Fitness

It's a huge topic that most people deal with atleast once in their lives. Many people deal with on the daily. It's pretty complicated I think. It takes so much will power and determination. It would be so simple to just not go to the gym one day because you don't "have time" or you "will just run extra tomorrow." And it's SO easy to get into this kind of habit until you stop going altogether. Then your diet goes, then your self-esteem, then your happiness.
That's basically exactly what happened to me. I was always the skinny girl through elementary and middle school. And I never had to work for it. And I know most people are super skinny in middle school but it was like I was the one who didn't have to work for it and could eat whatever, whenever. So I got hooked on the belief that that's how my body would always be. So I took up Cross Country in middle school anyways because my best friend was on it and I thought it would be fun to be a part of a team. So I had an active habit up until freshman year. Then I quit XC and took up soccer because I had played a little bit, but once again my other best friend was on it so I thought I'd do it. Then after freshman year I became burnt out, I could no longer eat whatever I wanted consequence free. I gained weight, curves, love-handles, a pooch, and some thick legs. I wasn't happy with myself at all. But I didn't believe there was anything I could do about it. It was actually only about a month ago that I got back into the running habit. I rediscovered the wonderful "runner's high" and I've already lost some weight! My shape is back and it feels so powerful to be able to say "yeah I go to the gym everyday and work-out and run."

 I think the reason most people aren't really successful when they try to get into the running habit is because they expect to look like this after one or two gym visits. Most people also don't understand that you once you achieve your ideal weight and fitness level you have to work to either keep improving it or to maintain it.

I've been reading this book called "The Complete Book of Running for Women" by Claire Kowalchik and it has been so helpful for me in understanding some of the ways my body works compared to men's bodies and how to best deal with all kinds of situations most women deal with when working out and running. It deals with topics about things like physical/mental benefits, male/female differences, motivation, running safely, nutrition, pregnancy, menopause, purchasing equipment and products, strength training, stretching, racing, marathons, preventing injuries and SOOO much more. Anyways moral of the story I would definitely recommend this book to anyone interested in becoming a serious athlete, and by serious I mean dedicated. You don't have to be able to run three miles right off the bat, you don't have to be talented or coordinated, just have to have will power :) But if anyone has any fitness questions/comments or would just like some tips, I would be extremely happy to help, just leave a comment below.