Disclaimer: I hope that I don’t offend anyone with actual weight issues with this post. I’m aware that my struggles might not be like most.

The “Weight thing”

It was so difficult for me to reach 100 lbs as a kid (I always remembered being skinny and tall). I remember trying to eat a lot to gain anything. I was 5′ 10″ by the end of high school so having a lean frame allowed me to develop bad habits like going throughout college eating for two people.

Pretty Disgusting! (This was also followed with an icecream bar or two)

Anyway, the above is  me at senior year of high school, my exercise consisted of typing programming code languages and eating anything.

I was a mere 130 something pounds and I went off to college, possibly gaining another 10 lbs finally.

It was still a fluctuation of 5 lbs yearly, all throughout then and finally I graduated to move to NYC.

Immediately, I thought, “Jackpot!” Only if you’re a fellow a foodie, you can imagine how excited experiencing different cuisines was for me. It’s literally placing me in a candy store — well, there are also candy stores here.

I did start gaining but most of my friends were struggling with body issues incomparable to me so what would someone who was tall and 150ish have to complain about?

Nothing really until…

Fast forward to 2011.

I stopped exercising almost altogether except rack up miles on the track and parks. I could run like nothing but even if I burned 1800 calories a pop on distance, the scale doesn’t change after I noticed a 20ish lb difference.

I trained for a half marathon and that didn’t matter either (see, I don’t run to get slimmer). I did realize alcohol consumption had a lot to do with the weight gain (since it’s the only thing that changed about my diet). I stopped drinking altogether for the half marathon.

What do I do now?

Well, I think diet and exercise is a lifestyle change. Even if I love food, I had to start eating differently. I know, I do post my lunches on my facebook… the food that I usually had will change soon.

I needed to cross train as well. So when I started a new job, I checked out their corporate gym memberships immediately! I got a trainer who made me stronger and after all 8 sessions, I feel my running has improved and I’m able to push myself on my own now.

What many folks don’t realize is, exercise takes commitment. You can’t go on a couple weeks/months and immediately quit once you’ve reached your goal. You have to be able to maintain it. So, my daily routine now includes squats, dips, situps, leg raises and pushups (I’m doing the hundred pushups challenge). I also started tango classes last month and signed up for bootcamp, boxing, pole dancing and belly dancing which I will be redeeming as time  passes and I need new motivators.

I didn’t imagine that I’d ever be able to run the half marathon. I had to work at it, much like I have to work on exercise.

Since the half,  I’ve been able to also run the 5 mile pride race and 10K for Cystic Fibrosis. I have another 10 mile race to run and a half marathon the following week. I’ve been logging miles on the daily mile.com (everyone should join this) – great motivator. Send me a request and I’ll be happy to add you so that I can cheer you on!

Diet

I’ve also started this diet thanks to Miguel Cardona (@miggi)

I’ll keep  you guys  posted if I lose anything but currently my body looks leaner even if the weight is the same.

I realized the other day that most of my laundry has been gym clothes…

I’m basically addicted to exercise these days. I feel better, sleep better, have more energy… Hooray for staying healthy in 2011!

What are you doing for exercise? diet? etc?