On March 12, 2016, I went snowboarding for the first time at Snow Summit, Big Bear. Starting off was a challenge since #1: I never snowboarded in my life and #2: I don't have a good sense of balance on a board. My biggest challenge at the beginning was learning how to get up with the board every time I fell. But luckily, my boyfriend had patience with me and I eventually got it. After a few trials, I got the "heeling" part down. I think that's pretty good for a first timer. But going down the hill just "heeling" gets pretty tiring. It's definitely a leg and thigh workout but THANK GOD I work out my legs and thighs at the gym. My boyfriend tried teaching me to "toe" on the board but I couldn't get that down since the snowboarding boots that I borrowed were a tad bit big. So I decided to just practice on my "heeling" the rest of the time...UNTIL! Everything was fine, I was heeling down the hill, but I guess I got pretty tired that instead of my stopping, I kind of just gave out and face planted HARD. I knew that was my last run for the day (I mean season) since I could barely breathe and it was very difficult to get up. A little over a week later and my ribs are still bruised. But, I loved learning how to snowboard so much that I can't wait for next year!

It's been a year since I decided to embark on a new journey in my life - to get healthy and fit. I remember waking up one day and just thought "I need to do something." But to be honest, I couldn't pin point what I needed to do. It wasn't till then that it hit me...I NEEDED TO LOSE WEIGHT. I've always been a big girl growing up so it was something that I was comfortable, yet uncomfortable, with (if that makes sense). I first started off small. I started eating a little more healthy and walking every day at a local park for an hour. After a few months, I started to go to the gym (which I had a membership for a year already). As months passed, everyone saw a difference, except me. What encouraged me even more was at my old job, a few coworkers and I wanted to do The Biggest Loser challenge. Everyone put in $25 in a pool and whoever lost the most weight won. To my surprise, I WON! After that, it was more of losing weight little by little. I continued to watch what I ate, always finding healthier alternatives whenever I was craving anything starchy. I also changed my routine of workout. After meeting my personal trainer (I mean, my boyfriend lol), he taught me several exercises I can do at the gym - focusing on different parts of my body each day. I feel a lot stronger! After being on this journey for a year, I am proud to say I have lost 81 pounds! Friends have come up to me or messaged me saying that I inspired them to get healthy and fit and to be honest, it is such a humbling feeling. I'm glad that I can make a small impact on other people's lives. People ask me all the time what my goal is. At first, it was just to lose weight. But after being on this incredible journey for a year, I just want to maintain a healthy lifestyle and hopefully continue to inspire others as well!