Like I said in my instagram post, this has actually been a lot of fun, and really, easier than I thought it would be (or has been in the past). Don't get me wrong, it has taken time and work (but all good things do, right?) but for me, it has been really pretty enjoyable, and I think that is the secret. As soon as it stops becoming a complete chore, and becomes more fun, that is when it can be sustainable.
I started back in January (with the rest of the country)... We had recently moved into a new house, I was in the process of getting a new office up and running, the holidays were in full swing and let's face it... I really like food. Comfort food (still do!)
As has happened so many times before, my weight began to creep up on me. I have tried many programs over the years. I have done Body for Life, Crossfit, ran marathons and half marathons. I have done crash diets and have for the most part been successful with initial weight loss. But every time it would creep back up. I tended to find myself working out to get in shape for a trip, or an event (weddings etc). These can be good motivators, but I have found that they are temporary.
I finally reached a point where I wanted something sustainable, and doable that would change my habits forever.
Clearly, working out was not my issue. As noted above, I have done some pretty extreme things and really kind of enjoyed most of them too. Working out has never been a hard thing for me, diet on the other hand has always been a struggle. I've realized that this was mostly out of lack of knowledge of what I SHOULD be eating in order to maintain a healthy body weight. I would get stuck in this rut and mind game of "I just ran 13 miles so I can eat ______________." Does that sound familiar?
I've done this for years. "I run so I can eat" has been my motto. But as the years have gone on, the weight loss has drastically slowed down. Simply exercising (even in extreme amounts) was simply not enough. My close were getting tight, I didn't like the way my body felt, I was tired all the time, I was kind of depressed. It wasn't fun.
I finally reached out to my friends Kat and Jon Fuller. We had known them from our ward in Lehi many years ago and have kept in touch over the years via facebook. This was the big game changer for me. They are health coaches and specialize in exactly what I needed. A revamp of my diet. They helped teach me how to properly fuel my body. Their program works like a charm (Average weight loss for Clients on the Optimal Weight 5&1 Plan™ with support is 20 pounds). The weight came off.... fast. I lost 33 lbs in the first 6 weeks. The first month or so I didn't even work out. Not at all. I knew that diet was a huge part of the equation and I needed to focus on that first. I loved this approach. For those that want more info on their program, message me! Happy to talk you through it. It's easy, and affordable and comes with their coaching (which is a game changer).
After a few months of creating lifestyle change with diet, I knew it was time to start toning my body and incorprating healthy exercise again with my new healthy diet. It has worked well, and exercise has felt even better with the 30 lbs gone! I started off with some treadmill intervals (my jam!) and then finally in May, OrangeTheory Fitness came to Lehi! We've been going for a few months now, and love the program!
So where am I today. I have taken the lessons learned in diet and apply them every day. This doesn't mean I am depriving my body of food I love. I am just making smarter choices each day. I have learned balance. I have learned how to properly fuel my body (again, big shout out to Kat and Jon! Couldn't have done it without you guys!) I find I crave salads more, and am constantly seeking out healthy alternatives to the food I had been eating for years. I've found dozens of options at restaurants all over town (and this country!) for the first little bit I would just text Jon and Kat pictures of menus and say, "what should I eat?" now I feel empowered and can make these decisions on my own.
I work out pretty regularly, because I love it. But have also learned that exercising doesn't mean I can eat whatever I want (like I was 16 again). I still need to make good food choices throughout the day to maintain the lifestyle I want.
This year, I have been crushing personal milestones on the treadmill, on the weight floor and on the rower. I posted my fastest 10K, 1 mile, and 2,000 m row. It's only getting better and I know it's just the begining!
Loving my new life in health and have also loved sharing it with so many friends and family that have seen very similar results to me! If you are interested in Jon and Kat's program specifically, I would love to get you in touch with them! Just holler at me!
