Take Care of Your Only Place to Live

One thing I firmly believe is a huge issue in our world today is health awareness. Yes while there are televisions shows such as The Biggest Loser and so many commercials that are designed to motivate the average American, that doesn't change the fact so many Americans are unhealthy. I do not believe unhealthy is only pertained to those that are overweight, as many would assume. Instead I would say being unhealthy applies to anyone of who falls under any of the following:

• Not having a normal Body Mass Index (BMI) 
• Yes I am aware that some people might have a BMI that is considered obese even though their weight is based on muscle mass, therefore those obviously are excluded.
• Not eating the food pyramid or correct amount of nutrients needed to satisfy their body
• Not exercising regularly
• Having excess amounts of fat

My Story About Health

I was never really considered a healthy child growing up. I never had a normal BMI, did not eat my food pyramid, did not exercise regularly, and had excess amounts of fat. The time span of my life where I was like this was eight-years-old to about 15-years-old. My BMI was obese and I remember always feeling horrible about the way I looked so my mom decided to send me to a personal trainer to guide me on how to be healthy. I ended up losing weight to being more active in sports and felt great, however once I quit sports I gained a lot more weight than I started out with when going to the personal trainer, which made me feel absolutely horrible about myself. So January 1, 2014 I decided I was going to lose weight and keep it off this time. October 17, 2014 I had lost about 30 pounds and completely transformed my body and self-confidence. I took what I learned from my trainer and applied it with a lot of self-discipline, even though I am not at my dream body, I am a lot healthier and happier.

So How Did I do it?

Well my secret weapon was my Fitbit Flex, which counted everything from my sleep, food, and activity and so much more (honestly it was one of the best purchases I have EVER made). But I do understand that it can be pricey to some people so here it what I did and I will add alternatives for those who do not want to buy a Fitbit Flex. 

1. Track EVERYTHING!!
• Food and calories (can do it in a journal)
• Miles walked/ran (can download Nike Run app for free)
• Amounts of water consumed for the day (journal)
• Exercise outside of walking/running (make a journal entry for routine and google calories burned)
2. Surround yourselves with supporting people 
• Make sure they understand and support your healthy lifestyle change because without support it is difficult to do it on your own.
3. Prepare yourself for situations where being unhealthy is a tempting option
• I pack myself lunches which consists of mainly fruits and vegetables and a few whole grain carbs. Remember lunch is supposed to be your largest meal of the day so fill it with wholesome nutrients that will keep you full. 
4. Remember it takes time to see results 
• I didn't start to see results until months after I started to become healthy. It was frustrating but I just kept pushing.
5. Make it a lifestyle and not a chore
• I incorporated being healthy into my daily routine and turned it into a lifestyle which  mean it feel normal to me and I continue my workout routines and health lifestyle even after I lost the weight to maintain my accomplishments. 

So What Does My Transformation Look Like?

Picture on the left: October 17, 2014

Picture on the right: December 7, 2013

So remember, take care of your body, because you only get one of them.

XOXO
-The Californian Belle