Believe me when I tell you that I wasn't always so healthy. Thankfully I realized that I couldn't continue my lifestyle without suffering real consequences, so I finally decided to do something about it.
First I Stopped Smoking...
Fathers Day of 2004 was my first step to getting healthy. I finally stopped smoking after 25 years. My good friend Grischa had given me a copy of Allan Carr's Easy Way to Stop Smoking, and after a year and a half went by, I finally decided to read it! If you don't want to smoke anymore, please don't make the same mistake I did - get a copy and read it ASAP. I highly recommend it, and so do almost a dozen of friends who also found it to be the answer for them. I know it is hard to imagine living without cigarettes, but I have to say that even the first year I stopped, it was hard to imagine ever going back. It is one of the most freeing things I have ever experienced.
Then I lost the weight...
So, I put on 30 lbs. after I kicked the habit. I think it's because my taste buds were revived, and everything tasted so good. Ice cream was my big downfall - I think I ate it every night! Eventually even my comfortable jeans were cutting off my circulation, so I decided it was time to lose the weight. I joined Weight Watchers and lost my first 15 pounds. With what I learned at the meetings I felt like I could lose the rest on my own, and I did! I continued to learn about healthy eating, and started walking. After time, I quickened up the pace, and then started to challenge myself with jogging. Before I knew it, I could jog a whole mile without stopping.
The winter to follow was REALLY cold and snowy. I joined the Wyckoff YMCA so I could continue exercising without freezing my you know what off. I tried all the different classes, and liked the Step and Sculpt the best. That's one thing I found - the only way you'll make it part of your daily routine, is if you find something you like to do. Because I had one of the best instructors, Linda, I was inspired to get certified for group fitness. Shortly after I got my Certification, Linda's husband got transferred, and she asked me if I would teach her step classes after she moved. I was scared, but I did it! For some reason, (I know now, but I'll get into that later.) I never felt completely confident getting up there in front of a group. I did stay with it for almost a year though, and then got into doing exercise videos at home. To this day, I keep myself motivated with different videos all the time and jogging outside some days to mix it up a little (especially if I am at the beach- that's the best!).
The 'Y' was the next step...
The winter to follow was REALLY cold and snowy. I joined the Wyckoff YMCA so I could continue exercising without freezing my you know what off. I tried all the different classes, and liked the Step and Sculpt the best. That's one thing I found - the only way you'll make it part of your daily routine, is if you find something you like to do. Because I had one of the best instructors, Linda, I was inspired to get certified for group fitness. Shortly after I got my Certification, Linda's husband got transferred, and she asked me if I would teach her step classes after she moved. I was scared, but I did it! For some reason, (I know now, but I'll get into that later.) I never felt completely confident getting up there in front of a group. I did stay with it for almost a year though, and then got into doing exercise videos at home. To this day, I keep myself motivated with different videos all the time and jogging outside some days to mix it up a little (especially if I am at the beach- that's the best!).
Over the past 6 years...,
When your health is good, it changes every aspect of your life; you will be able to deal with the stresses of life, sleep better, play harder, and have the energy for whatever comes your way.
