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Your 'Aha' weight-loss moments
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- Posted February 20, 2013 by
- metamorfit Follow
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Land O' Lakes, Florida
Land O' Lakes, Florida
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Mom loses 212 Pounds But Finds Herself!
In 2008 I hit rock bottom. I was a full-time graduate student, a full-time stay-at-home-mother and I weighed 369 pounds. It was extremely difficult for me to take care of my children's daily needs, let alone get on the floor and play with them and chase them around the backyard; forget about it. Here I was with a 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 year old and I had a BIG "a-ha" moment. I fell in the backyard while attempting to play kickball with the kids. My oldest had to run inside for daddy, but I was too big for him to pick up. He had to roll me on a blanket and drag me inside the house. It was a very surreal experience. During the time my oldest ran inside, I was laying there with my younger two children crying and staring over my body. I imagined what it would be like if something more tragic had happened. What if I had a heart attack while I was home alone with the kids? It was a very real possibility. Did I want to leave my kids without a mother? Did I want my children to grow up living the same sort of life that I had? What was I teaching them. sort of life for my children? Did I want my children to grow up to become obese and sedentary? NO! I knew I had to lead by example and I also knew that I needed some time for myself. Everything I did, I did for OTHER people; my children, and my husband were my top priorities. But where did I fit in? I had to become a priority. I had to leave the GUILT behind and learn to put myself first!!
The first thing I did was join a gym that had childcare. I KNEW that if I attempted to workout out at home using DVD’s that I would not last long, and even having a triple stroller, I knew that I would not go outside and walk the children. Having 3 young children I knew that they would constantly be underfoot and I would never be able to exercise properly. And I knew that I needed a gym that was close to my home or else I would use the “it’s too far to drive” excuse.
I joined a gym close to my home and began working out. They offered childcare for up to 2 hours per day. Perfect! I began working out immediately. I started off slowly, but by January 2009, I was up to 2 hours per day. So not only was I losing weight and toning my body, but I was getting up to 2 hours of childcare per day and I was having some quality “me time.” I was finally starting to see the “old me” emerge. I found a love for LesMills group fitness classes.
I have lost 212 pounds through diet (Weight Watchers) and exercise and I love to be able to share my story with other people.
I was recently selected as a grant recipient by the Project Athena Foundation. http://www.projectathena.org/ and in November I made a 128 mile trek from Key Largo to Key West. I am the first obesity survivor that they have EVER selected and feel very honored and humbled to have been chosen.
My journey is far from over. I've recently become a certified Spinning Instructor, and I am an ambassador for Polar Heart Rate Monitors, a key piece of training equipment on my journey of transformation.
I've also begun to change up my routine a little bit by cutting back on so much cardio and adding in more strength and flexibility training and I've seen amazing results! While I haven't lose any additional weight, I've gotten smaller! Lean muscle takes up less space than fat.
I've been at my goal weight of 157 pounds for nearly 2 years.
I lost an entire person, but I found myself. And I am so proud of the person I have become. And more so, I am proud of the lessons that I have been able to teach my children, and my community. I write a popular blog about my life after losing 212 pounds, struggles I face, struggles I had to overcome. Visit me at http://metamorfit.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jennyhodgesismetamorfit
Life is good.
The first thing I did was join a gym that had childcare. I KNEW that if I attempted to workout out at home using DVD’s that I would not last long, and even having a triple stroller, I knew that I would not go outside and walk the children. Having 3 young children I knew that they would constantly be underfoot and I would never be able to exercise properly. And I knew that I needed a gym that was close to my home or else I would use the “it’s too far to drive” excuse.
I joined a gym close to my home and began working out. They offered childcare for up to 2 hours per day. Perfect! I began working out immediately. I started off slowly, but by January 2009, I was up to 2 hours per day. So not only was I losing weight and toning my body, but I was getting up to 2 hours of childcare per day and I was having some quality “me time.” I was finally starting to see the “old me” emerge. I found a love for LesMills group fitness classes.
I have lost 212 pounds through diet (Weight Watchers) and exercise and I love to be able to share my story with other people.
I was recently selected as a grant recipient by the Project Athena Foundation. http://www.projectathena.org/ and in November I made a 128 mile trek from Key Largo to Key West. I am the first obesity survivor that they have EVER selected and feel very honored and humbled to have been chosen.
My journey is far from over. I've recently become a certified Spinning Instructor, and I am an ambassador for Polar Heart Rate Monitors, a key piece of training equipment on my journey of transformation.
I've also begun to change up my routine a little bit by cutting back on so much cardio and adding in more strength and flexibility training and I've seen amazing results! While I haven't lose any additional weight, I've gotten smaller! Lean muscle takes up less space than fat.
I've been at my goal weight of 157 pounds for nearly 2 years.
I lost an entire person, but I found myself. And I am so proud of the person I have become. And more so, I am proud of the lessons that I have been able to teach my children, and my community. I write a popular blog about my life after losing 212 pounds, struggles I face, struggles I had to overcome. Visit me at http://metamorfit.org or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/jennyhodgesismetamorfit
Life is good.
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