I'd always been an active person competing in sports from softball to track to hockey and equestrian events for the majority of my life. I kept active as a United States Marine and even kept up with being pretty healthy until I blew out a knee in 2007. 3 years later a pulmonary embolism almost killed me and the weight I'd fought to lose after the knee started to pile back on and I got depressed and really demoralized. I decided that enough was enough and started losing 10/30/13, 2 months later I was down 20# but I knew that diet alone was not going to give me the results I wanted. I Needed to get back in a gym, and there we have it.

I've been just doing "whatever" without a solid plan and I know that's a disservice to myself in the gym. My stats kill me right now because I have a lot of work ahead to get to a "higher" weight of what's an appropriate weight since I'm only 5'3" and small framed. I am hoping to compete this next season in Fitness. I don't expect to place but really would love to get a call out at the very least.

It's that "me" time. As a runner I had it where it was just the road, my tunes, and ME. And over the years I forgot what that was like. I turned into a real b*tch, was grouchy and really that's not the kind of person I am. Getting those endorphins going makes me feel better. Even if I feel like I'm struggling in the gym when I push myself I feel better knowing I didn't quit.

Now it's giving me something to look forward to knowing that I will look the way I want to again and I don't have to "settle" for looking a certain way. I hate when people say "Oh, well you've got 4 kids" because I remember that time when I was still active and a sz 4 after my 4th child was a year old.

I also know that getting healthy again is better for my family. I'll be happier and that in itself is a huge perk for everyone around me.