SarahLeanne

I am a 20-something Canadian ex-pat living in Los Angeles, California...trying to get back to my healthy weight...for the second time!

After moving to the United States in 2008, I gained 55 pounds in about a year. I went from working in two restaurants (literally sprinting and sweating for 8 hours a day, and rarely eating regular meals) to sitting on my ass and eating whatever I wanted, as often as I wanted! In October of 2009, a friend made me hop on the scale, after suggesting we have a competition to see who could lose the most weight. I was floored to see that the scale said 170! (I had weighed 115 lbs when I left Canada) From that moment on I made a commitment to myself to get healthy and come down to a more reasonable weight (although I don't think I ever want to be 115 again, that was TOO skinny for me!) I cut out the soda and bacon cheeseburgers, started working out, and just tried to be mindful of how I was eating. Progress was slow, but paying closer attention to my calorie intake and making time for moderate exercise yielded great results! I hit my goal weight of 140 pounds just in time to be a fit bridesmaid in my sister's wedding. It took a ton of commitment and resilience to reach my goal and I was incredibly happy with the person I had become. But then I got complacent and stopped working out. I have gained back 10 pounds since August of 2011, and feel even more out of shape than the small weight gain would suggest. So, I am at it again, but the challenge this time around is making health and fitness work around my hectic schedule, and finding a way to enjoy a healthier lifestyle so that it becomes a permanent way of life!

www.facebook.com/SarahWeitzel