Friday, February 21, 2014

Feature Fridays: Heather Heinlein


Good Friday morning fitness fam!  I am writing this post from sunny Florida.  It is nice being on vacation and having some extra time with my hubby and Ariana, just hanging out.  Today we took her to the Jungle Park, and she had a blast.  I've managed to get one workout in, and I plan on getting up early tomorrow to get my second in.  Then I'm hoping for a pool day!  Eating out is not my favorite, I prefer to cook most of my meals, but at least it saves me from cleaning up as much (finding the silver lining).  So far we are having a great trip!

Today's Feature Friday comes from another Sweat Pink sister, who has had a few weight loss journeys (I can relate!) and is currently working on living a healthy lifestyle.  She found a love for running and even started a blog to share her journey Divas Run for Bling, be sure to check it out.

Here is Heathers story:
     Growing up I was always active.  I was a cheerleader and soccer player in high school and even cheered for my basketball team my freshman year of college.  Throughout the rest of college and the rest of my 20s, I just sort of stopped being active.  Before I knew it I was borderline obese.  I kept saying I was going to get back in shape and eat healthy, but I never did- until I turned 30.  I went for my normal check up with my doctor and found out that my blood pressure was really high.  At that point, I knew it was time to get serious about my health.  So over the next 10 months, I managed to lose 30 pounds by walking almost everyday, counting calories, and some yoga.  Unfortunately, this weight loss did not last.  My husband and undecided to try to start a family and discovered it would be difficult to do on our own due to the fact that I have PCOS, which is a hormonal imbalance that affects ovulation.  So we went the fertility route and I added 20 of 30 I had lost back on.
     In early 2012, I decided yet again that I needed to lose weight and start eating right- this time for good.  My best friend, Chris, had been trying to get me to take up running.  So I finally gave it a try and fell in love with the sport.  By the end of 2013, I had completed 3 half marathons and multiple 5Ks and 10Ks, along the way I started Divas Run for Bling, as a way to share the lessons I have learned along the way as well as my triumphs and setbacks on this healthy living journey.  While I am just now starting to lose weight again, I have been living a healthy active lifestyle this whole time.  I try to eat as many whole foods as possible.  I call myself a flexitarian as I spend about half my week eating vegetarian.  When I do eat meat, it is lean and usually grilled or baked,  I try to make smarter choices when I go out to eat.  I carry leftovers to work for lunches most days and always bring healthy snacks with me for when an afternoon bout of hunger hits.  I am not a strict calorie counter, but I do try to stay aware of what I'm eating and try to balance that out with how much exercise I'm getting in.
    I typically run about 4 times per week and try to do some weight training, yoga, or cross training twice a week.  While I am still considered overweight, my blood pressure and such are completely normal.  While I never did get pregnant (my husband and I are going to start IVF later this year), I do know that I am healthier than when I started.  I'm still trying to get the weight off, I have finally accepted that weight is just a number.  There are many other things that go into how healthy I am and as long as I keep the lifestyle I am living now, I will be okay.

Here are some of Heather's tips for an active and healthy lifestyle:
  • Find some form of exercise you enjoy doing.  If you are not having fun, you will not stick to it. I love to run but it is not for everyone.
  • Be social.  Whether its a workout buddy or blogging friends, it's good to have someone to keep you motivated.  My husband is great at supporting me and telling me to get up and move!  
  • Eat what you want, but in moderation.  It's okay to have your favorite treat once a week, just in moderation. 
  • Don't get too caught up on the number on the scale.  There are other factors that go into being healthy.
  • Don't give up!  Just keep going.  Don't let one setback stop you from being the best, healthiest and happiest you can be.  Sometimes the journey is more important than the outcome. 
                             
About Heather:
Heather is a runner, blogger, scrapbooker and Disney fanatic living in Chattanooga, TN with her husband and fur babies.  She also loves to cook, read and watch her favorite sports teams.  Her favorite quote is, "All your dreams can com true if you have the courage to pursue them!" Walt Disney

Connect with Heather:

Thanks Heather for sharing your story and I hope that your journey continues on this path!  You are the true example of never give up!

Have a healthy and fit day, 
Angelena

5 comments:

  1. Finding a friend to workout with really helps me too, great tip.

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    1. It is great to have someone to workout with, I agree! I have been working out on my own for 2 years at home since having my daughter and miss my workout peeps!

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  2. Always beneficial to have a gym buddy. One of its benefits is accountability, especially if you've committed to a certain schedule and/or program. And I agree that you really have to enjoy what you're doing. Otherwise, you'll just go through the motions of it, which is not really fun. (Those who want to last long in the gym might want to try supplements like Jacked 3D.) There's also a post I want to share about overcoming fatigue: http://talesfromafitnessjunkie.tumblr.com/post/77845023270/eliminating-the-fatigue-factor-from-the-daily-grind

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  3. I am married to my workout friend/buddy. :)

    Awesome transformation! :) Keep it up! :)

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    1. Ja- that is awesome! A great way to keep each other motivated!

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