Well if we start from the beginning, my first day at Lakeside Fitness was May 17th. I decided to check it out after a friend of mine (Karen) mentioned she went here. At that time, I was back to my ‘all-time; high for my weight and overall not feeling very good at all.
I’ve always said, ‘I’m not a shopper,but the truth is, I don’t like to shop because I have incredibly poor self body image. So poor it had really started to affect all aspects and relationships in my life. I knew it was time to try something as things had the potential to continue to spiral out of control.
Overall I don’t think of myself as having a horrible diet, for the most part I do eat pretty well. However, I am a stress eater and someone that definitely needs to work out consistently to maintain a healthy weight. I usually do ok in the summer months, but once the weather gets bad I don’t do so well. I’ve joined other clubs in the past, like Curves and Snap, but I never stuck with them. Partly was what was offered at these places and the other big part was I had no motivation or accountability.
Here at Lakeside Fitness I find the classes interesting, I enjoy showing up without knowing exactly what will take place that day. I feel motivated by the staff and my fellow morning crew during workouts. This challenge helped to push me harder in each workout, stay accountable and strive to get stronger. If you look at my weight from start of transformation to now, the numbers may not seem that impressive, but what I feel this has done for me mentally and physically is so much more. I’m definitely stronger, I have more energy and I sleep better. AND, my resting HR has improved by 10-15 bpm
However, the most important thing it has done for me is, it has saved me mentally. I truly believe there was a reason I joined when I did. In my almost 20 years in my current position at work, this has been by far the most challenging and stressful it has ever been and it all started in May.
I know my health would have been at an all-time low had I not been coming to class 5 days a week since May (a couple exceptions of course). I really can’t imagine getting through these past 6 months if it hadn’t been for this change in lifestyle. At a recent physical my lab values have improved and my blood pressure has been very stable despite the added stress at work. Overall I feel better, my clothes fit better and I look forward to continuing with these improvements. I’m not a morning person at all, I hate when my alarm goes off at 0450, but for some reason I still keep getting up and coming that in itself says a lot just ask my husband
