In the Pursuit of a Healthy Life: A YEAR AGO......

I was twenty pounds heavier and considered overweight with 32% body fat.

I wore size 10 or 12 clothing.

I wouldn’t be caught dead in a bikini.

I was frustrated with myself for being overweight.

I wanted to improve and sustain a higher level of fitness.

I was sick of ‘dieting’.

I was tired and never felt like I got enough sleep.

I had nagging lower back pain.

I hated running and push-ups only did both because the Army made me.

I ate a lot of processed foods that claimed to be healthy.

I rarely cooked.

I WANTED TO CHANGE.

TODAY......

I am not overweight at 25% body fat.

I wear size 6 clothing.

I bought a bikini, wore it on a cruise, and look forward to wearing it more in Texas this summer.

I am proud of myself for finally not being overweight.

I earned the Army’s Physical Fitness Badge twice and ran a half-marathon in less than two hours.

I don’t ‘diet’. I am a conscious eater.

I feel energized most of the time even on days when I wake up at 0400 to exercise.

I still have periodic lower back pain, but much less frequently.

I love running and all forms of exercise and would continue to do them frequently even if I left the Army today.

I eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and very few things out of a box any more.

I cook several times a week.

I AM HEALTHY!

This journey isn’t over though. Life is full of change and challenges. I learned a lot about my eating habits, my time management issues, and my body over the last year. Learning to make exercise a regular part of life was the easy part thanks to Team Beachbody programs. At-home fitness with a Coach and accountability groups was exactly what I needed to keep me motivated to exercise almost every day, even when traveling. My Fitness Pal and Spark People are two websites that helped me keep food journals and also connect me to a wealth of great healthy living resources and other people with similar goals. Most importantly though, my friends and family were supportive and shared their own experiences and challenges with me.

I am still a work in progress. I have issues with overeating. My husband has been known to say, “Stephanie is a good eater”. That isn’t exactly a compliment. Put a gallon of my favorite ice cream, a delicious pizza, cakes, cookies, candies, a juicy hamburger, plate of enchiladas…I could go on….bottom line is that I can eat it all and without much moderation. I know that I still have those triggers. I don’t believe in depriving myself and obviously we all need food to live. However, I have found that I do better if I just avoid certain things. Once I have a bite, I want more and before I know it, I’ve consumed a zillion calories that no amount of exercise will reverse.

So how will I keep the weight off and continue to live a healthy life?

1. Daily exercise with variety every few months. I just started a new program, Insanity. Loving it so far and I will blog about it soon!

2. Running and other physical challenges. Signed up for the Rock & Roll Half Marathon in San Antonio on 11 November 2012. Thinking about signing up for a Tough Mudder in Austin in October 2012!

3. Finding new activities to be a part of with Cesar and Amelia. We love softball and Amelia is interested in dance, swimming, and I think she would enjoy gymnastics. Biking and hiking are on my list as well.

4. Continue my food journaling. Try new recipes and search for those that my husband and daughter will eat, too.

5. Stay active as an Independent Team Beachbody Coach. The support I have found through this company has been phenomenal. There are a lot of different ways to exercise and eat right. What I love about Beachbody is the genuine support that Coaches offer. I obviously have a full-time job as an Army officer, but I have time to help other people on their healthy life journey. Support really is the key! That’s why I was never successful before.

6. Blog more often. It helps to make goals public. Even though no one reading this probably cares if I don’t do all these things, I have always had a strong competitive nature and desire to keep my word. So now that it’s out there for the world to see, I have to honor this commitment.

Thanks for reading! Below are some photos of my progress over the last year.

June 2011: Before I started the Ten Minute Trainer program