It’s Never Too Early to Start Being Healthy

Today I am very proud to have my daughter, Eria, guest write a post. I am very proud of what Eria has accomplished over the last several weeks. She has completely turned her life around with regards to her eating and execise habits. The tables have turned and now I find myself looking up to her as a wonderful inspiration on eating healthy and exercising regularly.   Well, why don’t I let her tell you all about it?

My name is Eria, and I’m fourteen years old.  I started eating healthier and exercising around seven or eight weeks ago after a visit to the doctors office. My whole family got weighed and I was shocked and I felt so angry and upset with myself when I saw how much I actually weighed. I’ve been insecure about my weight for as long as I can remember, but seeing that number on the scale really motivated me to change it.

I started my journey to better health by downloading the Run 5K app (formerly known as “Couch to 5K”) onto my phone and began with that as my cardio routine. Then, after school, I started a little workout that I came up with on the spot, just so I could get some exercising in.  I forced myself to drink at least 8 cups of water a day, and soon that turned into 13 cups of water, without having to remind myself to drink that much.  Four weeks after starting to eat healthy, I started counting my calories with ‘MyFitnessPal’.  I think it’s funny to remember talking to my mom in the grocery store, her saying that I might have to count calories to lose weight. I remember thinking that it was going to be so hard and a waste of time but in the end I really did start counting calories.

In seven or eight weeks, I’ve lost 11 pounds. Something I never thought I could do. There have been a lot of things that happened to me that I thought I couldn’t do. It’s amazing how accomplished you feel when you set a goal and achieve it. I remember jogging for ten minutes straight, looking back on when I could barely jog for one. Then, that ten minutes turned into twenty and I’m on my way to thirty!  A few weeks ago, in my gym class, as a warm up, our teacher wanted us to run 800 meters. She wanted us to be back at the school in under ten minutes or we didn’t get participation marks. I thought this was outrageous because I didn’t realize just how far I could could run now. I ended up making it back to the school in 5 minutes and 25 seconds! That was a huge accomplishment for me.

Another big step for me was reaching my first goal, which was to lose ten pounds. I’ve never lost this much when I tried losing weight, ever.  Or even the little things, like turning junk food down and going for the healthier foods. I never get tired of feeling proud of myself, because eight weeks ago, I would’ve jumped at the idea of eating pizza.

To be honest, I really don’t understand why I loved pizza, chips, cookies, and soda so much. I don’t understand why I hated running, and exercising. I always felt sick to my stomach after eating junk food, so why did I go back to it? When I jog, it just shuts the world out for a half an hour, it lets you think and collect your thoughts; lets you relieve any stress you have. Then, when you work your muscles to their maximum potential and the next day your legs, arms, or abdominals are sore because of it, you feel proud of yourself, because you know you worked yourself to your limit.

When I eat something unhealthy, I feel sick, yet healthy food is so much more energizing, and tastes better too. The feeling you get when you look at charts of food that can prevent cancer or other diseases, and you realize that you eat a lot of what’s on that list, is amazing. You know that you have less of a chance because you may be preventing it with the foods you eat, while other people who are addicted to fast food are only making it worse for them. You never feel sick when you eat healthy, and you always have energy. When I don’t exercise, I regret it, I feel lazy and upset and I get terrible mood swings. You will never regret getting up and exericising. In the long run I don’t think you could ever regret avoiding diabetes or cancer.

My mom has noticed my skin has cleared up since exercising and watching what I put in my mouth.  I’ve noticed that I have more energy, and I’m just happier. I feel like I’m doing better in school, but I think that’s just me. And the best thing is, I sleep better.

I think the biggest reason why I want to lose weight, or a lot of people do, is for the confidence. So I don’t have to live every day wondering if the shirt makes me look fat. Or if the shirt is too tight, and it’s showing my rolls. I want to just live life being healthy and happy. To not have to worry about what people think about me. I want to feel beautiful. I think that being fit will boost my confidence more, and if not, at least it’s making me a happier healthier person.

Image(s): FreeDigitalPhotos.net