I am writing this blog today to tell you the top 3 goals that I wish to achieve through my Health Kwest journey....
1. Of course, everyone's number one will probably be to lose X-amount of weight. Yes, I really hope I lose at least 50 lbs. Spoiler alert -- I am already down 10 lbs from my initial weigh-in. It's really embarrassing that prior to this competition, I weighed more than I did right after I gave birth to Elias. That's ridiculous! I had gained a total of about 70 lbs during my pregnancy four years ago, and most of that stuck with me :( Here is a picture of me from about 5 years ago, before becoming pregnant with E. I remember when the picture was taken, I thought, "OMG! I look so fat in this picture!" It's funny how perspectives can change over time. Ok, here I am, playing kickball with the Little Rock Kickball Association....
2. I want to get my lung strength back through consistent cardiovascular exercise. I'll admit, I used to be a smoker. That hasn't helped my lungs at all. But what has been even worse on my breathing is the fact that I am very highly allergic to all environmental allergens (all grasses, trees, molds, animal dander, etc.), and as a result, I have developed severe asthma as an adult. So, what does that mean? After I quit smoking (which usually puts on weight), I began taking a ton of steroid asthma medicine (which also makes you gain weight). I gained 37 lbs in a year because of my medications. I have been to the doctor, thinking it was my thyroid or something serious, and I am in fact, perfectly healthy. I just need to get this weight off :( I know taking it off is going to be harder than putting it on, so I am working diligently through healthy eating and daily exercise. I have recently started taking Zumba classes and WOW! That stuff is intense! I also plan to increase my lung capacity through doing something that I love, that I lost a long time ago. I am playing flute with the North Little Rock Community Concert Band. I used to have incredible lung strength. I was a music major in college for five years (only having about 13 hours left of the degree) before I quit and never touched it again (with the exception of one wedding). I hope that someday, I can get my lung power back and get off the meds once and for all!
"This one time at band camp...."
3. Through competing in this competition, I am not just changing my lifestyle for 60 days, but I am changing my lifestyle forever. I take my sweet son Elias to the gym with me everyday (and he loves it because there is a huge Kid Zone). I can already tell that he is learning the importance early on of being active, and that it's ok to sacrifice an hour of your time each day to go exercise. I will admit, our routine used to involve coming home after a long stressful day of work, and putting on a movie for him to watch while I played on Facebook or did chores around the house. I have learned that chores are always going to be there, and that there are more important things in life. As a Type A personality, I don't usually take the time to "stop and smell the roses", but I have learned to slow down my pace and to take a little time just for me. It's easy to lose yourself and to neglect doing things for yourself when you are a working mom. We are making lifestyle changes now that will carry on throughout our lives. Plus, I'm also teaching Elias the importance of healthy eating. He walks through the line at Genghis Grill several times per week, and I explain to him what all the different foods are and why they are good for us. Elias is a Genghis Grill fan for life!
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