As I've mentioned in previous articles, I immersed myself into a healthy lifestyle during my second year in college, after enrolling in a cardio and nutrition class.

Growing up, I did not always eat healthy and workout. Only time I really did cardio was when I would walk home from school and whatever we had to do in gym class. Besides that, I would eat endless amounts of Hot Cheetos and other fried foods.

Of course, once I left high school and began college I did not really feel like myself. I felt out of place, as many freshmen do, but I was not content with myself. Who I was and what I was doing. I spent my first year searching and towards the end I learned what it was I wanted to study and be. I became a journalism major, and I began training to be an on air radio host. At the same time, I enrolled in the cardio and nutrition class.

My second year began and there I was in a pair of pink capris workout pants with “LOVE” written down one leg in white bold letters from Ross waiting for my instructor to arrive. I was much heavier than I am now and had no muscle- solely fat.

I was very hard on myself; more than I am now so if I could go back and tell my old self what this healthy journey would be like I would say…

First of all, you need to keep a few things in mind. You never really ate healthy consistently and you did not always workout. Remember you stopped working out in 11^th grade in high school and now you are in your second year of college. It will NOT be easy at all; as a matter of fact it will be extremely hard. You don’t understand this now but you have to find a balance, a balance between working out and eating healthy. You have to cut down on your fried foods and sweets. I mentioned it wouldn’t be easy. And because you are accustomed to eating all this bad food, you trying to be healthy, will cut it all off because you think that it is the right thing to do. But you will fail. Yeah you will have the ability to cut it off for a week, two weeks and lose a pound or two. But the moment you “treat yourself” you will gain double the weight back. Then you will go back to square one and feel like you hit rock bottom.

But, you should not let it bring you down. Because whether you like it or not it is part of the journey. You will recover from it because as the saying goes, “No Pain, No Gain.” The weight you gained over the years will not be lost overnight. It will take you months, years of hard work and dedication. But let me tell you that it will ALL be worth it.

You are going to see yourself when you graduate. You will be lighter on your feet and stronger. You will be able to hold those side planks you were not able to in cardio class. You will be able to resist sweets and junk food. You will find the balance between eating healthy and working out. You will know when to go hard and when to go home. You will know when to throw on running shoes and a sports bra and give it your all on the weight rack and you will know when to put on heels, dine out and treat yourself. But most importantly, you will learn to LOVE yourself. All of yourself and your super confidence will show. So hang on tight and be sure to enjoy all the highs and lows of this journey because it is solely the beginning.

Spring 2014

Summer 2016