Here I go....

As a fitness instructor of 3 years, I have come along way in my own personal goals.

I have always had an unhealthy relationship with food. From an early age I was taught to use food as a suppressor, reward, companion, a means of celebration and... oh yeah, a hunger suppressant.

Through fitness classes, books, and media I have slowly changed my relationship with myself and the way I use food. This has been a long journey that has allowed me to learn and grow (and shrink) at a lasting pace. No race, no judgments. I want to appreciate my body, mind and soul for what it is at this moment and I want that to hold true for every moment of my life. Having gratitude for everything I have achieved, while continuing on this journey.

Over the years, I have worked on portion control, cutting down on junk food, eliminating fast food and watching calories. I have recently started learning about the importance of nutrition and balance. I have been reading on Clean Eating and would like to move toward a cleaner diet.

My Goals for this year are:

1. Balance - finding more of a balance between being a fitness instructor and meeting my own needs. And, balance between work, family, and myself. I would like to add yoga and flexibility to my routine as well, to aid in physical and mental recovery as well as balance.

2. Health - continuing on my quest to educate myself on healthy eating

3. Lean and Mean - I would like to lean up and show off the muscles I work so hard for. My goal is to decrease my body fat to increase the muscle definition that I continue to work for. In doing this, I will reinforce goal #2 by feeding my body what it needs to sustain workouts and recovery.

Why Share? My hope is that sharing with people I network with, as well as people I work with in the gym setting, will keep my on track and accountable. I also hope to inspire others to begin their own journey by showing that fitness professionals are real people that work hard to attain their goals too.

Please feel free to share your thoughts and goals as well! I share in hopes that others will share and feel a sense of support and encouragement while surrounded by those who "get it". =)
~Kelly