Big Losses Stem from Small Changes

When I began my journey with Weight Watchers over two years ago, I have to admit that I was a little overwhelmed. Coming from a family where we ate mainly for comfort, we didn't think twice about portion control, or so much about what should be fueling our bodies to be healthy. My goal was to begin to look at food as FUEL and not as comfort. I feel like whenever I had a problem in life or was stressed out from the day, my best friend would always be right at home, waiting for me in the pantry or the fridge. It had to stop. I started making changes, like making sure I was getting some form of fruit and vegetable in at every meal/snack. It became like a game, crossing off squares on my daily food journal for Good Health Guidelines. Some days, I'd challenge myself to get at least 2 servings of fresh fruit in during breakfast. It gave me a fantastic start to the day, and ultimately set the mood for staying on track. I've noticed that I'm always looking for ways to be more active throughout the day, getting better at reading the whole nutritional label, and trying new foods that were always kind of scary to me. I've learned that I like a lot of foods that I thought I didn't, such as asparagus, eggplant, papaya. 
I've made it a personal goal to get outside and take a 30 minute walk around the neighborhood (along with my regular exercise daily). The fresh air really helps to clear my head and I love feeling like I'm part of something bigger. I look forward to those walks; I seem to do the best thinking when I'm out at away, just me and my iPod. 
These little changes are definitely what has helped me get to where I am today.

The Best Workout is the One You'll DO

My friend, Sydnie, who teaches at Gold's Gym asked me to substitute her Zumba class yesterday morning (my second time) and I had an absolute BLAST! There's something so exciting and empowering being the teacher in front of the group. I love finding ways for fitness to be FUN for other people. I truly believe that everyone can love working out, once they've found what they love and what challenges them. I don't aspire to love every type of exercise out there, but when I tried doing things like Step Aerobics, Kickboxing, and now even RUNNING (yes, I love running!). I'm finding out what works for me and the things I'm passionate about. Each of these formats challenge me, whether it be balance, endurance, remembering choreography, ect. They all push me farther. That's the point. When you grow both physically and mentally stronger, you want to continue. You're literally competing against yourself. My challenge is for everyone to try something new. You may just find that thing to be excited about.