My Fitness journey began with a love for running. I didn’t always enjoy running, but my competitive side kicked in when I completed my first 5K back in 2009. The release of endorphins after crossing that finish line left me hooked. A year later, I had completed my first Marathon– the 10.10.10 Chicago Marathon. More like the Chicago Heat-at-thon. Man was it a hot one! Anyway, despite the 96 degree heat and 26.2 miles of pounding, I managed to finish at a pace of 11:21 / Mi. Not my fastest pace, but the point was that I had finished. Needless to say I was still hooked and ended up running two more marathons after that.
I noticed a significant difference in my weight by the time I got to my third marathon.
It wasn’t until about my third marathon that I had realized how important it was to not only workout, but to eat healthy as well. I noticed a significant difference in my weight by the time I got to my third marathon. I was training faster and eating healthier. However, after finishing my third marathon, I decided I needed to give it a break. I had a mild case of runner’s knee that would come and go as I ran more than 9 miles at a time. I was feeling great physically, but my knees were preventing me from going the long distance that I so loved. That’s when I started strength training more and running less.
Although I was skinny by my third marathon, I wasn’t exactly “fit”.
It wasn’t until recently that I’ve felt the best I’ve ever felt physically. Although I was skinny by my third marathon, I wasn’t exactly “fit”. I was in good shape in terms of having cardiovascular endurance, but I was missing the muscular strength that allows you to burn more calories while resting. My resting metabolism wasn’t getting any better after having run 3 marathons.
The past couple of years I’ve been focusing on circuit training, HIIT workouts, and incorporating heavier weights in my workout routine. That combined with eating whole, nutritious foods has brought me to a new level of fitness – with a higher metabolic rate and the ability to burn even more calories when at rest.
With fitness and health now being a passion of mine, I decided to get my Group Fitness Instructor Certification as well as become a Fitness Nutrition Specialist. I want to help others with their fitness and nutrition goals through my experience and knowledge of the industry which is why I started this blog. Be sure to follow along as I hope to inspire you with my workouts, healthy recipes, and nutrition advice.
Cheers to living a happy, healthy and fit life!
