Naomi
Weight: 181
Goals: Tone, gain lean muscle, do a strict pull up
Motivation/Support: Family, workout partner
Health is a Journey
I was asked if I would be willing to write a guest blog. Since all of you reading this must be finding yourself at some point of your health journey, I've decided to share mine.
During my early twenties I was on a diet roller coaster. I wanted to be skinny (which is not really possible when you are tall with larger body frame). I went on all sorts of diets - the cabbage soup diet, shakes, eating very few calories per day - you name it! Thinking about it now makes me cringe! I was always a few pounds overweight. But then came pregnancy and children. I was never able to shed the extra weight and lack of exercise did not help my situation.
Sometimes we need a wake up call to pull us onto a different path. Mine was the loss of my brother who was a victim of a car highjacking. Two weeks before my brother passed away, my sister was diagnosed with cancer and lost that battle two years later. Losing them both motivated me to change my lifestyle. My goal wasn't just to lose weight or be skinny as it was when I was younger, but instead to be healthy and strong. They were my motivation when I started this journey almost eight years ago, and they still are today.
I decided to run a 5K. I wouldn't have been able to do it without my workout partner and dear friend Gina. Together we trained for the race. I still don't know how I made it through the course, up and down the hills, but I did.
My journey started! Gina and I ran other 5K races, joined a gym and started working out on a regular basis. Many times I just wanted to hit the snooze button, but I knew she was waiting for me. A year later, we ran the same race again. The photos will tell the story of the difference one year made.
Three years into my journey, in 2011, Gina and I decided to try CrossFit and we both were hooked. I became stronger. I never would have thought I could climb a rope in my 40's!
I became a CrossFit Level 1 instructor.Now I was able to coach and make a difference not only in my own life, but also others.
During summer of 2013, I felt really good in my own skin. It wasn’t about being skinny anymore, but about being strong and toned. My life at the time had a set routine and schedule. I was able to exercise regularly, be active, and eat healthy. My journey was on a roll!
Then, that comfort zone and steady routine were shaken up with an international move. We were relocating from Europe to the USA. I was looking forward to pick up where I left off after the transition. It took much longer than expected, but after a delayed shipment of our household goods, appliances that needed to be repaired, school adjustments, I felt sort of settled. Now it was time for me to pick up my health routine again. I decided to do a health coach certification and share my passion for healthy living with others. Just when I was ready to dive into this new venture, I had to put it on hold in order to assist a family member who needed care. My schedule had no set routine. Even though I was eating fairly healthy, I would often just grab a protein bar for lunch on the run. A protein bar is not a bad thing, but it certainly isn't a meal. Dark chocolate may have anti-oxidants, but I was eating way too much! This past summer was busier than I anticipated hosting guests and doing different part time jobs. Over the course of eighteen months I went from working out five times a week and eating clean 90% of the time, to working out two, maybe three times a week and eating clean about 70%.
Now, here we are, Labor Day weekend, school started, and for me a time to get back to where I was feeling really good. My friend Maggie joined the gym where I workout and coach once a week. Having her there has been really good for me. I realize I am a person who need a workout buddy who I can be accountable to. Gina started my journey with me and now Maggie is continuing with me. The two of us decided to eat really clean for 30 days to reset ourselves after the summer. Just knowing that I am not in it alone encourages me.
I see healthy living as a journey. Some of us have a goal to lose a certain amount of weight, or improve certain athletic skills, run a faster mile etc. But what happens when you reach that goal? Do you just stop? No! Instead we set new goals. It might be going from a 5K race to a 10K, or eventually a half and full marathon. It might be going from a size 16 to 14 to 12. It could be to drink an extra glass of water tomorrow. We always have to set a new goal to strive towards. Sometimes our journey get bumpy and we have set backs. Most importantly, just keep moving forward no matter how small your goals may be. Some of us are at the beginning of our health journey, some like me, are getting back on track, some may have to dive right in because of serious health issues. No matter where you find yourself at this time - it is your life, your journey, and you can choose to make a difference in your health!
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