Hello all!
A couple of years ago, i hit my highest weight of 140lbs. I ate all sorts of unhealthy food, and I never did anything active, let alone stepped my foot inside the gym.
One day, I looked at an old photo of mine: I was eating at Elephant Bar with a couple of friends. There were fried foods on the table, and I was holding a cocktail (I think it was a long island). My belly was bulging out, and I can barely see my chin. I was smiling, yet I know I wasn't happy. I have gotten too comfortable with everything that I have completely let myself go. My heart slowly broke with that image stuck in my head. I got home and decided that I can look and feel BETTER about myself.
I changed my lifestyle because:
1. I realized that if ever there's a zombie apocalype, I'd be the first one to die because I can't run for my life. I remembered when Jeff was trying to push me to be healthier. We would use the fitness center in the university and try to run on the track. I would make excuses (i have asthma, i have bad lung etc) and not do it. I was short of breath without finishing a lap. I hated it.
2. I feel empowered when I know that i can make a CHANGE in my life. Yes, you can and you will. I joined a local gym in Dec 2011. I kid you not, i didn't go to that gym for 3 months after signing up. Haha. It took me awhile to take the first step, but I was glad I did.
3. Progress keeps me going. Most of the time, I take photos of myself after a work out. I made an instagram that was fitness-related to keep track of how I was doing w/ my fitness journey. Although I have taken maybe thousands of photos of myself in workout clothes, my progress wasn't all about looks. I felt stronger and healthier. For the past 2 years, I have done three 5K races (it's not that many) and a half marathon. That is something that I will never do back in 2011. I have been able to lift heavier weights and I can lift my patients easier. ;)
4. I feel more productive. I play videogames, and had I not change my lifestyle, I would fall into the stereotypical image of a "gamer". People who play videogames can also be fit. They don't just sit around and eat left-over pizza all day and sleep. Ever since I started working out, I had more energy to do things. I go hiking on summers, and I go snowboarding during the winter.
5. I must say, fitting nicely in to clothes I see at the store really does make me feel a little better about myself. Honestly. And with that, I can probably say that I have developed a higher level of confidence in myself.
6. It's actually pretty addicting. I don't know if it's the progress, the challenge or the feeling it gives you, but working-out and being healthier (relatively) is something to look forward to every day. I find myself getting more veggies whenever I go the to grocery store as opposed to potato chips without even thinking about it. Subconsciously, I think I make better food choices nowadays.
Although I have lost weight and eventually gained some back again, I still feel better about myself and my body now. Throughout the past years that I have changed my lifestyle, I think I had a better understanding of how my body works and what works for me. I have learned to love myself more.
Truly, in the end, that is all that matters.
