My Fitness Story

It took 2 zippers for me to decide to take the insecurity I felt about my body and DO SOMETHING!

Zipper #1….

On the day of my brother’s high school graduation in 2011, I was home from college and put on the dress I had worn for my own high school graduation (3 years earlier). As I sat in the car to leave for the ceremony, my zipper burst open.  My favorite dress no longer fit! I ran upstairs, grabbed my mom’s wrap dress, and ran out the door! I was crushed! I knew I had gained weight but it smacked me in the face that day.

I wish I could tell you that I immediately made a change in my lifestyle but I did not.

A little back story…

Growing up I was always active in sports: volleyball, swim, water polo.  I loved it!  I loved moving my body and pushing hard for a goal.  This took a back seat when I went to college. I was no longer in organized sports. I no longer had accountability or support groups for fitness. I quickly gained the “freshman 15” and then some.

The story continues…

The following year, I graduated from college and entered the corporate world.  Work happy hours, take-out, late nights, and weekends spent catching up on sleep were my life.

For years, I was jumping in and out of fitness routines and yo-yo dieting.

I was chasing the latest trends.  I did juice cleanses. I paid for the SUPER expensive workout classes that promised results and I may have gotten results if I got off work on time and actually made it to class.  I would do the free trial classes at various fitness studios.  I paid for the monthly gym membership and only went 3-4 times a month.  I would Pin quick fixes on Pinterest, like how to lose 10 pounds in 10 days by drinking lemon juice with cayenne pepper.  I would print out my workout plans from a fitness trainer’s blog post.  NOTHING WORKED!  

I was chasing the latest trends. NOTHING WORKED!

Why was it not working? I never stuck with something long enough to see lasting results.  I did not make it a priority.  The things I was trying were either too extreme to make an impact or too rigid to fit into my CRAZY schedule.  

Zipper #2…

In 2016, my boyfriend at the time (now husband) and I took a trip to Taiwan.  This was a trip I had dreamed about.  His family was from there.  I got to meet so many relatives and friends and eat the MOST amazing food.  While on this trip we got connected with a Taiwanese professional basketball team (long story).  They invited us to go clubbing with them.  I had not planned for partying in Asia, I had planned for a mellow family trip but this opportunity would never come again.  We are talking free access to the clubs, free alcohol, free private table, etc.  We rushed back to where we were staying to quickly change.  I had packed my college going-out skirt for a “just in case” scenario (I am an over-packer ok :)). As I tried to zip it, it would not zip.  There was no way this skirt was going to fit.  I ended up wearing a pair of black shorts and we went out.  Now let’s paint the picture.  Tawain is HOT.  I mean humid HOT.  I was sweaty, my hair was a mess, my makeup was dripping, and my confidence was shot.    

What changed…

When we got back from our trip, I reached out to my sister-in-law.  She had told me months before about a fitness and nutrition program that she was having success with.  She immediately connected me with her coach.  I decided to give it a try and jumped into a virtual fitness program.  I still have the notes on my phone for the first program I did, a 30 day MMA style program, which if you know me is comical because my coordination is awful but hey it worked.  I committed and finished all 30 days of the program. I saw results!!! I lost a total of 12 lbs and 10.5 inches. I  lost weight, lost guilt, and gained confidence.    

30-day program resulted in 12 lbs lost and 10.5 inches gone.

I repeated the same MMA program twice more and then jumped into a weight lifting program within the same virtual fit club. I found myself constantly telling everyone about what I was doing and how excited I was! It was working and I was hooked! I decided why not channel my passion for health & fitness into finding a way to help others live a healthy lifestyle along with me. I committed to becoming a virtual fitness coach as a side hustle.  Since then, I discovered how to weave health and fitness into my evolving and changing lifestyle.  I have stayed consistent in these practices and learned to be fluid as my goals have changed and my schedule with it.

Countless suppressed feelings of insecurity and those 2 zippers led me to take a leap of faith. I am beyond grateful that my sister-in-law had planted the seed of this virtual fit club. I was not ready to commit when she first brought it up; but, I did not forget! When I was ready, I committed and that is when I got the results I had been longing for.  

It’s your turn…

My 12 lbs may seem like a lot or a little to you. BUT it’s not about the number. The number was just one way to measure my progress. What matters was how I felt.

If you are feeling defeated, lacking confidence, unsure of what to change but knowing you want to change then let’s talk.

Reminder: don’t dwell on the past! Look back to reflect and then envision the future!

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