Client Progress :)

Here's a little note from a client of mine :)

I've always been active, love being outside, and also love challenges.  My friend proposed that we have a running and pushup challenge: run 300 miles and do 1200 pushups between December 22 - March 20. I was on a roll, but all of a sudden started having serious knee pain which prevented me from running and, eventually, even stopped my morning beach walks. I felt like an old woman and didn't understand what the problem was. I had never felt this time of pain - even when I played rugby for a season. I'd go to yoga and my back would hurt, my foot would cramp, my knees would kill. It worried me because exercise and staying active is important for: 1. my overall life balance and sanity  2. the fact that I really like eating food.

Basically, I'm trying to figure out how to strength train with out PAIN and have a better understanding of nutrition. I also know that I am more successful when someone is holding me accountable to my goals.  I can't be an expert at everything (who can?) so when I need help, I look for experts. It made sense that I connect with Stacey because, let's be serious, she's THE expert at fitness and nutrition. Her clients raved about her to me, I love reading her blog, and I liked her I DON'T GIVE A FUCK attitude. It's empowering. 

The eating piece came second to my reason for connecting with Stacey. Moving into my own apartment, I started making pretty conscious food choices. I started cooking kale, eating brussel sprouts, and really focused on fruits and veggies. I discovered the Paleo diet and started following that. Between November - January, I lost 10 pounds and felt awesome. Then I gained it all back. This is the story of my life. Not so much yo-yo dieting as it is yo-yo snacking/frozen-yogurting/binge drinking. It isn't about being skinny or fat to me, it's about feeling comfortable, having high self- esteem, and being healthy. I know that I have pretty a serious family history of disease - high cholesterol, diabetes, cancers, high blood pressure and am also conscious of the fact that I need to take preventative measures now - before I have way more responsibilities than I already have. Now that I have been working with Stacey I feel huge changes in my body - no more knee pain, I'm getting better at kettlebell exercises, and my IT band doesn't feel like it's going to snap when I go on long walks.  It's the eating piece that needs some extra help. Stacey and I thought it'd be helpful to blog about my journey. After all, this is a journey. It's not easy to break habits and start new habits. It's also proven that when you are held accountable, your rate of succeeding is higher....

Cheers to the journey to my fit, happy, healthy (ass-kicking) life. My goals: lose 20 pounds by August and, ultimately, 30 by September. Do 10 pull-ups in a row (I've never done a real pull-up in my life). Be at a fitness level to play a competitive sport (probably soccer). Master the turkish get-up.