“I was always very thin growing up”…but…

posted by HappyBeingHealthy in Ambassadors, Fitness on Feb 2, 2013

I’ve been a fairly healthy person most of my life. I was always very thin growing up (although I didn’t realize it and certainly didn’t appreciate it!), so I didn’t give much thought into health and fitness. I exercised fairly regularly, but I just ate when I was hungry and didn’t really think about it.

My sisters and I in 1994 (I’m in the melon colored shirt, age 18)

I lived the next 10-15 years just like that…exercising fairly regularly and just eating without putting much thought into it.

Well, a couple years ago I was looking through a bunch of our old pics. I was surprised to see I wasn’t the “same old, same old” thinish person I thought I was! In fact I told my husband, “ya know, I really have only been thin about 2-3 years out of the past 12 or so years!” It was then I realized that clothing sizes hadn’t gotten smaller and my clothes did not all shrink….I was just fatter!

Sad reality check.

Here’s one of those “sad, reality check” pictures from a Hawaiian Cruise my husband and I went on in 2007…

After this cruise, I went on to have 2 more babies (gained and lost 50+ pounds with each one!) I was not looking or feeling very cute.

Here’s our little family when I was about 7 months pregnant. As you can see, I was not a very cute pregnant lady. My stomach did not get too huge, but my whole body just blew up! It was not too cute.

So, call it a mid-life crisis or whatever, but it really motivated me to get myself back into shape while I still could! I started going to the gym again and tried to eat a lot healthier. I quickly realized that eating well didn’t have to be bland and boring. In fact, I have found so many yummy healthy recipes that I LOVE! I don’t feel deprived at all!

So in July 2011, I started a blog, www.happybeinghealthy.com to help keep me motivated and share my healthy progress and recipes with “someone” out in cyberspace. At this point, I also went on a quest to get in the best shape of my life!

I’m happy to say I have achieved that goal! Wahoo!

It’s still definitely a work in progress, but I’m healthier and stronger than I’ve ever been! And…..I don’t plan to stop….ever. I love the way I feel and the energy and motivation I have. I can’t imagine ever going back to the way I used to live. I also have 5 beautiful kiddos (ages 2-14) and I strive to be a good example to them!

I’m so grateful for what I’ve learned about health and fitness the past few years. Health and fitness is so much more than just striving to look better. It’s about developing confidence, discipline, self-respect….and helping and inspiring others to do the same. A healthy life = a joyful, fulfilling life!