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UPDATE: JULY 2011
I am no longer vegan, but did enjoy the year I was vegan. I got great results. I have now incorporated lean meats and protein back into my diet. This helps me with my running and to keep solid muscle.
I still workout to Chalean Extreme and P90X. I rotate them to meet my needs. I started Fit Clubs in my hometown for both of these programs and that is a great way to meet others and workout together with lots of support and encouragement.
UPDATE: SEPTEMBER 2010
I have continued improving my diet by becoming vegan on February 5th of this year. I took the challenge of Missy Costello's 30 day vegan cleanse back in March and it made a huge impact. Taking meat and dairy out of my diet totally changed my body composition and increased my energy levels by ten fold. MY body weight is the lowest and it has been since my days of competitive college running. My muscles have lots of definition and my body works with me rather than against me. I continue to run, mainly mountain races and strength train to Chalean Extreme and P90X.

I have never been more than 8-10 pounds overweight and I don't have a dramatic before and after picture to show off, but that does not mean I haven't battled in my journey to finding true fitness and health. My battle was not obvious like that of someone who is overweight. My battle was hidden and kept in the closet most of my life.

I grew up in an athletic family, and luckily, I found running at the age of fourteen. I became good enough to earn a college scholarship. I also ran competitively after college. Even though athletics were important in my family, eating healthy was not. My favorite foods were Ding Dongs, Little Debbie Cakes and my mom's homemade chocolate chip cookies. I loved drinking Dr. Pepper with meals, and fast food was a fun family outing. I continued eating this way into adulthood, but because I ran so much I was able to maintain a decent weight. Although, my core area was never solid, and my arms had no muscularity. Running did not strengthen these areas, and running was my only form of exercise.

As I got into my late twenties I began having many problems. I suffered from extreme fatigue and lethargy. I could barely make it to the end of the work day. I was also very moody. My emotions would change at the drop of a hat, going either way up or way down. I battled depression. I was always sad and often felt hopeless about life. To make matters worse, I had pounding headaches a few times per week. Finally, I was having a difficult time recovering from a long run or track workout. It had gotten so bad that I was using food for emotional comfort. A bag of Chips Ahoy Cookies was my best friend when I was feeling blue. I did not realize this type of eating was what was fueling my depression, tiredness, and all the other physical problems I was experiencing. Plus,to prove how clueless I was, I judged overweight people and believed they were that way just because they refused to exercise, and if they would speed walk or run like me they would be fine. I truly believed that was all there was to it, but I was not fine at all.

It was not until just six years ago that I decided to try eating healthy. My husband convinced me to try a detox from sugar. It was hard and painful, but I managed to complete the detox. I slowed down on the fast food, and I even started eating organic from Whole Foods. This was great and helped a lot, but I still had that emotional attachment to sugar. I ended up detoxing a total of four times because I kept going back to it. It was like being an alcoholic. I just did not want to give it up, even though it wreaked havoc on my health and emotional well being.
I had a final relapse after giving birth to my 3rd child in November, 2006. I was again making poor food choices and I had no desire to run. Trying to go out the door to jog was so difficult for me, but this was the only form of exercise I had ever known. I was not interested in trying something else, and I surely did not want to go to a gym. Once again, I started using desserts to bring me comfort from taking care of a newborn and a 2 year old, plus teaching 5th grade. I was about to throw in the towel and accept being almost 10 pounds over weight, and the way I was eating was sure to add more pounds.

In January of 2007, my husband found Team Beach Body and P90X. He was enjoying doing the workouts and getting into the best shape of his life. He told me I should try the Kenpo X workout, and maybe it would be something different I would like to try. It took me until April to push play, but I finally did and my husband was right. I did like it. It was fun, and it felt good to move my body like that. I began looking more into this P90X program. I tried some other workouts and could only do a few minutes of most of them, but I decided I would keep trying until I could complete entire workouts. I also looked at the nutrition guide. I read it carefully, from cover to cover. It actually made sense. I had to follow a healthy eating plan to get results. I really wanted to get the results it promised, so for the first time in my life I truly committed to eating right. Plus, Tony would sometimes make comments about food during a workout. His comments really caught my attention. One that stands out is in the chest and back workout on a water break and he says, “I don't want you to run into the other room and get a nasty Crispy Cream or something.” I got it! It was like a light bulb went off in my head. If I eat donuts after I workout I have defeated the whole purpose of working out to be healthy and fit. I cannot fuel my body properly by eating foods that are not nourishing to my body.
Fast forward to over 4 years later and I am still getting it. I am still eating healthy and I am still working out to P90X and now the PLUS! My core is stronger than I ever imagined possible. My abs are no longer soft! They are firm and solid. My arms have muscle cuts in them, and my legs have both strength and endurance. I also started running again, and even ran in a half marathon recently. I may have a dessert on occasion, but it is not something that is an everyday part of my life anymore. I would not dare put a ding dong to my lips let alone eat one, and I NEVER eat fast food or drink sodas. I am not even tempted.

I am loving being a part of Team Beach Body. My husband is my coach. I have made so many on line friends from across the U. S. who help me keep going and help me stick to my goals. It has been the best ride of my life and I am not getting off! Thanks to my husband, Team BB, and P90X my life has been changed for the better forever. I have plenty of energy all day long, I am rarely moody and never depressed. Headaches are rare occasions and I recover so much quicker after a hard run than I used to. I am thankful for the healing that has taken place in my life. I am now free from the chains of fast food and sugar. Team BB literally save my life!