Food

You know, trying to be healthy is a challenge for me.  I grew up in a home with a vat of bacon grease in the cabinet.  We had fried chicken and macaroni and cheese.  My favorite were the skillet potatoes my mom would fix.  Oh my, I can seriously taste them right now.   I didn't grow up eating broccoli and cauliflower.  Nor did I eat carrots and tomatoes (my parents did, but me not so much).  I loved to eat corn, peas, potatoes, butter beans mmmmm.  And my mom's cornbread, made of course with the bacon grease :)  And believe me, I am not upset about the food I ate as a child (other than the beets I was forced to eat), it's just the way it was.

Flash forward 20+ years.  I am getting ready to turn 41 in a week.  Over the last few years I have progressively gotten better about eating.

Now, is it easy? Not always.

Do I still like those foods I grew up with? Of course!

Those are my comfort foods.  When I am sick, those are my go to.  Should it be that way?  Probably not, but that's the honest truth.

I have faults and that is one of them.  But 90% of the time, I do make better choices.  I still eat french fries, but in moderation.  I will get a kids' size vs. the large the people want me to buy.  But here's the kicker.....I feel better when I eat right.  It's just that alone that makes it worth while.  Eating the grease and all may taste good for the moment, but you have to think what it's doing to your insides.  And the next time you eat a really heavy meal loaded with fat, butter, grease, whatever.....evaluate how you feel afterwards.  Are you tired and sluggish?  Or do you feel energetic like you could take on the world.  These are just a few of my observations I have come to notice over the past few years.

And you know what happens when you fuel your body well?

You have ENERGY to do things.

YES!  AMAZING THINGS!

Five years ago you couldn't have told me I would be eating healthier and teaching group fitness classes.  But now I have the energy to do so because I FEED my body the good stuff!  I can go take/teach two classes and not be completely drained. Does my body feel it at my age? Yes, but that's okay.

The key for me has been Shakeology.  I love it.  Granted it's pricey, but you can't really put a price on your health.  It tastes good and is sooo good for you.  If you want to give it a try, you can always look on my link for more information www.myshakeology.com/momtotwoboys (yeah mom to two boys...makes sense right?)

And I workout a lot.  At least 5 days a week, sometimes twice in one day.  This leads to body changes that I never thought I could have.

YES!

I am stronger and more fit! I feel good! And oddly enough I post pictures of myself looking strong.  Crazy I know, but it's nice to see definition forming.  

And I also take pictures of myself doing turbo fire (another Beachbody product you can get through my other site www.beachbodycoach.com/momtotwoboys)

Shoulder definition during burpees

And yes, that's Ryan in the background watching.  I don't look for him to do any burpees any time soon....  Although they're hard on my weak right wrist, I still enjoy them :)

So here's what to take away from this post.  

ANY PERSON can change.  I am living PROOF! 

Don't be too hard on yourself.  It takes time.  Fad diets and pills won't work.  It takes persistence and patience to get to where you want to be.  One day at a time.

Best of luck,

Renee