My Journey Towards Healthy

I don't talk a lot about fitness on my blog, mainly because I don't know a whole lot about the subject.  Growing up, I was always in sports and never really had to do much else to stay fit.  I played softball, basketball, and ran track in middle school and in high school I was a cheerleader.  I didn't really begin to go to the gym til I was in high school and realized my body was changing (i.e.- I was getting curves and becoming a woman, but unfortunately I had no idea what was going on at the time!).  

Soon after, I spiraled in to a very dangerous habit of working out at the gym for hours at a time without eating much.  I became fixated on a number on the scale and when it went up, I entered full-blown panic mode. I never had a full-blown eating disorder, but looking back now I realize how close I was to developing one.  Somehow, I got out of that obsessive pattern.  However, ever since those scary few years in high school, I have been a little afraid of working out too intensely.  Unfortunately, that means I wasn't regularly going to the gym.   I could never stick to a work out routine and easily got bored.  Plus, I always found an excuse not to go.  Then, about a month ago a close friend of mine began doing Cross Fit.  It seems the entire country has exploded into a Cross Fit frenzy, and naturally I was a little skeptical to begin with.  I heard they lifted very heavy weights and sessions were similar to boot camp.  That definitely didn't sound like my cup of tea!

Still, over the last few months I began itching to work out.  I missed that after workout high of endorphins, and I wanted to tone up a bit.  Reluctantly, I went along to a cross fit session with my friend about a month ago.  Since then, I have become obsessed with the workouts!  Not only is it fun to do it with a good friend, but the high intensity is exhilarating, and the workout is often done within 30-45 minutes.  Instead of spending an hour on the elliptical machine, 30 minutes on the treadmill, and then lifting a few weights, I get the same calories burnt in about half of the time.  Plus, I feel better about myself after completing a hard workout.  Granted, I am only a month in to going, but I think I might have found my workout niche.    I encourage any of you who might struggle with your self image (as I do) to find a healthy workout plan that you are excited enough to stick to.  And, give Cross Fit a look!  I highly recommend it. :)

I'll be sure to keep you updated on my journey towards health.  What do you do to stay healthy?