Ever wonder what’s a Healthy Tipping Point?
I wasn’t always the healthiest person. In fact, I spent most of my college years drinking beer and partyin’ way too hard. I spent most days on the couch and many nights at the bar! As a result, I was constantly exhausted and emotionally burnt out. But in 2006, my best friend Lauren sat me down and told me enough was enough – I either needed to shape up or shut up. I was inspired by her straightforward approach and went out on a short run with her. I could barely go 1/4 a mile without stopping, but something about the experience appealed to me. As I transitioned from a college student to a full time worker, I began to take exercise more seriously, and in two months, I trained for my first race. When I crossed the finish line of my 10K, I felt proud, excited, and confident. And I never looked back!
With that first 10K, I had found my Healthy Tipping Point. A Tipping Point refers to a sociological event during which a previously rare phenomenon becomes rapidly and dramatically more common. Malcolm Gladwell wrote a book called The Tipping Point, and he describes the Tipping Point as "the levels at which the momentum for change becomes unstoppable."
To me, the Healthy Tipping Point is when we start to pay attention to our health and happiness and begin to make the positive changes necessary to live a longer, more fulfilling life. We become proactive participants in our lives and strive to find balance in the way we approach diet and exercise.
A few years later, Lauren and I ran the Disney Marathon together, which was very emotionally significant for me. It was like my Healthy Tipping Point had come full circle.
My foodie Healthy Tipping Point came slowly as I began to read books and movies about our food industry. Here’s a list of books and movies that changed the way I eat.
Over the years, I’ve profiled other women who had a significant Healthy Tipping Point, too.
Amy, a mother who lost 20 pounds and became a triathlete and runner:
Jenny, who was inspired by Lance Armstrong to get fit and ride a Century race:
Carrie H, who beat distorted thinking and eating and went on to run a marathon:
Have you had a Healthy Tipping Point? Was there a significant moment that triggered it, or was it a slow process? Share your story – I’m collecting stories of HTPs!
PS – I’m flying back to the East Coast today!
My tipping point was probably my first year of university. That’s when I decided I had plenty of time to add exercise to my daily routine.
…eating well only came about recently. It was slow and gradual and there was nothing that really pushed me to start eating better.