Money Wasn't Really the Issue

"That's a good bit of money."

Those were my first thoughts when I started thinking about investing in my health, when I was starting to see that I wanted to change. Being newly weds, we didn't have an extreme amount of money floating around, and I am still learning how to budget and be a better steward of our money (and am thankful for a husband who diligently tracks all our receipts and finances for us).

Putting money into something that I wasn't sure I could do was scary. Especially holding it up to the light of my track record. I had attempted to do two other workout programs before, gotten a few weeks through them, and then they collected dust and I went back to my ol ways.

Nothing had worked.

In truth, the programs that I tried had worked, I saw some results. But I lost motivation and I was the one who gave myself excuses and eventually gave up altogether.

And as I was contemplating yet another investment in a workout program, thinking of all the times before, I realized something. I wasn't truly hesitant because of the money. The issue was me. The issue was my determination, or lack thereof that made my money a "waste."

When it boiled down, I was afraid of change. Afraid to give up the things I had held onto practically all my life. My identity as an overweight girl. My comfort in rich, often unhealthy foods. My easy going, only sometimes active lifestyle. I was afraid of what change would really look like.

Oh, if only I had known then.

After talking with my husband and getting his full support, we ordered the workout program, and started it together after it arrived. It was hard. It was a change. It was difficult to keep going at times and I wanted to stop.

But I kept going. I made up my mind that I did not in fact want to keep living the way I had lives, because that was going to lead to a place full of health problems and not the life I wanted. I threw away my excuses, stopped blaming it on timing, money, circumstance, genes, and anything else that came to mind.

I realized that I was responsible for this. I had to do it. And I did!

It has been one of the best decisions of my life because it has not only started my physical transformation, I have become more disciplined in all areas of my life. My quiet time of Bible study I more consistent. I am reading and listening to personal development books. I have been investing more into my marriage and relationships. I am more alert for life, and it is incredible.

Of course there are always days that I struggle. That I want to give into stress and eat a whole bag I chips dunked in salsa. There are days I don't want to workout. Days I don't want to do the things I said I was going to do.

But I have found that the struggle is worth it. The investment is worth it. The time is worth it. You may not see the effects immediately, but over time, if you stick to it daily, you will see results in your life. Keep going.

Think seriously about the investments you make in life. What is tilt holding you back? Confront your fears and go after the thing you are called to. Be bold and be courageous!

What's one thing in your life that you are afraid to change? Share below!

Progress Not Perfection

I heard a great quote once on an inspirational talk I was listening to, and it struck a chord with me.

"Often we overestimate the event, and underestimate the process."

That is so true, and I have found myself guilty of that sometimes in my health and fitness journey. We see pictures of where we want to be, know what exactly we want our bodies to look like in the end, and in our typical American mindset...we want it NOW.

We think "if I was only at this weight, or this size, THEN I would be happy."
"If I just got this promotion, THEN I would be happy."
"If we just found this certain kind of house, THEN I would be happy."
"If he/she would just do this, THEN I would be happy."

I want to encourage you...don't get stuck in the end results. Set your sights on your goals and dreams, and dream BIG, yes. But don't put all your stock in that one event, because it will come and go and leave you chasing after the next thing like chasing after a wind that just won't stand still.

Find beauty in the process, because I'm telling you, no matter what your journey, whether to health, a different career, a different place in your relationship, there is beauty there. We go through seasons in life- we have to. Find the joy in each season.

The process has not always been easy for me. There are days that I feel bloated and "fluffy" as I tell my husband and he affectionately reminds me "No, you're beautiful. Fluffy is a three headed dog, and you are NOT fluffy." (For those of you who caught that Harry Potter quote, I applaud you!)

Point is, it's not all rainbows and sunshine. There are rainy days. But you know what? There's something beautiful and freeing even in a rainy day. And without those hard days, we would not grow. If it was easy, we wouldn't get stronger. We wouldn't change.

EMBRACE the process.

I'm learning day by day on how to embrace the process, because I know reaching my "goal weight" won't signal the end of my journey in the health and fitness realm. It will just transition into something new, because this is a lifestyle that I am setting for myself.

One of my biggest lessons from learning how to love this process in my journey to health...taking pictures. Sure, it can be uncomfortable at first. You may not enjoy what you see in the mirror. But if you are staying consistent, working out, watching what you eat, you should be seeing results week to week.

I've made it a point to take pictures every week. You might not see a HUGE difference just from week to week, there are weeks that I don't see a huge change. But when you compare your first to your last, you WILL see that change, and remember why the process is all worth it.

Take those small steps every day, and you will get there. Love the process. Laugh, cry, dance, sing...LIVE. Don't get caught up in the event, but dream big and DAILY go after it, enjoying every day for the blessing that God has given us. 

A Healthier Me

Let me take you back just six short months ago- to January of this year. I had just gotten married to my best friend, started a new job, and was transitioning into a new season of life.

But something was wrong. I was happy, yes. Overjoyed, in fact, to be able to spend every day with my husband, and dig into my new job and learn the ropes. But my body felt awful.

I was constantly tired, my ankles hurt in the morning when I got up. I felt weak. I ran out of breath easily. I told my husband that his legs were longer than mine when we would be out walking and that's why I was walking slower than him. But I knew, deep down, that I was headed in a bad direction. And at 25, my health was going downhill.

It all started two years ago when I returned home to the U.S. after being overseas for eleven months on the World Race (an eleven month missions trip to eleven different countries...you can see my blog recaps in older posts). So I came home having lost about twenty pounds over that year, which was awesome. But then, I started craving American food.

I saw things like bagels, bacon, cheese, pizza, Mexican food, In-n-Out Burger (for those of you fellow west-coasters, you know how amazing that is), and on and on. My mind was saying "oh you've been 'deprived' of that for a year! Go ahead and treat yourself!"

Well, I treated myself. And treated. And treated. And treated. Basically I ate everything bad for me, again and again. I packed on all the weight I had lost, plus more, and I was heavier than I had ever been before. And I was in denial about it. I wouldn't even step on a scale, because I was afraid of what I would see. I knew I needed to stop, but I didn't.

Finally, this January, I decided something had to give, or I was going to wind up with serious health issues. I wanted to be around for a long time with my wonderful hubby and our one day children and family, and the thought of them pushed me forward to a decision.

It took me until February to commit and get started. But my husband and I ordered T25, and we started it. Before T25 I had never completed a fitness program. I would always start and then lose motivation and just stop and go back to how things were. This time, with my husband at my side, I pushed through  the entire ten weeks and finished!

(Picture on the left was 4 weeks into T25, picture on the right was 6 weeks later after finishing T25!)

I am now on my second program, and focusing on my nutrition. I can't even explain how good it feels to know that I FINISHED. I accomplished it. And now, I'm moving forward, and continuing. This journey has been incredible, and I know it's just the beginning.

I have a long road ahead of me still, but I'm taking it one day at a time. If you would have told me a year ago that I would be working out every single day consistently, I would have laughed at you. That was just not me. Sure I liked doing active things. But workout every day? No way.

Oh how things have changed, and so much for the better! I not only workout every day, but I enjoy it! I love watching my body transform and feel myself gain more energy and strength.

I'm here to tell you that YOU can do it. Yes, you. You who has given up hope that you could ever change. You can. You who thinks it's just too hard or there's not enough time. It's not too hard, and you do have time, you may have to make sacrifices, but I'm telling you, it's worth it.

YOU are worth the time and investment. Your health is worth it. Just because you feel fine now doesn't mean all those chemicals and things you are putting in your body won't rear their ugly head later. Take time and do something good for your body and your life.

You are more than a number on a scale. You are more than your pants size. You are more than how many push ups you can or can't do. And YOU are worth it. If I can do this, YOU CAN TOO.

This is why I love being a coach. Being able to share my story with you, and hopefully offer you HOPE to know that you can do this! If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I love helping others!

(Picture on the left was taken March 2014, Picture on the right taken June 2014)