By Maria Ferreira, Member at Renaissance ClubSport Walnut Creek

 

I never thought I would end up overweight. I had spent most of my life as a very fit and competitive runner, so I exercised a lot. But at 53 years old, as a mother of two with a very stressful job that required lots of travel and commuting, I found myself with 20 pounds too many. Unable to lose the weight on my own, I knew I had to do something different.

 

There are plenty of ways to lose weight, whether it's by tracking every calorie you put in your body, jumping on the trendiest workout, or enlisting the help of the baddest personal trainer around. And now, thanks to smartphones and tablets, it's easier than ever to get in shape whenever wherever.

If you've ever lost weight, you know it typically starts with looking at yourself in the mirror, seeing the few extra pounds that have gathered around your waist, and wanting a change. In my case, no mirror was needed — my body was telling me I needed a change.

If you have struggled to lose weight or keep it off, your hormones might be the culprit. Microscopic as they are, hormones hold extraordinary power, as they control every aspect of weight loss, including your metabolism, where you store your fat, your appetite, and even your cravings!

Over the past several years, my life had been defined by the stresses of work and life as a single parent living in a city just north of Los Angeles. At work, I routinely clocked over 60 hours a week in a high-stress environment, and I found myself in the habit of winding down with several glasses of wine with dinner and dessert most nights. The only nice gym was 30 minutes away, and I was unwilling to spend that kind of time driving to work out, especially with a son at home.

By Anuj Dua, Member of ClubSport San Jose

 

I ran my first Bridge to Bridge race in San Francisco this year — a 12K run that began at the Ferry Building in and ended at the Marina Green. While the run was grueling, any fatigue was well masked by glorious views of the bay and the Bollywood playlist pounding in my ears.