Going Strong, Feeling Strong

I am now a full month into my reCommitment 2 Fitness. Over the last 4 1/2 weeks, I've made serious changes to my overall lifestyle. The results and benefits have been nothing short of astounding. After overhauling my diet and exercise patterns, I've noticed a lot of changes.

First, I feel better than I have in a very long time. You don't realize how little energy and focus you have when you're not working out and eating right. On the mornings I get up to workout at 4 a.m., I have more energy throughout the day than on days I don't. Even though I'm getting up when some people are going to bed, the feeling and pride of my morning workouts carry me throughout the day. An added bonus, and one I wasn't expecting was that I feel like I'm a better teacher. The energy translates into how I act in the classroom.

Second, I look better. I didn't weigh myself at the beginning, because I really didn't have much weight to lose. I can see the changes though. Clothes fit differently. My body composition has changed. I'm stronger and leaner.

Lastly, I've found a drive in other activities that I otherwise wouldn't have enjoyed, if I wasn't reCommitting 2 Fitness. The first of my two new addictions is snowboarding. I've only been twice, but I'm hooked. The physical demands of the sport are tough, especially on the core and lower body. The first time I went, I, for lack of a better word, got my ass kicked by the mountain. But the second time? I owned it. Well...as much as I can own it after only having gone two times. Still...being healthy and fit has made learning all the easier.

The next new passion has become hot power yoga. P90x has a "YogaX" component. I'd done that for the first 2 weeks and did okay with it. My roommate has been trying to get me to go with her to her hot yoga classes for a while. I finally decided to go and am 100% addicted. It's physically and spiritually exactly what I'm looking for in a workout. And workout...it is! Anyone who thinks it's just a bunch of stretching and posing is sorely sorely mistaken. I've gone as much as 3 times in one week. I love it and can see the benefits from yoga in all other areas of my fitness as well.

So here I am, on Week 5 of my reCommitment and couldn't feel any better. This is truly a newly adopted lifestyle. I haven't given up on drinking or sworn off sweets, or anything like that, because as I mentioned in an earlier post, that's not what this is about. It's about LIVING LIFE in a healthy manner. It's about making choices that allow me to balance all that life is about...all with head up, eyes open, heart full and body strong.

-D