Community Voices for Health

By:  Kristen Clifford

For the past year, I’ve been working really hard to lose weight.  In 2011, I managed to lose 81.8 pounds with counting calories alone.  Now that I’ve lost some weight I decided this year to get my butt to the gym.  This was not an easy task, well, because I hate the gym, at least I used to.

I finally got up the courage in January to join the gym.  In the past I’ve been nervous and apprehensive about going to the gym, because I’m still quite overweight and I’m self conscience, so the idea of other people watching me work out and sweat makes me incredibly uncomfortable.  I put all of that discomfort aside and bit the bullet and signed up for the gym.

My goal is to get to the gym 3 times a week and so far for the last four weeks, I’ve been able to achieve that goal.  Surprisingly, I’m finding that I actually enjoy going to the gym!

What?

I know!  I was shocked!  I actually don’t even care that people see me sweat.  In fact, I have learned to enjoy a good sweat, of course as long as I get a shower right after. Going outside of my comfort zone has allowed me to not only better my health, but find something I never thought I’d enjoy.

I’m also finding that spending more time on myself and doing things to make me healthier, have made me happier.  This in the long run has made my time with my kids more enjoyable.  I’m finding when I’m just happier in general, it makes my family happier. That old saying about a happy Mom makes for happy kids, and vice versa, is incredible true!

Now, I don’t know if it’s the exercise that’s making me happier, or if it’s doing something outside my comfort zone, or maybe it’s just I have a new way to release stress. What ever it is, I like it and I hope to stick with it for a very long time!