It seems appropriate to start by sharing my journey and how I came to where I am right now. I have to start by saying I never in a million years thought I would be on the path I am right now. It's crazy the turns your life can take!
I was always an athlete in high school. I was always skinny and could eat whatever I wanted. My gym teacher used to tell me I was going to be in trouble when I went to college; I didn't believe him.
Off to college I went and I gained the Freshman 15 or 20 maybe, but it just gave me some nice curves. I was still a size 6 and I felt good about myself. I graduated from college and got married. I lived my life as a happy size 8 weighing 150 pounds and always thinking I needed to lose 10 pounds. Then I got pregnant with TRIPLETS. At that point everything about my body changed and I didn't even realize it was going to happen. I carried my kids to 33 weeks, 4 days and have the stretch marks to prove it! I weighed over 200 pounds and was wearing a maternity XL when I delivered. I had a very optimistic view and packed my size medium pre-pregnancy clothes for the hospital. I sent my husband home to get my maternity larges very quickly!
My wedding
33 weeks, 4 days!
My babies came home and we were busy! But I promised myself I would not be one of those moms who didn't lose the baby weight. I worked with a trainer and a nutritionist to get back down to my pre-pregnancy weight but I did not look the same. That frustrated me and I gave up. Slowly but surely I gained weight and things began to jiggle more than they used to. People kept telling me I looked great "for having triplets." Did this mean I would not look OK the way I was if I only had 1 baby? I worked out and dieted sporadically. I would lose 5 to 10 pounds here and there but always gained it back plus a little extra.
Then I discovered running when a friend asked me to run a 5K with her. I took me a while but I fell in love with it! Quiet time to myself where I could push my body a little bit further than what I thought it was capable of doing felt great. I slowly increased my distance and ran my first half marathon in March of 2013. Unfortunately all of the running I was doing was not helping me lose weight. I was more toned but I was still teetering on 200 pounds. I fooled myself into believing I was healthy because I could run 13.1 miles and that I was just destined to be this size for the rest of my life.
My first half marathon...it was March so the clothes hid the pudge well.
That would be fine if I stayed that size! I kept having to go up another size and before I knew it the scale said 200 and size 12 was getting tight. That scared me in a BIG way! That was what I weighed when I had 3 babies in me and here I was NOT pregnant weighing that much! Something had to change NOW!
My LEAST favorite picture of me. Ugh...
My face looks so fat in this one!
Better, but still pudgy!
I joined a challenge group on Facebook. I starting working out for an hour every day, eating balanced meals and snacks and checking in daily with my FB group for motivation and accountability. I rocked that challenge and lost 20 pounds, 21 inches and 2 pants sizes in 3 months. I lost my weight over the holidays which is the HARDEST time to lose, but I did it. I gained so much confidence from this and kept working, but still kept thinking in the back of my mind it wouldn't last.
Here I am 9 months later and still losing and toning, teaching PiYo and coaching others. I am proof anything is possible. I work full time, I have kids, I have a husband who works long hours. I have plenty of excuses to not work out or take time to eat right. Instead of using those excuses I make time. I am here to tell you YOU CAN DO IT TOO!
One of my favorite pictures of me to date.
Healthy, happy mom with my kids :)
