generic welcome message here :]

Hey everyone!  So this is a health, wellness, and fitness blog that I am creating to not only assist me in my journey toward overall health, but to give others help, too!  I guess I can give a little background first.  For the last five years of my life, I have competed at the college level in the heptathlon (seven events--whoooaaa!!!).  It was only in the last two years or so that I started to get more in tune with my body and what it needs and (surprise!) those are the years that I really started to perform at a high level in my event.

Jumping was my best event!  ;]

That being said, I am trying to get more in tune with my body and it's nutritional and fitness needs.  It's going to be especially challenging for me for a couple of reasons:

1. I am living with my parents who don't exactly follow a great diet plan :/
2. This is my first time in 11 years of having no competitive reason to workout

My dad is a super-picky eater, so it's really difficult to incorporate fresh fruits and veggies into meals at home.  It just becomes a family issue.  It's so unhealthy, and he desperately needs to be healthier, but he is pretty stubborn.  There might be a bright side though!  Although I walked in May for graduation, I still need to complete field experience for one credit by December, so I might be back on my own at school in September, doing research for a professor.  And if I'm not, that means that I got a job and will be on my own...someplace else! :]

My only competition on the horizon is the Alumni Track and Field meet in January of next year a pentathlon at the beginning of February.  It's just weird not having a set workout written for me and teammates to complete it with.  Another bright side, if I am back at school this fall, I have a friend who is also an alum who will definitely train with me--at least for the running workouts.

I'm hoping to post a couple of times a week about different foods, recipes, workouts, etc.  It might be kind of a rocky start, but bear with me!  The first few days/weeks will be more of formulating a plan/philosophy.  There are a few out there with components that I really like, so I am hoping to combine them all into something that will work for me.

Finally, there is the boring disclaimer that I am not a doctor, dietitian, personal trainer, etc.  I am just going to try to figure out what works for me and hopefully inspire others in the process!

Stay fit!

xoxo