My First Fitness Blog!

My new fitness journey began in May.

Before that, I had not really paid much attention to my exercise and eating habits. Not only was I in school and working part time, but my energy levels left me feeling drained after doing the simplest tasks. I could barely get through my homework without crashing, let alone go for a long walk after being on campus all day. And when I worked, it was even worse. As for my eating habits, I mostly just wasn't counting my calories and I allowed myself too many unhealthy options through out the week rather than limiting it to one day a week.

After a long struggle with hypothyroidism, I was finally able to see a thyroid specialist to help with my under active thyroid. And even though she did put me on a much higher dosage of medication to help combat my symptoms, she still recommended that I try to exercise more and monitor my eating habits.

At the beginning of my journey I was at 210lbs.

So in the middle of May, I began cutting my calories back to 1,800 for six days a week and started eating much healthier than I had been eating lately. I even cut down on my drinking. I allow myself one day a week that is also usually my cheat day (I eat a little less healthy of food and don't count my calories). I also started putting more of an effort into getting my 10,000 steps a day, every single day. I had been letting myself slip because of my energy levels, even after getting a FitBit (I was thinking that would be enough motivation to get moving).

After the first few months I started gradually adding some calisthenic exercises and yoga into the mix. As of today I am up to reps of 18 for my calisthenics and 45 seconds for yoga poses and planks.

At my next appointment with my specialist, which was back at the end of August, I had already lost about 12lbs, which put me down to 197lbs.

The last few weeks I have been slipping up and allowing myself more than one cheat day, though in my defense one of those was a holiday weekend. Then this last week, I slipped up on exercising because I hurt my neck at work and was just generally not in the exercise mood. Instead of doing my calisthenics and yoga five times a week, I wound up only working out for three days. Though I made sure I was still getting my steps in every day, I was still feeling bad about this slip up in my activity. But then I weighed a few days ago and was surprised that I was down almost another 7lbs since my last doctor's appointment, which currently puts me at 190.6lbs as of today.

Though I had been feeling crappy, seeing this really motivated me to keep going. I really hope that this portion of my writing will help motivate any others out there that are struggling with weight loss and eating healthy as well. If you want to get in shape, go for it! If you're happy with your body the way it is, more power to you and congratulations for knowing your self-worth has nothing to do with your physical appearance. Keep being you and keep owning it if you're comfortable!

I would also like to take this time to tell you that you should always consult with your doctor or a specialist before changing your medicine or changing your lifestyle abruptly in any manner. While exercising and eating healthy are important, it can also be a shock to your system that you may need to ease into slowly.