I started working out when I was 17 simply out of boredom. I have always been lucky with a high metabolism and thin frame, so I've never really worked that hard at being thin. In my 20's I joined the YMCA with a friend to support her during knee surgery recovery. With a regular cardio and weight lifting routine I liked how my body was changing, but most of all I fell in love with how it made me feel physically and mentally. I stopped going after I had my first child, but I continued to be as active as possible. After having two more children I became active with yoga, but never really sticking to it on a regular basis. I enjoyed the flexibility and the peace it gave me, but I wasn't satisfied and it was hard to practice with distractions from home, kids and animals who loved to "attack" me or take over the mat. The summer of 2012 I joined a university recreation center in hopes to revive my love for the gym. I loved going, but ran into issues with the center...mainly inconveniences such as parking (university campus with strict parking), hours of operation (catering to students, closing during university breaks and football game days), and lack of equipment (three different facilities across campus, all with different equipment, had to go between facilities to get complete workout). For a few months I researched all the gym facilities in my town, which weren't many due to living is such a small town. After Christmas I decided to give myself a gym membership and I began the last week of December. I love my new gym and I'm looking forward to bikini season.