Like many people, over the years I’ve gained weight. Marriage, twins, stress, lack of sleep all can be attributed to it, but honestly.. I think I just got too comfortable and too lazy. I didn’t take care of myself the way I knew I should because I was always putting everyone else ahead of me. Sound familiar? One morning, I received a phone call from my mom telling me to watch a news segment about being overweight and the tolls that it can take on your health. I realized that if I didn’t do something soon, I might not see my very own children graduate from College, or my grandchildren running around my house. I happened to walk by my tall mirror in my bedroom and saw how I looked. It wasn’t me. I mean, it was, but it just didn’t look like me. I knew I had gained weight, but I was always in denial that it was that bad. I went to the gym and worked out every day that I could. When the girls weren’t sick, I was at the gym. I’d spend 2 hours walking on the treadmill and doing random exercises on the machines. Nothing was working for me. No matter how much I was exercising, I wasn’t losing anything. I was getting so depressed, my marriage suffered, and I was losing myself.Â
I had heard about the EA SPORTS Active that was coming out, and as the review blogger that I am, I reached out and contacted EA SPORTS Active about it! I wanted to try something new. I had tried other DVD’s, video games, and books, but none of them had worked for me. I had set a goal on my 30th birthday that I wanted to lose 60 pounds in 2009, and I was determined to follow through this time. I received an email asking me if I was willing to be part of the EA SPORTS Active 30 Day challenge, and I didn’t even bat an eyelash before I said “YES!” This email was just the beginning of a life changing experience for me.Â
EA SPORTS Active took me and 11 other challengers to Santa Barbara to check out their Virtual Fitness Trainer in a box. We also received some amazing advice from Fitness Guru Bob Greene. I learned more about the things I should be putting into my body and things I should. I also learned that my weight gain was not just because I ate too much, or because I was lazy, but also because I had an emotional issue somewhere. After a quick exercise I realized where I was going wrong in my life, and vowed to change that. After all, if I was going to ever look better, I had to feel better about myself and everyone surrounding me.Â
Once the EA SPORTS Active 30 Day Challenge began, I was super excited. I was able to fit in 30 minute workouts anytime during the day, and it held me accountable! I filled in my journal entries every day and really became conscious of what I was eating and drinking, and what activities I did during the day, especially on days I wasn’t required to workout. My eating habits began to change very quickly, as did my family’s. When we went grocery shopping, we checked out every label before it went into the cart. I was actually very surprised to find out that so many of the foods we’ve been eating over the years were so bad for us! We switched to whole grain pastas and breads, and cut out so many snack foods that we would normally be eating. We purchased more fresh fruits and veggies for snacks. We went outside to play more rather than just sitting on the computer or watching TV. When we did go out to eat, we made more healthy choices, like steamed veggies instead of fries. Life was indeed changing for me and for my family… but in a really good way.Â
The workouts were awesome. I loved how I didn’t have to think about what I needed to do. It set everything up for me, and told when when I wasn’t doing something properly. It only took a couple of minutes for me to be out of breath at first, but as time went on, I was able to run longer distances, squat further, jump higher, and needed more resistance. I worked up a sweat every time, and I don’t mean a little perspiration. I was dripping by the end of each workout. My husband would laugh at me. Well, until he tried the workout with me. Then he totally understood. My girls even got in on the exercise with me. They loved running with me and jumping. They had so much fun following alongside me, they thought it was a game. I think the part I liked the most was that when I was working out, even though I felt like I was working out, it was fun. I enjoyed exercise for the first time in 10 years, and I knew that I’d be able to stick with this workout routine.
After two weeks, and losing around 4 pounds, I knew something was working. My capri pants weren’t so tight, and I was fitting into some workout clothes that I hadn’t worn in almost a year. I was seeing results. Small results, but results nonetheless. It wasn’t until the end of week 4 that I realized just how well the EA SPORTS Active workouts and the few little changes in our eating and activity habits had changed me. I weighed in 10 pounds less than when I started, and 4% lower on my Body Mass Index (BMI). When it was time to find something to wear for our reunion in New York City, I couldn’t find anything in my closet that looked right, so I went shopping. I tried on so many clothes that just seemed weird. I decided to try on a different size, and found the dress. I realized that I was trying on clothes that were just too big. I had gone down from a size 22 to a size 18.. in 30 days. I couldn’t do that in 2 years with countless hours at the gym, but I just did in just 8 hours in 30 days.Â
I know I still have a long way to go to reach that goal I had set on my 30th birthday just a few months ago, but for the first time, I have confidence. I am gaining some of that self esteem back, and I’m looking forward to 6 months down the line. I only did a 30 day challenge, but it’s changed my life, and my family’s. I know that I’m on the road to better health and fitness, and that I’m leading by example with my girls. I hope they realize that Mommy is doing this because I want to see them grow up and see their kids grow up as well. I want to be here for them when they need a shoulder to cry on, a big hug, or just someone to talk to. As for my husband.. Yeah.. He’s happy with the changes too. He’s seeing how much happier I’ve been lately, and he’s reaping the benefits of my new found self image.Â
I can’t thank EA SPORTS Active enough for allowing me to be a part of the 30 Day Challenge, and to all of the challengers and their support. Most of all to my family for their love and support and encouraging me to get off my rear and get ACTIVE!
And without further ado… I did give away 3 copies of the EA SPORTS Active to my biggest supporters.. Â The winners were Brian Clemons, Claire Evans and Stephanie Blattner…
Brian and Claire were awesome at supporting me from afar.. They emailed, commented on my Facebook Fan Page, called, and were all around awesome support. Stephanie was my local workout pal. She helped keep me honest… Thanks guys, and if you haven’t already, you should be receiving your EA SPORTS Active soon!!!
THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! I read your blog to my wife, and it fits us to a “T”. She is also a 22, and is eyeing a goal in these 30 days. We bought the game the day it came out (May 19th), and started the 30 Day Challege that day. I have lost 5 pounds (2 weeks in(, and my wife, like you, is noticing changes in her clothes, and I am noticing a positive change in her self confidence. This past week, we bought the accessory pack so we could workout together. We did it for the frist time today (an off day), and it was awesome!! We decided that every other off day, we would do one of the preset workouts together. We’ve also set a plan, that the first 30 day challenge we’ll do will be at Easy, then we will do 30 days of presets and custom workouts. Then we will do the 30 Day Challenge at Medium, and repeat until we get to hard. We figure it is 6 months of positive working out.
I just wanted to say Thank you. Your blog was inspiring and made us feel like we weren’t alone. And yes, our 2 daughters join in, and think it is a game as well LOL
Bless you!!!
Great job! I just found your blog from the EAsports active site. I have been using the wii fit since Jan and lost 30lbs with that and was following Julie during the 30 day challenge. It sounded so awesome..I received it through the facebook contest and love it already…I am with you and have made a goal to lose weight this year also. My mother was the same way and really wanted me to focus because many people in our family have heart disease and diabetes. I need to be healthy for my children. I really enjoyed your review and your blog! I hope you continue to have great progress!
colleens last blog post..Fitness Friday
Wow girl. I can’t believe your results. That is awesome. After I met you in real life, I went back and saw how you were when you first started and I couldn’t believe it. You lost so much weight. I know i can do it. I started today and I’m glad I did. I’m working at the medium intensity but it’s tough but I know I’ll get thru it.
I will definitely keep in touch and ask you lots of questions thru-out the 30 days..lol
Lisas last blog post..This is crazy!