My story...

So a lot of my friends and colleagues have been asking me why I have decided to start a blog. I am no writer or english major, that's for sure, but I decided to start blogging because I want to be able to help people and inspire them. I am not an expert, but for the most part, I do know how to live a healthy lifestyle without being too strict on myself.

I was never overweight growing up, but I was also never super skinny. Once I reached my senior year in high school, that is when I started partying more. I knew I had to prepare myself for college and start letting loose, so that is exactly what I did. Once I started school, I was going to the gym throughout the week, but then I sort of just stopped, didn't care much to work out. I was probably going out almost every night, eating really late, and just not caring. I guess at the time, I did not realize how big I actually got. Eventually I knew it was time for a change. I pledged my sorority, started exercising, stopped eating late, and slowly but surely, the weight started to come off. From the middle of my freshman year until end of sophomore year was the biggest I have ever been. I thought to myself "how did my friends not tell me?!" Since they were with me every single day, they did not notice, but once I started looking at pictures of myself, I was unrecognizable. Till this day, I keep my student ID in my wallet as motivation. I still cannot believe how much weight I gained! Talk about the freshman 15.... more like the freshman 40 for this girl!

After looking back at pictures of myself, I knew that I NEVER wanted to go back to being that size or looking like a blob. I made sure that I went to the gym every single day from that point on. Even being hungover from the night before, I made myself get up and get to the gym. I even stopped drinking for a period of time because number one, I didn't enjoy it as much as I did when I was a freshman, and number two, I really just wanted to see how my body would react/change to not drinking. Well, let me tell you, it worked! I started to feel soooo much better about myself and the way I looked. Once I decided to start drinking again, I decided to do so in moderation. I would drink maybe once a week, but it wouldn't even be anything crazy... maybe just a glass of wine or a vodka club. Sometimes I wouldn't even drink if I went out on a Friday or Saturday night with my friends. It sounds hard, I know, but if you have a goal in life and you are determined to stick to that goal, you will see that after some time it is not very difficult to achieve it.

If you can afford a trainer once or twice a week, I definitely recommend doing so. If you are looking to strictly lose weight, then cardio is the way to go. Once you get to your goal weight, it is time to start toning your body and start lifting weights. You don't need to be a bodybuilder, and you also don't need to lift really heavy weights, but lifting at least 30-40 minutes a day, really makes a difference. I knew nothing about weights and toning, but after working with a trainer for a few months, I started lifting weights, and again I saw an even bigger change in the way I looked.  I started using muscles I never knew I had, I started to see results. I even started growing an ass which is something that i've always wanted (and believe me, it takes a lot of time and patience!).

Well, there you have it, my weight loss story in a nutshell. Please do not hesitate to share yours! I would love to see how some of you have accomplished your weight loss goals =)