About Me

Let's see, where to begin. I suspect you all want to know my history with healthy living, food, weight loss, etc. Well, settle in my friends, this could be a long one....

I wasn't drinking the wine, I promise!

Ever since I was a little girl, I have always been heavy. I loved to eat burgers, pizza, chocolate, chips, did I mention chocolate? Ah, yes. Anyways, when I was about twelve or thirteen, I remember sitting in my pediatrician's office, watching him explain to my mother that I was "above the normal weight for a child my age". He walked up to me and asked "is there any way you could go outside and play for an hour each day? Take your dog out, play some sports?" I remember thinking, "Why would I want to do that? It's so much more fun watching TV and stuffing my face!"

This mentality continued until I reached high school. While all of my other girlfriends were going on dates and getting their first boyfriends, it seemed I was doomed to a life of being the "chubby friend" who had countless crushes on her guy friends (I know, I know, poor little Christina, wah wah). My girlfriends got me through it, and I ended up joining my high school's swim team to hang out with them. I loved to swim, but would get lazy, only doing half of the workout and sitting by the wall talking the rest of the time.

In 2008, I graduated high school and went to college. Suddenly, I was completely in charge of what I ate. The freedom was exhilarating. Surprisingly  I did not gain the usual "freshman fifteen", but instead lost some weight at the beginning of my college career. I attribute this to walking everywhere and not having the money to stuff my face every few hours but hey, whatever works right? As a freshman, I thought that partying and eating pizza at 3am were just a normal part of college. I suppose for some these things are normal, but for me they got old really quick for me. I kept gaining and gaining, with no idea how to stop it.

At my biggest

By my junior year, I was the biggest I had ever been. I felt swollen, uncomfortable, and winded. Going jeans or bathing suit shopping was akin to Chinese water torture. By the end of 2011, I had enough. I was sick of feeling bad about myself, sick of wishing I was something that I wasn't. Sick of watching others live the life I wanted but was too afraid to get. I made a resolution to lose weight and be healthy for the new year.

I started going to the gym three to five times a week. Tentatively at first, then building up enough stamina and courage to start taking classes and going for runs outside. I had a meal plan, and started finding healthier options at the dining hall. Instead of french fries and a fried chicken sandwich, I would get tuna on whole wheat and a side salad. The changes I was making were starting to make a difference, and I was enthralled watching my body change right in front of me.

By the time I graduated in May 2012, I had lost a total of 50 pounds. I walked across that stage feeling proud not only of my academic achievements, but of my personal achievements as well. I felt alive, on fire, ready to conquer the world.

Moi 

Since graduating, I began working in the marketing world where I currently reside. I have since ran my first 5k (under 30 minutes whoohoo!!) and have recently begun strength training. I still eat as healthfully as I can, but still indulging now and then- can you say frozen yogurt? AMAZING. I believe living a healthy lifestyle is about balance. A salad and a couple of french fries, Zumba class followed by an ice cream cone. Remember, it's YOUR life and these changes are going to last forever, don't you want those changes to be doable? Life is meant to be fun, kiddos, so go ahead, have that cupcake. You know you want to...