This blog has been really helpful for me to track and share my weight loss and fitness journey. This is an area of my life that I’ve struggled with since high school, and I’ve learned that it’s important to have an outlet to talk about it, and a way to hold yourself accountable. 
I’ve been posting about my progress and success with using Weight Watchers, and I wholeheartedly credit the system with helping me to lose 20+ pounds and lower my elevated cholesterol levels. While the program has helped me to understand the nutritional value of a lot of foods, what it really did was make me more mindful of what I was eating on a daily basis. This knowledge has also helped with my colitis and has cleared up my skin.
Prior to Weight Watchers, I did try other diets. The “slow carb” diet was another plan that worked well for me, but I did not find it to be sustainable. When I was younger, I tried all sorts of other unhealthy fad diets, but the cliche about Weight Watchers is 
true – it’s not a diet, it’s a lifestyle.
Around the six month mark of being on the program, I found myself obsessing less about my points and focusing more on finding balance. The late spring and summer months came with more social outings, which can make it hard to enjoy yourself if you’re counting points like a lunatic. So, I stepped up my workout game to balance out the occasional cheat meal (or cheat day, sometimes!). For example, my birthday fell on National Doughnut Day, which meant I was definitely having a doughnut. But not just any doughnut…I had a cheeseburger on a glazed doughnut. It. was. glorious. Between that, some beers, and dinner and cake with my family, my points were just not something I could worry about. I still tracked everything I ate and drank, but I didn’t let it bother me that I was spending my weekly points. 
In terms of my workouts, I had been mainly practicing yoga, and was going 2-3 time per week. Yoga has helped me in countless ways. Not only does it help with maintaining and losing weight, but it has helped to tone my muscles, and has made me more flexible and stronger, both physically and mentally. The mindfulness, gratefulness, and meditation that have come with my yoga practice have helped with my anxiety, stress, and insomnia. Practicing yoga has also let me try new, fun experiences such as an essential oils and yoga workshop, doing yoga with my friends outside on Church Street in Montclair (followed by Rose, of course), and even doing goat yoga with my acupuncturist!
While I love the benefits of yoga, I knew that I wanted more in terms of my workouts, and that I could push myself to do more. I definitely needed more cardio, and I hate running, so I decided to start going to spin class more often. Typically, I had been going to a spin class about 1-2 per month, so when I really needed to shed some pounds and increase my muscles, I started going once per week, sometimes even twice in one weekend. 
Yoga and spin make a great combo for me. Yoga helps me to stretch out my sore legs and helps me practice better breathing during cardio. I was loving this duo of workouts, but again, I knew I could do more. A friend convinced me to buy a Groupon for a studio in Montclair that offers a variety of classes including yoga, barre, pilates and more. Even after my month long Groupon expired, I bought another package, because I love this place so much. About 2-3 times per week, I go to Boone Studio for really dynamic and fun classes such as Align and Stretch; Abs, Glutes, & Thighs; Sculpt and Tone; and more.
Now, those who know me, know that I don’t normally enjoy working out the way I do lately. The only other times I’ve enjoyed workouts are when I was hardcore into kickboxing, and when I did the Sweat with Kayla program, both of which I also highly recommend. I’m sure that once the semester starts (I accepted an adjunct position!) and work and wedding planning get crazier, my routine will change, and I look forward to sticking to a plan and making my workouts work for me.
I also have to shout out my awesome fiance who not only works out at home SO consistently, but recently found out that he loves to run, and is doing amazing at becoming a better runner. So proud of you, Andy! #fitfam #sweatingforthewedding #shreddingforthewedding #pastafortwo
I love sharing my workout strategy and hearing what YOU all are doing! Share with me in the comments below! We got this!