Fresh Start Fitness

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: losing weight feels good. I love watching the scale go down, how I look and feel when I’m thin, and the way society treats me. But here are a few things that feel just as good:

Lifting heavy. My 200-pound deadlift was a big milestone for me. When women lift weights, it gives them the courage to do things like quit their crappy job and start a business, go back to school, leave their abusive husband, or negotiate on the price of a car.

Enjoying a good meal with friends. Food is fueling and making positive nutritional choices and portioning out food is critical to weight management. But sitting around a table with friends and eating bread or pizza is fulfilling to my soul.

Finishing a marathon. A quote I read somewhere: “If you want to change your health, start running. If you want to change your life, run a marathon.” I was already a runner before I ran a marathon, but the feeling of setting a huge goal, that less than 1% of the population can do, is an accomplishment I can hang my hat on forever.

Confidence in yourself, regardless of your body size. Know your worth to the world, the people around you, but most importantly YOURSELF.