Welcome to My Journey: From Flab...back to Fab!

Six years doesn’t really seem like a long time, and I guess in the grand scheme of life, it’s not. But, to our bodies, six years is MORE than enough time to get into a rut – in this case, we will define “rut” as, an endless cycle of laziness and yummy (yet unhealthy) food! I am new to the blogging world but have decided this is the perfect way to document my new “ good rut” – BECOMING REDEFINED!

Why six years, you ask? Well, six years ago was the last time I walked across the Miss Georgia stage and looked like this…

Miss Atlanta 2006 - Swimsuit Competition at Miss Georgia

Miss Atlanta 2006 - Evening Gown Competition at Miss Georgia

I can’t stand looking at these pictures, because I honestly get mad at myself. Why in the world did I not care enough to stay in shape and healthy? What happened in my life to cause me to just let it all go? Are there any viable excuses? I’m hoping to discover the answers to these questions, and others, through this journey to a healthy lifestyle, and I am excited to share them with all of you through this blog.

The funny thing to me is, most people would not classify me as large, fat, overweight, or any of the words that you might be thinking of due to my obvious “disgust” with myself. But, what I have found is that the numbers don’t always add up to what the naked eye sees. Our society views skinny as "healthy", but the core of true health lies within our bodies, not just what we see on the outside.

Over the past 6 years, my life has changed drastically, I will share more as I go along, but here are some of the major changes: I have started a career, got married, and had a baby! None of which are naturally good to your body. Most careers equal sedentariness (is that even a word?), husbands equal man food (pizza, hamburgers, fries...you get the point), and babies equal no sleep! Bad combination!

My precious family - most recent family picture (from almost a year ago), I tend to shy away from the camera!

One day while googling for gyms located around my home, secretly hoping some miracle pill would pop up and magically, overnight make me a size 2 again, I found an advertisement for FREE Zumba at Redefined Fitness - Winder. Like most people, I was skepitcal, thinking, “surely there is a catch”! I checked out their website, Facebook page, advertisements and there was no fine print. I couldn’t believe it. So, I showed up for class, by myself. That was the first step!!! Go me!!! During my pageant years, my talent was singing. I absolutely cannot dance! I was definitely worried that I would look like a fool; but in desperation to find my “workout self” again, I decided I should give it a shot! I mean what did I have to lose – other than my dignity – it was free.

My home away from home - Redefined Fitness-Winder (Redefined Fitness Winder - Facebook) *Photos courtesy of A Touch of Southern Elegance Photography (A Touch of Southern Elegance - Facebook)

This is where I get my Zumba on!

Since my first bootay shaking Zumba class, I have been transformed; some physical transformation but a whole lot of mental transformation! I am now a Member and train 2-3 times a week (CrossFit Style), plus Zumba. Basically, I'm rockin' it :) And, I'm eating Paleo - hell must have froze over, LOL! My relationship with Redefined Fitness is in its infancy, but I have already gained so much: motivation, confidence, looser clothing, forever lost pounds of fat, a hobby, and personal acknowledgement that outside of my relationship with God and my amazing family, my health is the next most important thing – hands down!

I’m excited about this journey, and I hope that you enjoy sharing it with me. Whether you come join us at Redefined Fitness, or whether you pave your own way to health wherever you are, all I ask is that you make your health a priority! At the age of 7, in Ms. Cantrell’s second grade class, I chose my life verse; although I have failed it many times throughout my life, I hold it close to my heart and am striving to build and protect God’s temple through this process of redefinition!

I Corinthians 3:16-17: “Know ye not that ye are the temple of God, and that the Spirit of God dwelleth in you? If any man defile the temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the temple of God is holy, which temple ye are.”

Stay tuned, because there is a WHOLE lot more to come! I will be sharing more about me, if you care to know, and digging deeper into some of the topics I've noted above. Most importantly, I will share lessons and tips on what I am learning at Redefined Fitness – including transformation pics & workout pics and videos – as I become REDEFINED!

Till next time - Allison