Introduction

Hello and welcome to my blog Skinny Fit!

I have been blessed to be skinny all my life. Throughout my school age years I played sports year-round including softball, basketball, and soccer. I also spent almost every waking moment outside being very active. I was a skinny fit kid. 

For the past 8 years I have become a total couch potato. Although I still remain 120 lbs (same weight I was in high school), I can not run around the block... only walk. Ever heard the term skinny fat? I'm there. I want to be able to take my dog for a run and not be afraid I will pass out. I love hiking, but am scared I will get tired out too quickly to do any long hikes. Running, swimming for fun? Forget it! 

Many fitness articles and blogs are targeted to losing weight. I don't need to lose weight, but I do need to change my lifestyle to become fit and healthy.

Wake Up Call

I work as a paramedic. I need to be fit for my job to keep from getting injured! A recent knee injury woke me up and made me realize how out of shape I really am. During physical therapy, people 40-60 years older than me seemed to be having an easier time doing the exercises. What a wake up call!

Confessions Ahead!

• I signed an expensive gym contract 2 1/2 years ago and only went maybe 3 times in that time frame. I wasted $1000's of dollars! During the free training session, the trainer told me they normally do 30 min sessions... I only made it 15 minutes! Should have been a wake up call then.
  
• I got a Wii Fit for my birthday 2 years ago. I've used it a handful of times.
  
• I found out about a year and a half ago that I have adult onset asthma. Instead of it motivating me to get in shape, I've used it as an excuse to not work out.
  
• I use being uncoordinated as an excuse to not do exercises. I found out during physical therapy for my knee injury that is not an excuse as the more you do something, the more coordinated you become.

Here's to Good Habits: Going from Skinny Fat to Skinny Fit!

A few weeks ago I started going to the gym with my boyfriend. He's been trying to get me to go for years. Every day I've had off, I have at least gone to the gym and walked on the treadmill, even if he wasn't with me. That is an accomplishment in itself! I have also continued some of my physical therapy exercises using the Bosu ball.

So far, I invested in a good sports bra, some running shorts, a gym bag, lifting gloves, and multivitamins and protein shakes. Once I had gone to the gym regularly for a few weeks, I signed a new, less expensive contract that cost about a third of the first one, and canceled the membership from the first contract. I know a lot of things I can do at home, but I have found it is better for me to go somewhere to work out. They say that 20 days of something in a row makes it a habit. Here's to good habits!

My Hope: Goals/Plans

My hope is that this blog will keep me accountable, motivated, and inspire others to be healthy and get fit.

I plan to blog about my fitness ups and downs, search for fitness gear/clothing/health and beauty products etc, learning various exercises to do at the gym and at home, and food/supplements.

My current goals include being able to run around the block with my dog, being able to run at 6.0 mph for 5 minutes on treadmill, actually being able to do triceps workouts (apparently I have no triceps), being able to do ab workouts (apparently I have no abs either), and being able to do targeted weight lifting without direction from my boyfriend.

Wish me luck!  Here's to good habits and going from skinny fat to skinny fit!