Team Beachbody Guest

I remember starting to gain weight when my parents divorced at the age of 7. What really packed on some pounds was a spinal fusion I had at the age of 9 for congenital scolosis that had me laid up in bed for 3 months afterward while I recuperated. During that time and for 6 years after, I ate whatever I wanted and didn't excerise.

My freshman year of high school, I went into the nurse's office for the yearly check up and weighed 191 pounds. (I'm 5'3" in height.) That's when started to "hit home" that I needed to do something about this. It would be another year and seeing more current photos of myself before I actually did anything about it. I was not happy with myself and I was seeing it in pictures of myself. It was sophomore year when I decided joined the spring track team. I wasn't really good at it. In fact, I was down-right pathetic at it. But I finished the season with the team and started walking with my mom. These two things became my first efforts at exercising in my life.

My weight has gone up and down over the past 10+ years. I dropped down to around 140 pounds by my senior year of high school. Then I went away to college! Well...the stress mounted (new atmosphere, meeting new friends, etc.) and my eating habits went down hill real fast. I have managed to keep myself at or below 175 pounds. However, I wasn't happy being up in weight again and knew I wanted to get down to 125 pounds once and for all. In the middle of my third year of college, I got back into excerising regularly and keeping portion sizes under control. By the middle of my senior year, I was back down to 140 pounds. That didn't last long at all! Last semester before graduation, I was trying to complete a double major, one of them being in Chemistry! So I ended up taking 21 credits, mostly chemistry classes, plus a seminar - need I say more?! I fell right back into my old habits. I know I'm not alone who has had this happen!

This time it would be another four years for me to find the motivation to get back on track again! What got me truly motivated was watching a Turbo Jam infomerical in the summer of 2006. I've never been the type of person to order a workout program from an infomercial. However, watching this one made me say to myself "I have to get this one!" So I did and have been hooked ever since. For the first time since high school, I became really committed to loosing the last 40 pounds I have been yo-yoing with.

Over the past year, I have also tried Hip Hop Abs, Power 90 and P90X. They are all wonderful programs though Turbo Jam is still my favorite!

It took a few months for me to really "get into" Turbo Jam. What did it for me was joining WOWY. Thanks to some wonderful buddies, I have become motivated to workout at 10am (ET) 6 to 7 days a week. There are days I don't want to get out of bed. Especially after I've had a long night at work at which I hold second shift hours! However, having people expecting me to be there helps tremendously on those days!

Getting my eating habits on track is something that I have a harder time with. Trying to break 20+ years of not eating the right foods is tough! I take it one day at a time and get some great motivation from the threads!

My biggest piece of advice - DO NOT GIVE UP AND KEEP THE FAITH! I have arthritis in my back and pelvis/hip area from my scolosis as well as endometriosis and the start of a herniated disc in my neck. Since I've been working out regularly and trying to eat better, the number of days and intensity of my pain are significantly lower. It's not easy by any means for me to stay motivated to excerise and eat well, but, I know in the end, it helps so much!

I am here to support you with your fitness journey and goals. I, like so many people, am here for you and supporting you all the way!