In the past several years, for a variety of reasons, I went from being in the most amazing physically fit shape to being very out of shape.  I have struggled to get back into a routine and deal with various minor issues that cause pain and make it difficult, yet I know that if I can get past the initial phase and get back in a routine, that ultimately I will feel better and hurt less. 

This photo below, from an exhibit 2 and a half years ago is when it really hit me.  I am on the far left in the hat (we were purposely dressing silly).  It hit me that no matter how I felt I looked, the reality was something different.  I no longer looked like "me".  And while all my friends told me that is not how you look or even worse that I look fine in the picture I knew I wasn't at my best. 

I had always been the naturally skinny girl or the fit girl, the girl obsessed with some form of exercise or another.  It came easy to me.  I never had to try.  Now I find myself overweight with back pains and neck pains and hating all of my clothing and all clothing in the mall too.  I had to find new shops to buy from as the stores I used to shop from didn't carry my new size.  Finding pants that are comfortable, don't pull in one place or another and look good is impossible.  I can dress slimming but feel uncomfortable or I can dress comfortable (like the picture) and have no shape at all.  And even when I feel like I look good, I catch myself in the mirror and realize I look nothing like my mind is picturing.

So starting today, I am embarking on a workout challenge with a group of friends online run by a fellow photographer and fitness enthusiast friend Laura Evans (send me a message if you want more information on the details of that) and I am going to stick with it.  It is my number one priority after family and work.  I have already been doing short cardio workouts twice a week for a month but I need to step it up big time.

I will try to share my journey back to fitness periodically too.  If you have gone from out of shape to in shape, I'd love to hear your story in my comments here or on Facebook.