Brownies.

For the past week I have searched.
Searched for my story to start this blog.
How did I get here?  What was it like before?  Was it really that bad?  Where am I going and what am I doing?

Hi, I'm Sherena and I'm an on/off exerciser and dieter.
That's that best I could come up with.

Most of my life I have battled to find my body/weight happy state and, today, I feel I am almost there.  I have tried everything out there.
A weight loss pill?  I've probably ingested it.  Thanks for the water weight loss.
A detox pill?  Done that.  I'd probably entertain the thought more often but don't want to live on the toilet for days.
An exercise program?  I've just finally gotten addicted to exercise programs (after having Insanity for over two years hiding in my closet).
A diet plan?  I've clogged my arteries with Atkins (and stuffed brownies in my mouth secretly).  I've tried living on vegetables and nothing more.  Back to the toilet I go.

So here I am today living a happy medium.  You'll never find me posing in my bikini... or showing you my muscles/abs/butt.  But you might find me sweating profusely with a german shepherd at my side running the country roads.

Running.

Running has been my saving grace.  I HATED running up until I felt lost in life.  I was in the middle of a short-term break up the winter of 2011 and 2012 and needed some sort of release.  I knew I couldn't drown my sorrows away on alcohol (well, I tried.  Oreos were involved too.  And that wasn't flattering.  I love you Norah Jones... but you, me, alcohol, and a video camera do not mix well singing my sorrows away at 1am.)
Running helped me get rid of my current state then of anxiety, depression, frustration, and opened me up to a whole new person I never knew before.  I had never pushed my body and my mind.  My mind?  Sure!  I finished school.  I was in management.  I thought I had enough going on in my mind.  There's nothing better than pushing both though... AT. THE. SAME. TIME.

I started running on my lunch breaks at work.  Then it turned into running after work with a great group of people.  Then it turned into running my first run "race" ever, CrazyLegs.  And 4.9 miles at that!
I've been hooked ever since.
I'm hooked to the euphoria of running an amazing long distance.
I'm hooked to running a personal record (PR) for a mile or two.
I'm hooked at loving what running has done for my body and mind.
I'm hooked on that tight muscle feeling after a good run the next morning!
My longest run to date is 10 miles.
This summer I plan to run a half marathon.

I have also incorporated other training into my running - Beachbody work outs. 
Remember that Insanity DVD I had sitting in my closet?  I use that to mix up my work outs.
To incorporate weight lifting, I started working out to ChaLean Extreme.
For better nutrition and health, I started drinking Shakeology.
The combination has me sitting here today saying, "Hey... I kinda like where I am right now.  With everything.  Mentally.  Physically.  Except you Shawn T... you are inhuman."

So I'll be blogging about various topics, rants, information, etc.
- My work outs (and funny/inappropriate things I yell at the trainers)
- My nutrition (at times my biggest pitfall)
- Interesting situations
- Successes and epic fails
- Information I find helpful

Sometimes people, especially those who know me today and 10/15 years ago, look at me like I'm crazy.  Or I'm going through a fad.  Two years later and I still love running.  And already have races lined up this spring.
I intend to make this a lifestyle change.
No more closet stuffing brownies for me!