"I’ve been 20 pounds overweight for most of my life. Never have I ever felt confident in my own skin. One day while sitting at my computer I saw a Groupon for Step It Up. Something came over me and I made a split second decision. I signed up without allowing myself the time to get out of it.
That [first] evening I found myself running, jumping, and crawling around on an open field. It was awful that first month. I had scratches and bruises and my muscles ached something terrible, but I couldn’t give up. I told myself that it was okay to stop, but only after I completed one month.
I’m glad I stuck it out, because I realized that I had reached an awesome goal by completing one month and so I set another goal to do another month and then another month... "
And before she knew it, a year had passed. Now 20 pounds lighter, her life now revolves around health and fitness.
"I used to think it was impossible to find time to work-out and also find time for my family. My perspective has completely changed. I have found ways to work-out while my husband and daughter sleep and I run during my lunch break at work. I can only go a day or two now without exercising before I start to get restless. In addition to boot camp, I started running in March. I ran my first 5K and am now training for my first half marathon in November!"
Diana with her daughter before boot camp
The New Diana at the Warrior Dash
Diana not only feels better about herself, but her friends, family and coworkers have taken notice too.
"The greatest compliment I get is when people come to me asking about my routines and success. I get it all the time. My company is moving downtown and one of my bosses recently told me that he already expects to see me as a regular running around Centennial Park. Who? Me?!!! Absolutely!"
Think you can't do it?
"My first mile [on day one] was somewhere a little over 12 minutes and I couldn’t run the whole time. I now do a flat mile in about 8 minutes. I actually did a mile in 7:45 on the treadmill recently."
Her advice to new campers or vets who are struggling?
"Being overweight and out of shape is much more uncomfortable than any workout. Life is too short to live in a body that you never really feel like is your own. Make small goals and follow through. After so many times of doing that you will realize you have actually accomplished something HUGE! Don’t give up."
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