I'm not really sure when it really started, but I want to say it was a 2 years ago when I realized that I need to do something for me! I was feeling burnt out, I hated how I looked and felt and it unfortunately spilled over into my family life. I was snapping at my kids (yelling was more like it) to the point that whatever I was asking was falling on deaf ears. I didn't even want to spend time with my husband.
Life became routine, I hated who I had become and I needed to change....
Quite a few things happened to me that sparked this change. I think the biggest was a very real and very scary medical scare. I didn't tell anyone what I was feeling but my family certainly was supportive. It all started with an extremely heavy period (I mean I was soaking through a pad every 30 minutes) that lasted for 45 days. I had a feeling something wasn't right, but really didn't know after the first week. I called and made an appointment with my Dr. and the tests started.
I ended up having 2 ultrasounds, an MRI and the scariest one was the blood test for Cancer. The reason for having this last test was that during the ultrasounds it was discovered I had a very fast growing ovarian cyst and I was being tested for ovarian cancer. Cancer ??? I prayed everyday this wasn't the case. I mean I was only 39 and fear was creeping every day that passed because my dad died of cancer at age 41. The blood test came back negative (thank goodness) and during the MRI this fast growing cyst was no where to be found. Some time in the 45 day time span the cyst burst and disappeared as quickly as it grew.
With my Science degree from University I was during my research through all this time. I started implementing what I was learning about how to try and prevent the growth of ovarian cysts. You cannot control what grows or how, but you can certainly live a healthy life to reduce the chances of re-occurrence.
Now begins my journey to a Healthier Lifestyle!
I joined Weight Watchers because I needed the jumpstart and accountability of a weightloss program. I figured it has worked for so many people, why not me? Well the program did work for a while I was down 8 lbs and then it started to creep up. I started searching the internet for a reason why this might be happening and found that the nonrestrictive program really wasn't "teaching" me anything and I needed something else for me. I never ate poorly, I just ate too much so I started cutting pack portion sizes.
I did the odd exercise at home but because there are so many distractions, it worked for a little bit. I kept getting these ads on my Facebook page for a gym in my neighborhood that started to get my interest. I thought to myself...
I tried the gym for a month (they had a special pay $40 for 1 month of unlimited access). What is cool about this gym is that it's not a "Big Box Gym" I feel like I have a personal trainer every time I go and I actually love working out! I think FitBody Bootcamp saved my life!
I have been doing these HIIT workouts 3x per week for a year and feel fantastic! I actually find myself craving the gym when I haven't been for longer than 3 days. I am stronger than I have been in the past 10 years, I have lost inches all over and I am starting to see myself as the strong woman that my parents raised me to be.
Since I have started this journey I have lost 20 lbs, and have gone down 3 dress sizes! I have 107 classes under my belt and there is no stopping me. By Increasing my fitness/exercise, I have decreased my stress level and I am actually loving who I am again.
Through my self discovery and working at a Healthier Life, I am teaching my family how to be healthy through example, and I am now calmer. I don't snap at my kids and we are doing more things as a family that I never would have done 3 years ago!
More to Come...
