“The secret of change is to focus all of your energy, not on fighting the old, but on building new.”

                                                                                                        -Socrates

Back in October of 2017, I shared with everyone that I will work on learning to love myself. I started hitting the gym and changing my diet. I organized my schedule as much as possible so that I can go to the gym during my lunch breaks at least three times a week. As a busy working mom with three babies, staying focused is always a challenge.

 I was so afraid of failing, but I knew if I did not take that first step I would never get there. I started my workout with a lot of cardio. I felt like the “Tin Man” from the Wizard of Oz with no oil. I was rusty. I started walking on the treadmill for 45 minutes the first week. Then I started incorporating jogging and on days I struggled I just power walked at a higher incline. A month later I started introducing myself to weights and made it a part of my routine. I noticed I felt great, but I was not dropping the weight I wanted to see so I joined a fitness club that had an intense workout program. It helped me break up my workout routine and pushed me to challenge myself. I felt my body getting stronger over a few weeks and I was so proud of myself. However, I still did not see the weight loss result I wanted and this made me think hard about what and when I was eating.

 I am not perfect and I am still struggling with my food choices today because it is so much easier to eat the bad stuff. I make sure I eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner every day. I use to skip meals depending on my crazy work schedule or binge on coffee. I eat cleaner meaning I eat less red meat, no fast food, a lot of baked chicken and salmon, fresh vegetables, substituting jasmine rice with sweet potatoes or quinoa. I also intake more water now because I realize that water is what flushes out the toxins in your body.

 My struggle is eating right on the weekend because I keep wanting to reward myself by eating badly. This is not an option. I don’t want to deprive myself, but I want to make a lifestyle change so I don’t have room to eat badly. I am still working on this. I just have to find ways to eat out at healthy places and stay away from Dim Sum and Pho restaurants.

 It has been a total of 4 months now and I’ve lost 24 lbs. I am so proud of myself. I feel great, but I still have a long way to go to reach my weight goals. I celebrate in increments of 5 lbs this way I don’t forget to pat myself on the back for my progress. Many of my friends ask about my routine and honestly, it is nothing magical. You need to just be honest with yourself and commit to a plan, be patient, challenge yourself and don’t give up.