, I chose: What are you passionate about?
Well, OK, so this is an easy one and not a surprise to most: I'm passionate about health and fitness and keeping in shape.
I'll admit, the need to stay fit (read: hot) stems from my childhood insecurities. I never felt like I was the most beautiful or even close to, and certainly felt regular-sized, rather than slender or skinny. I was always comparing myself to other girls and was very hard on myself. I always felt like I had something to prove. I hated that back then and at the time I never really knew how to change it.
As I got older, I started reading different diet books and studying different trends in weightloss. There was a lot of trial and error. I even splurged on a personal trainer at Bally's Total Fitness. But to be honest, that was pivotal for me. I finally had someone explain to me how the body worked as far as using food for fuel and burning fat and gaining muscle. As part of the package, I got a lot of tests run on me - such as metabolic rate, body fat percentage, etc. and a personalized diet and exercise plan. I actually found out that I had a very high metabolism (my personal trainer was a ripped Asian guy and he said he was impressed because my rate was just about where his was). I was shocked to hear that because I certainly wasn't ripped. After a few weeks of working with him and following the nutrition plan, I lost some weight and started to look a lot more lean and cut - the look I had desired all my school-age years. Ever since then, I have made it my personal mission to learn as much as I can about the science of health and nutrition. It's become such a passion of mine. I love that after two kids I can be proud of my body and that it doesn't even look as though I've had a kid (with the exception of some faint and minor stretch marks). I love working out - I love the high I get after an intense workout session. I love setting goals and challenging myself to attain them.
To date, I've read dozens of body-building and nutrition books. I've even taught group fitness classes at local gyms (dance-oriented classes, as dance is another big passion of mine). And in the past couple of years I've started running a lot of local 5K races - just because I love the feeling of going out there and going for it, no matter what my time is. I just love doing something good for my body and appearance.
So although my "passion" grew from a painful place...I'm glad that it was that way because it has made me who I am today and made me find something I really love. As a mom, I don't get to have a lot of personal hobbies, so the nice thing about fitness is that I can do it anywhere or even incorporate my children in it (jogging stroller, anyone?)...and at the same time, I'm creating a good example for my children. I am actually going to get my personal training certification within the next year. I want to share my passion with others and hopefully help them find a passion in it for themselves as well.
