3 year anniversary

It's been 3 years to the day since I made a choice to lose weight and become active.

3 years ago... my husband was still in the Army and we had just moved to our new house in Georgia. He just got back from a 1 year tour overseas during which we had not seen each other at all. So it was a great time in my life because we were happily reunited, had a great vacation together... also we just bought my Jeep and became homeowners for the first time. Still, I was unhappy with myself. Over the years I had really put on some weight. Not that I was ever thin to begin with, but this was kind of a new low for myself. I remember feeling so disgusting just sitting around all the time and not doing anything. I was also diagnosed with PCOS around this time, so now it was even more important to be at a healthier weight. It was time for a change.

Summer 2012

I began running. This was a huge change for me, I had never really been active before. I did swim team and other sports in elementary school, but did absolutely nothing in high school. In my early 20's I'd make a sad attempt to go to the gym every now and then, just bobbing up and down on the elliptical and maybe using 20 lbs on the chest press machine. Like once a week. I remember running the mile in school and how much it kicked my ass. So this was some really new and uncomfortable territory for me. I could run for like 30 seconds and then take a 5 minute walk. But I resolved to do this and each time I went out there I pushed myself a little harder. And as time went on I got better and really grew to love it. I felt like I was doing something meaningful with my body. I started signing up for races. I suffered through a few injuries, but eventually I would always get back out there.

In the early months I was also counting calories, cooking most of my own meals and exercising a whole lot of will power to say no to treats most of the time.

Now in late 2014 I got more serious about weight lifting. I hadn't done much of it up until now, but I knew it was key to preventing injury and being better at obstacle racing. I also did 5 Crossfit classes last year with Team RWB. This was all so new to me and so much fun. Then we unexpectedly moved to Maryland and I took like 2 months off. Around the new year I started running again, signed up with Gold's up here and that's where things exploded. I began to lift heavy 3x a week and it's been a game changer. I have muscles now. Back then I could maybe bench 40, squat 50, and deadlift 60. Now I can do 100+, 165, and 185 respectively. I am so much better at obstacles now too.

Recently I've lapsed in running, partly because of the summer weather. It's been hard to motivate myself to get up at 6am and run in a bunch of 80 degree humidity. Also lately I've found that lifting is giving me the awesome feeling that running did back when I was new to it. But - the past week I've gotten back out there a few times and I'm resolving to make it a regular part of my life again. I did 6 miles the other day and felt awesome. I need it for cardio fitness, future races, and also to help keep my weight down. I am by no means skinny, as I still like food just a little bit too much, but I'm damn better off than where I was 3 years ago.

Spring 2015, Savage Race finish

I'm stronger and more confident. Stuff bothers me less because I know I can go smash some weights around in the gym or go on a nice long run. Everyday physical tasks are easier as well. I've taken on some tough challenges in distance running and obstacle racing, completed things I'd never dreamed of attempting. In the future I'm going to continue on with what I have been doing, but possibly branch out into Crossfit and weightlifting competitions. Being active has been a whole new crazy adventure in my life. It's something I never thought I would be doing, but I wouldn't want to be doing anything else.