Welcome to my health and fitness blog. This is the place where I get to talk about all my races and my journey to being a better and more healthy person and where I get to discuss my goals. If you've clicked on this "about me" page, you're probably interested in who I am and what my story is. Well, here goes.
I have always been active. I played baseball for several years in little league and basketball during middle school (although I wasn't very good). During high school I ran track my freshman year and cross country my sophmore year. I swam competitively from freshman year to senior year. From my junior year on I swam during the off season to get better during the regular swim season. Once I graduated I was so burnt out on sports that I wanted nothing to do with them in college.
The freshman 15 turned into the sophmore 20 and it was then I realized my metabolism had slowed down. I hated being heavy so I started running again. I lost the 20 pounds I gained and realized I enjoyed running. I joined the cross country team my senior year of college and ran for my last year there. It was then I realized I loved being apart of a team and traveling to run (combining fitness and travel, just a few of my favorite things).
Tragedy struck mid to late season and I got stress fractures in both of my shins. I was able to finish the season out but couldn't run after that at all. Not running (along with a few personal circumstances) lead to weight gain. I put more weight on than I had before, around 50 pounds this time. I was again fed up with how I looked and how I felt so I tried to run again and still couldn't. It was time to see a doctor.
The MD said that I had what is known as compartment syndome. Basically, it's where your muscles (my calf muscles) were being strangled by the elastic band that wraps around them. This condition required surgery to correct. I had the surgery and figured I'd be back and running in no time...not so much. The surgery sites became infected and I found myself admited to the hospital with severe cellulitis (a skin infection). I could hardly walk and it took forever to heal after this, the docs had to go back in and clean out my legs.
I was depressed after this and immobile. I started drinking, way to much and put on close to 50 more pounds for a grand total of 105 pounds above my healthy weight. I was fed up and sick and tired of being sick and tired. I started doing Biggest Loser Boot Camp DVD's as well as Bob Harper Inside Out Method DVD's and I bought a Livestrong Spin Bike which I use all the time. In order to run again I began the couch to 5K program as well.
By April of 2013 I had lost 40 pounds.Within a few months of getting married I gained 20 back. For a few years my weight yo-yo'd as I struggled with my work schedule and making weight loss a priority. I have a goal of losing 105 pounds total from my heaviest and getting down to 175-180. I also have a goal of one day competing at the Ironman World Championships in Kona Hawaii. Join me on my journey to healthy living, healthy eating and becoming an Ironman.
