quite frequently.  I told her no program at all.  I don't believe in programs, because they have an end.  I believe in a lifestyle change.  If you don't change your mind set, and change what you are doing, you aren't going to change.  And the bottom line is to lose weight you have to output more calories than you input.  It is as simple as that.  There are no magic answers, or quick fixes.  It takes work and dedication, but it is possible.