Do or do not. There is no try

Hi everyone! Kasandra here, hoping to share a little bit more about me. As far as I can remember, I was never the “skinny” kid. I was always had a bit of “baby fat.” My sister, in comparison, was always thin due to her super fast metabolism. I never thought of my weight as an issue until one day when I was 7 and in ballet class when my teacher told me to “suck my belly in.” And from there on out, I was never the same. Food became my coping mechanism – if I was sad, I ate; if I was happy, I ate; if I got an “A” on a test, I ate.

My eating and my mental view on food and my motions became very disordered. As I grew older, I loathed shopping in stores, going to the beach without a t-shirt on, going to social events, etc. My weight ballooned to 237 lbs. At my height of 5’6’’, I was considered obese. I couldn’t go up a set of stairs in my mom’s house without being out of breath. Having worked with disabled clients, I have read many medical records where clients have long term health issues because of their weight. I didn’t want to become that – I didn’t want to become a statistic.  One day in April 2010, it suddenly “clicked” on what I needed to do. I knew it was time for change. I made an appointment with a nutritionist that same week and joined a gym by my job that was opening. It wasn’t easy, but soon enough, with re-learning how to eat and hard (and very sweaty) work at the gym, the weight started to come off. To date, I have lost 87lbs and am running all sorts of races, including half marathons. Getting physically fit has made me mentally fit and has given me a new lease on life. Watching my body transform from what it was before and to what it is now and to know that it will continue to transform for the better is an amazing feeling.

My ultimate goal has always been to run the NYC Marathon. As a New Yorker born and raised in the city, I was always in awe of the runners as they ran through the city. I would watch on the sidelines and tell myself, “one day.” Until recently, I didn’t really think that would ever be me. Now, for certain, I know that my one day will be in November 2013.

My proudest moments come from the people I meet every day – whether at the gym or my own family/friends who tell me that I inspire them to live healthier, fitter lives. People at the gym tell me when they feel like quitting during a class, they look to me and see me going at it, and it pushes them to keep going.  Knowing that I inspire others is the best feeling in the world. When people tell me they can’t, I encourage them that they can do it. Your body is capable of so much – you just have to take the first step. I know this for a fact because it happened with me.

My motivational quote comes from Yoda (Star Wars fan girly here): “Do or Do not. There is no try.”

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Tags: ambassador, diet, fitness, getting back to fit, gym, health, healthy, marathons, nutrition, running, strength train, sweat pink, weight loss