RunToTheFinish is a place to provide motivation to myself and others in this crazy journey of living healthy. I fully believe that running has allowed me to learn more about myself and enjoy life in new ways. During my weight loss and fitness journey I have learned that being healthy is about how you fuel your body, how you feel about your body and how you choose to live every day.
In the beginning of my healthy living journey, I knew only that running made me joyful so I just kept doing it. In the last few years, I have expanded my horizons and realized that active living in general makes my life full and fantastic. Which means now I do yoga, kick boxing, swimming, biking, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, meditation, healthy cooking and any other activity I can find! I am always ready to try new things and share them here…sweaty, goofy details and all.
AMANDA BROOKS
A short run down….
I grew up in Kansas City as an only child with two pretty awesome parents. I played every sport imaginable and was always told I stunk at running.
I moved to Miami {yes Florida!} in 2009 with my husband and now live in Orlando.
I graduated from Mizzou in 2003 with a degree in Journalism which was fueled by my desire to follow my passion of writing. Instead after college I found an amazing job with a company that allowed me to spend 9 years developing my analytical thinking skills by providing online consulting services to Fortune 500 companies around the US.
Shortly after graduation, I also met my husband. We were married in the world’s weirdest weather horrifying ceremony on March 29, 2008 and as with everything in our marriage he taught me how to roll with the punches and keep on laughing.
We have two kitties that are showered with love and may be our only children…who knows.
WHERE YOU'VE SEEN ME
RUNNING
During my junior year of college a few friends wanted to run the Nashville Rock N Roll half marathon and I figured it was a great way to spend time together…so I went from faking knee pain to running…and I never looked back. After that very first race, I found within myself a new deep sense of pride.
I’ve never been terribly interested in racing because that creates a pressure around running. I simply run 50 mile weeks because I can and I want to…that’s not to say that I haven’t raced and enjoyed many of these experiences!! You can read all of my race reports and find out which one’s I really loved on my Race Reports page.
WEIGHT LOSS
I did life backwards in some ways…I was at my heaviest weight my senior year of high school. While most women look back on that body with longing, I couldn't be happier with where I am today!
In college I began losing some weight, but it was only after graduation that I started learning more about good nutrition. Since then I have transitioned to focus on eating lots of fruits and veggies, rather than NOT eating things. Anyone around me can tell you I still fully enjoy chocolate…but I try to balance those with lots of really yummy healthy foods.
I have maintained a 35 pound weight loss for 8 years now and more importantly to me…I’ve continued to watch my body change even when the weight hasn’t! It's a great freedom to let go of the scale as a yardstick for how happy you feel.
GOALS
I have so many goals and so many hopes for life that you will see weekly goal posts. My primary life goal is to continue growing every day in to a better person and as Oprah would say "live my best life".
During different points you may see goals to hit a certain time or complete a certain race, but those are secondary to enjoying each moment, traveling the world, loving my husband, being a great daughter, being good at my job and laughing…lots of laughing.
LINKS
Race Reports
Weird Wedding Story
Weight loss Process
Our move to Miami
Why I blog
Ovary Diaries - My estrogen issue
One other thing you will see here at RunToTheFinish is a daily gratitude journal. This is my way of remembering that life is wonderful and it’s been exciting to see many of you adopt the daily gratitude journal in your own blogs!
CONTACT
I love hearing from you so please reach out at any time: contact Amanda Brooks
You should follow me on Twitter here
You should follow me on Facebook here
You can connect with me on Google+ here
You can also watch me on YouTube
In the beginning of my healthy living journey, I knew only that running made me joyful so I just kept doing it. In the last few years, I have expanded my horizons and realized that active living in general makes my life full and fantastic. Which means now I do yoga, kick boxing, swimming, biking, stand up paddle boarding, kayaking, meditation, healthy cooking and any other activity I can find! I am always ready to try new things and share them here…sweaty, goofy details and all.AMANDA BROOKS
A short run down….
I grew up in Kansas City as an only child with two pretty awesome parents. I played every sport imaginable and was always told I stunk at running.
I moved to Miami {yes Florida!} in 2009 with my husband and now live in Orlando.
I graduated from Mizzou in 2003 with a degree in Journalism which was fueled by my desire to follow my passion of writing. Instead after college I found an amazing job with a company that allowed me to spend 9 years developing my analytical thinking skills by providing online consulting services to Fortune 500 companies around the US.
Shortly after graduation, I also met my husband. We were married in the world’s weirdest weather horrifying ceremony on March 29, 2008 and as with everything in our marriage he taught me how to roll with the punches and keep on laughing.
We have two kitties that are showered with love and may be our only children…who knows.
WHERE YOU'VE SEEN ME
RUNNING
During my junior year of college a few friends wanted to run the Nashville Rock N Roll half marathon and I figured it was a great way to spend time together…so I went from faking knee pain to running…and I never looked back. After that very first race, I found within myself a new deep sense of pride.
I’ve never been terribly interested in racing because that creates a pressure around running. I simply run 50 mile weeks because I can and I want to…that’s not to say that I haven’t raced and enjoyed many of these experiences!! You can read all of my race reports and find out which one’s I really loved on my Race Reports page.
WEIGHT LOSS
I did life backwards in some ways…I was at my heaviest weight my senior year of high school. While most women look back on that body with longing, I couldn't be happier with where I am today!
In college I began losing some weight, but it was only after graduation that I started learning more about good nutrition. Since then I have transitioned to focus on eating lots of fruits and veggies, rather than NOT eating things. Anyone around me can tell you I still fully enjoy chocolate…but I try to balance those with lots of really yummy healthy foods.
I have maintained a 35 pound weight loss for 8 years now and more importantly to me…I’ve continued to watch my body change even when the weight hasn’t! It's a great freedom to let go of the scale as a yardstick for how happy you feel.
GOALS
I have so many goals and so many hopes for life that you will see weekly goal posts. My primary life goal is to continue growing every day in to a better person and as Oprah would say "live my best life".
During different points you may see goals to hit a certain time or complete a certain race, but those are secondary to enjoying each moment, traveling the world, loving my husband, being a great daughter, being good at my job and laughing…lots of laughing.
LINKS
Race Reports
Weird Wedding Story
Weight loss Process
Our move to Miami
Why I blog
Ovary Diaries - My estrogen issue
One other thing you will see here at RunToTheFinish is a daily gratitude journal. This is my way of remembering that life is wonderful and it’s been exciting to see many of you adopt the daily gratitude journal in your own blogs!
CONTACT
I love hearing from you so please reach out at any time: contact Amanda Brooks
You should follow me on Twitter here
You should follow me on Facebook here
You can connect with me on Google+ here
You can also watch me on YouTube
