The Road to Eating Clean

The journey to health and happiness with your body and fitness is truly a never ending and ever-challenging journey. One that can and will push and test your limits. The true first step, is realizing what your goals are - or rather, what you want your lifestyle to be going forward. Once you realize this, you take  the first step to changing everything.

I'm Sara. At present I weigh 145 lbs. It's been a very long time since I've been happy with what I weigh and how I feel. I started this journey a very long time ago. When I was younger, everyone would tell me how thin I was and I never listened, I was never happy. I was always active non-stop until college and never had to really put forth an effort.

During my college years, I quickly put on weight and hated working out but I ate whatever I want...it was a never-ending cycle that  I didn't have the motivation to break. I saw the weight that I was gaining, but I was young and stupid and really didn't know how to course correct. After getting engaged I was focused again, I went on Weight Watchers and started going to the gym (for my wedding, as do all brides), but the habits that I formed were fueled to look good in a wedding dressed and not forged for long lasting results. The habits that I so hastily started, quickly fell to the waste side a few months after the wedding. For the years that followed, I fell into a pattern of trying and failing at many different diets and ways to workout. In short, I hated everything.

And in spring of 2013 I finally took my husband's advice and took the kickboxing class at the gym and it was like a light finally went on. I started going to kickboxing classes 5 nights a week. We did a total overhaul of our eating and the weight began to fall off and I felt amazing. While my results were great, it was short-lived as I found out I was pregnant with A and all those wonderful pregnancy symptoms kicked in.

Fast-forward to now.

When I first got cleared to go back to the gym 6-weeks postpartum, I was all for it. But quickly, it became to much and I ultimately ended up working out at home. Last July I purchased the ChaLean Extreme workout program from Beachbody and started on my Shakeology journey. While I normally have loved Beachbody workouts (I'm currently in Phase II of P90X) I did not click with this program at all. I kept doing Shakeology for another few months until the cost became a bit too much. My amazing friend Jen started sharing photos of her beautiful transformation and hard-work with Herbalife and she inspired me to try it(which I am a proud distributor of now). I can only hope that my story will inspire someone the way she continues to inspire me everyday. (Seriously, mom of 2, and kicking ass at Crossfit). I continued on the shakes from September until about 3 1/2 months ago. In total I lost about 15 lbs during that time - but more importantly I learned how to control what I was eating and I felt comfortable leaving behind the shakes and reintroducing food.

In April, I got a copy of the Paleo Solution by Rob Wolf and honestly - it was life changing. I did the 30-day paleo eating program and was completely hooked - not only by eating REAL food, but by the way I was feeling. It was unlike any other diet or program I had ever been on.

Fast-forward to my first round of the Whole30 program aka the game-changer. In 30 days, I changed my entire relationship with food. I lost 10 lbs, 11 1/2 inches in total and two jean sizes. While the weight loss was great the non-scale victories have been amazing.

It starts with food. Being healthy and in-control starts with food. Experts always say weight loss and health starts in the kitchen and it's amazing how true it is.

Needless to say I am changed forever. I hope you join me on my journey and I hope you find your own journey.

A lot of people think becoming a parent derails your goals about fitness and health but the truth is, because of my daughter, I am stronger and healthier than I have ever been. And I will be sure she knows how she is my inspiration each and every day.