My Fitness Journey

Well, really my journey to a Fit lifestyle began a few months before I got married. I went on a hike to Timpanogos Cave in Utah. It is not that hard of a hike. The trail is paved into the cave, it is just long and has a lot of switchbacks. I was fine going up and all through the cave, it was the journey down that got me.

Me on the way down from Timp

 My legs felt like they were on FIRE. Like all the blood had rushed to them and I felt like they were going to burn off. It was really disconcerting. I made it down and was fine after I put my legs up, but that incident made me realize what had happened to me. I was no longer just automatically fit.

All growing up I was a pretty active kid. I never thought about exercising except in gym class, and then for Jr. Miss pageant. But even for that I didn't really have to work hard. I just had to do some push-ups and I went on the elliptical a few times. I despised running until very recently. I think that was from early childhood experiences of being forced to run the mile in Houston with 95 degree weather and almost 100% humidity. I danced and I did gymnastics and I rode my bike around.

Even in college I was generally just active. I took dance classes for fun and Aerobics and figure skating. I got a knee injury from a car accident that forced me to do physical therapy so it didn't hurt all the time, and I had a bike that I rode around campus. It was way cute and had an awesome basket.

Me and my old bike before the basket

So what I'm getting at is I didn't start out as a 500 lbs person. This fitness journey started because I started to actually take classes for my major, I stopped dancing, and got a desk job after graduation.  My life came to a halt physically. I just felt like I didn't have time to do active things anymore. I wanted to hang out with my new husband more. Don't worry, this is where I tell you the good part.

I went to some more school to train to be an ASL interpreter at Utah Valley University after graduating from BYU. I met an amazing person, Anna. She showed me how even small, naturally skinny people need exercise. I was like, huh, really? So I joined her fit club, and we did Brazil Butt Lift by Beachbody. I could not walk down the stairs after the workout. My butt hurt SO bad. And it hurt for DAYS after. So of course I told her I needed it. She had me join a challenge group and start drinking Shakeology, and she changed my life. I'll talk more about each video I've done since then and have a post just about Shakeology, but for now you just have to know that even skinny people have a before picture and a beginning to fitness.

May 2012

I'll show you guys my progress later, but here you have it. My weight hasn't changed at all since I began, but I am stronger, healthier and happier. I have run a half marathon, and I live more healthy. What is most important though is that I inspire others to be healthy. So there you have the beginning of Coach Miche. Feel free to contact me.