Introduction

       My name is Stephanie and I am 21 years old. I have a passion for nutrition, fitness, cooking and baking! I've spent the majority of my life struggling with my weight. I've been to nutritionists and was able to loose the weight but could never keep it off. Over the past two years I've lost 40 pounds on my own and have kept it off! I am now happier than ever and finally confident in my body. Through this blog I will share with you my secrets and lifestyle habits. I believe that everyone has the potential to be healthy and feel comfortable in their body.
     I first want to make it clear that I do NOT consider the way I eat as a diet. It is simply a lifestyle change. Changing your mindset from diet to lifestyle is what will help you become successful in your weight loss and in keeping the weight off! When it comes to eating, it is just about making the right decisions. I feel strongly about not depriving yourself as this is what causes many people to stop eating clean. My lifestyle change has gone from eating high-fat greasy foods to clean eating. Clean eating is eating lean proteins, fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts and no processed food, cutting out anything that has ingredients that you can't pronounce. I don't eat completely clean however, because I feel it is unrealistic to cut out all processed foods from your diet. In a nutshell my version of clean eating is eating any type of lean protein, fruits, vegetables, nuts, and whole grains and eating little to no added sugar. My version of clean eating leaves you feeling healthy, energized and happy.
    I've named my blog "It's not a race, it's a marathon." because this describes my lifestyle change. There is no one rushing or pushing you and there is no one telling you that you need to loose x amount of weight in x amount of time. Take your time with this. Get accustomed to the change that you are making as this is now the start of your new life! The problem with our world today is that we want instant results and have no patience. There are many fad diets out there that promise you quick weight loss, however they do not promise that you will keep the weight off once you stop following their meal plan. If you want instant results then unfortunately I can't help you. This is a slower weight loss process that is realistic and lasts forever!
    Over the past year I've developed a passion for fitness, as it has helped me keep off my weight. Before this year I HATED exercise. You could not pay me to go to the gym or do any sort of physical activity. Physical activity was difficult for me as I was extremely out of shape. I've lost the majority of my weight without exercise, which shows that weight loss really is more nutrition that exercise. Many experts have stated that weight loss is 80% nutrition and 20% fitness. If you do not exercise do not become discouraged. It is easy to develop a love for fitness like I have. Start off easy! Start by walking for 30 minutes 4 times a week. Make sure to walk at a brisk pace. Do this for a couple weeks. As you become more comfortable increase your walking to 5 times a week for 45 minutes. This will help you get used to exercise and get into a workout routine. Once you feel you are ready take your fitness to the new level. Start off by going to some fitness classes or jogging.
     I personally love Zumba because it is a fun, high-impact workout that goes by so fast! I bought the Zumba Exhilarate DVDs and do them at home 6 days a week in my den. I feel the DVDs are more realistic for me than going to a class since I have a very busy schedule. Having to fit Zumba classes into my schedule would be too hectic since my busy schedule would interfere with many Zumba classes. Having the DVDs allows me to do Zumba at my convenience. DVDs are not for some people however, since some people will not do it if it is up to them. But believe it or not, the more you exercise the more you love it and the more it becomes a habit and a part of your daily routine. A quote I love is, "Motivation is what gets you started, habit is what keeps you going."I do not even think twice about my exercise routine anymore as I could not imagine a day without exercise. Exercising helps relieve stress, releases natural endorphins and is my hour to "escape".
      I track my calories through my iPhone on an app called mynetdiary. Using this app allows you to keep track of your calories in an easy and realistic way. This app calculates your gender, height, weight, and age and figures out how many calories you should eat per day to loose the weight you want each week. By using this app I am conscious of the calories I consume that way I do not eat too much.
   In the following pages I provide you with the tools to make a difference in your health and feel better about your life.