living healthy

Going INSANE

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When 2016 rolled around I knew I wanted to make some big changes. I wanted to follow through on all of the things that I hadn’t in prior years. I want this to be MY year. So, I decided I’d make small changes. I wanted to finally (and properly) use my GLO teeth whitening system, and follow through on it. I made small diet changes to eliminate the massive amount of sugar I was eating. I finally cleaned out my makeup, and got proper storage. All small things, but the results do make an impact.

I was working out pretty consistently last year with my kick boxing classes, and I plan to maintain that. But I want to not only be able to work out consistently, but have the option to do so at home. I was recently diagnosed with Raynaud’s – a condition where hands and feet turn white/blue and go numb – and so going out at night to work out during the winter has resulted in several painful nights of numb feet. On the nights when its 20 degrees, I wanted an at home option.

So, I decided to try Insanity. Tonight will be night one, and I’m on a 60 day journey to get healthy. I’m terrified, but I hate feeling fluffy and out of shape. I purchased the Insanity Max: 30 version because I wanted to try the Tabata training. Has anyone else tried this version? Here’s to hoping I’ll fall in love with the program.

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Living Healthy

Over the past few years I knew that I needed to start living a more healthy life. I wasn’t happy with myself, and needed to figure out a way to start myself on a better path. When I left college I was 10-15 pounds heavier than I ever had been in my entire life. And I had lost weight since my junior year when I was even a little healthier. The truth is that I just didn’t know what to do. Now I see what I was doing wrong, but back then I couldn’t figure it out. I over ate, ate things that made my body run poorly and hated to work out.

Ok, so who really likes to work out? I don’t mind it now, but when I was heavier I would joke that the only way I would run was if someone was chasing me. And even then, I’d say there was a marginal chance that would happen. When I turned 25 last fall I made a promise to myself to make this my best year yet. And so far, so good. Shortly after my birthday I joined a kickboxing gym, and fell in love. It is the hardest thing I’ve done in my life, but I have never felt so good and empowered. I’m so thankful I decided to give it a try because I was terrified I couldn’t keep up when I joined the class. Now I feel like I can take on the world.

Unfortunately with the ups, comes the downs. Last summer I was sick constantly and my stomach hurt terribly. After a few months and some tests I found out that I have gastroparesis. Basically I can’t digest properly and have to take medicine multiple times a day to regulate it. I also need to follow a FODMAP diet (I can do a post on my daily eating soon) and I live as gluten free as possible. No, I don’t have celiac, but I feel so great eating gluten free. And it bothers me deeply when someone dismisses a gluten intolerance. I wish those people could live my life for a bit, and see how hard it can be to eat foods with gluten, and feel like crap. I’ve seen how foods go through my body – and I can feel the aftermath often for a day or two. I’m all for eating clean, but I always indulge! And just to mention it – I’ve been out of college since 2011 and have lost 60 pounds. I’m living proof that hard work and dedication pays off!

Thankfully I have a great support system, and everyone takes care to make sure there is something I can eat when we go out. I hate making a big deal about it, but it adds unnecessary pressure to situations. I’d love to connect with others who know what its like to live this way – because while hard, its been the best life style change I’ve made, and I’d like to hear how others have done it as well. I’m going to post more about my diet, work outs and health in the future. But wanted to get the ball rolling!

The healthiest I've ever been!

The healthiest I’ve ever been!