Why I Decided to FINALLY Go for My Goals
Entering college, I was fit and fresh off my high school sports teams and my mother's healthy cooking. My days consisted of working out hard for 2+ hours after school with my teams, then coming home to a healthy meal from mom. Repeat... Repeat... Repeat... BAM! College. College was the best form of freedom I have ever experienced. Having moved 1,000 miles away from home, I was experiencing a whole new level of freedom I had never felt before. I could eat my own food, stay out as late as I wanted, and do whatever the hell I felt like. And boy did I. Freshman 5. Freshman 10. Freshman 20. Freshman 25. You betcha, I went from 135 to 160 FAST. And it showed.
Alcohol does a number on the bod. Not just from the calories consumed from the vodka and cheap wine, but from the $10 pizza boxes, McDonald's, and Taco Bell that accompanied a night out. I didn't think much of it until well into my Sophomore year when I looked in the mirror I was like holy crap who am I? I had a very unhealthy relationship with food. I would eat whatever I wanted, then hate myself for it right after. I was spiraling out of control with my health. I dabbled at the Rec Center on campus, still drinking and getting my Crunchwrap Supremes. As you can guess, nothing changed. I was stronger, but still my chubby self. I wasn't willing to give up my weekends of drinking and hanging out with friends because, well hello... college. It wasn't until my Junior year as I sat in my apartment in Italy stuffing my face with pasta that I promised myself that when I made it back to the motherland I was going to commit HARD. It helped that my boyfriend is really into lifting and I was able to watch, and drool over, him and his gains. I would see him get so excited over lifting and eating foods to fuel his body, so I dipped my toe into some research and fitness YouTube accounts. I instantly fell in love. Suddenly working out wasn't a chore, I was excited to eat healthy food again, and everything just clicked.
Alcohol does a number on the bod. Not just from the calories consumed from the vodka and cheap wine, but from the $10 pizza boxes, McDonald's, and Taco Bell that accompanied a night out. I didn't think much of it until well into my Sophomore year when I looked in the mirror I was like holy crap who am I? I had a very unhealthy relationship with food. I would eat whatever I wanted, then hate myself for it right after. I was spiraling out of control with my health. I dabbled at the Rec Center on campus, still drinking and getting my Crunchwrap Supremes. As you can guess, nothing changed. I was stronger, but still my chubby self. I wasn't willing to give up my weekends of drinking and hanging out with friends because, well hello... college. It wasn't until my Junior year as I sat in my apartment in Italy stuffing my face with pasta that I promised myself that when I made it back to the motherland I was going to commit HARD. It helped that my boyfriend is really into lifting and I was able to watch, and drool over, him and his gains. I would see him get so excited over lifting and eating foods to fuel his body, so I dipped my toe into some research and fitness YouTube accounts. I instantly fell in love. Suddenly working out wasn't a chore, I was excited to eat healthy food again, and everything just clicked.
I love food, so I decided that the best fit for my lifestyle was flexible dieting, or IIFYM. I went from doing cardio whenever I went to the gym to lifting 4-5x a week. I listened to my body, and pushed myself when I could. I was sick of looking for inspiration from others and found it within myself. I wanted to beat who I was the day before. I wanted to eat better and work harder than I did the day before. I did this every day and suddenly it was who I was. I was healthy. I wasn't just pretending anymore. I wasn't going to the gym to out work the food I ate. I was going because I loved it. And here I am, a totally changed person inside and out. I began reading personal development and just completely loving myself. Suddenly my relationship with food changed. I would have froyo or pizza without feeling guilty because I knew that I was doing everything right the other 80% of the time. I wasn't afraid to eat. I ate to fuel my body, and worked out to make myself happy. Friends began asking me for advice and telling me that I was inspiring them. That's something I never imagined would happen, but it was really cool to hear that I was an inspiration to other people. Which brings me to now. Staying fit while working at a full-time desk job? Now that's a chapter in my book I haven't quite figured out yet. Stay tuned.