new chapter

It seems like forever ago when I created my blog spot...however I have never actually posted anything until now, obviously. I may be sending words into outer space, but I just want to put something out there for everyone. I want to inspire those of you who may be struggling with any of your health and nutrition regiment or exercise plan. Hey, I am NOT a licensed nutritionist or fitness trainer or expert or whatever. I am simply here to cheer you on and share a few tips and tricks I've learned on my own health and fitness journey. I want to be the shoulder you cry on after you've pounded out a trough of Ben & Jerry's. I want to be your cheer leader when you turned down seconds or had just bread without the butter or have killed a tough workout. I am here to listen and share advice as well as rant about my own progress or obstacles. Your fitness journey is NEVER over. Look, there will always be room for improvement. When you've found the end and have found the perfect diet and exercise plan or "magic pill" to all the flaws in trying to be healthy, well you better email me right away and I'll shut my face. But for now this will have to do. So, as I said I am also on a fitness journey. I have been for about six-ish years. All throughout elementary school, and all of jr. high I was overweight, inactive, and lived on a steady diet of greasy fast food, refined carbs and sugar. I felt like crap and since I felt icky on the inside that is how I projected myself. I was a "in the back corner" kind of gal. That all changed when I had health problems that I was too young to suffer from and I was unhappy and miserable about my appearance. Finally, after seeing a very encouraging and caring doctor I decided it was time to do something about it, so I did. After dropping the crap food, and slowly adding exercise to the routine 60 lbs. peeled off. What made it easier for me was just focusing on my health. I wasn't obsessed with a certain weight number, pant size, body type, etc. I just did it because it made me feel better, I felt more energized, and I became a better, healthier person. Period. I barely even noticed the weight coming off. I didn't realize I was shrinking until people were asking me if I had lost weight. I wasn't concentrating on being a certain size, just on being better at my diet and nutrition. Look, if you want it enough, you will go after it. I have heard and made up every excuse in the book. Trust me. You cannot just start off going on this huge crash diet and exercising until your eyes bleed. It won't work. You will get discouraged and break. I want you just just start with small decisions. Instead of having those buttery rolls AND chocolate cake for dessert, just choose one of them. Start drinking more water, start walking or just doing something light and active for 20 minutes at the bare minimum. Honestly, the first part of my journey I mainly focused on eating healthier, I didn't start exercising until later on. Let me let you in on a little secret people, weight loss and maintaing a healthy body is split between fitness and diet....however the numbers are shocking. Only 20-30% of it is exercise. Yup, that's right. I wish it was more honestly, but the bulk of it lies in your nutrition about 70-80% of it is your diet. So, obviously we need to break down what we put in our bodies and start cleaning the crap out of your pantry as well as your body. And I am NOT saying to go crazy and you can only eat carrots and water. You can eat delicious and wholesome food and have a clean diet. You just have to be smart about your choices. If you want a cookie, fine have a friggen cookie. But try to be smart, find one that has less sugar or less fat. Find healthy recipes for your favorite cookies. Instead of using white flour use whole wheat pastry flour, instead of sugar look for honey or stevia as a replacement. It's not rocket science people, you know what is and what isn't good for you. You just need to break the attachment with the bad foods and slowly clear out the garbage.