Since last June, I have become obsessed with working out. I try to hit the gym at least five times a week and stay for about an hr. and a half each time. I wasn’t always about my fitness though. I loved to over-indulge in junk food, processed foods and venti caramel macchiatos from Starbucks. Now, I drink nothing but water and cook veggies with either chicken or fish (I keep it very simple). What changed in me was realizing how vital it is to be healthy to live a long life. Diabetes runs in my family as well so I also wanted to limit my risk of getting it.
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Working out is such a great way to relieve stress, clear your mind and get your body healthy in the process. It is such an amazing feeling when you look in the mirror and see how your body is changing for the better. I get ecstatic when I put on a shirt or pair of pants that use to fit me perfectly that now look extremely baggy on me. Some of the shirts I used to wear I could now pull off and wear as dresses.
On the days I can’t make it to the gym, I do 30-minute cardio sessions in my living room. I search different cardio-oriented videos on YouTube and pick ones that look simple yet “challenging.” One video I found and fell in love with was Leslie Sansone’s 1 Mile happy Walk. It’s a 15-minute video that incorporates simple cardio to get your whole body moving and burning calories. The movements Leslie has you follow such as marching in place and high knees, are indeed “simple” but your body will be sweating as if you were going hard in the gym.
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Now, by no means am I a “fitness guru” nor am I “advanced” in the workouts I do. I still struggle at doing certain workouts like lunges and my body does not yet look like the “slim thick” goals I am working towards. However, I have come a long way from the girl I was early last year that wore a size 26 as I now wear a size 20.
It all starts in your mind. If you are beyond tired of looking and feeling a certain way, then make the decision to do something about. You don’t need the gym to get healthy. You can start right in your house by eating right and doing workouts in your living room. So, get your body moving!