The Real Deal Behind My Wellness Journey…No Bullshit!!!
I did lose 75 pounds since the start of my wellness journey, but I will explain why this journey has been about so much more than just weight loss. Are you looking for a way out of the life that is holding you back? Are you ready to unlock all of the power that you already possess and become an unstoppable version of yourself? If you answered yes to these questions keep reading. I will share the step by step guide that will lead you there!!!
My wellness journey officially began in 2011, when I was faced with the hardest thing that I had ever been faced with in my 24 years of life. In 2011 my then husband and I lost conjoined twins. I was 6 months pregnant when I went in for a routine ultrasound that led to devastating news. 5 days later I delivered my twins who were unable to survive after birth due to significant developmental abnormalities.
For a month following this traumatic loss I was going to bed no earlier than 1 am. If I went to bed before I was ready to pass out immediately, I was forced to relive the experience; which was excruciating and I could not handle that. My kids (I had a 1 and 3 year old at the time) were waking up by 6 each day so I was only getting about 4 or 5 hours of sleep. I did manage to get out of bed every morning and shower, take care of my kids, and the basic daily household chores. But this was all I could accomplish, I just couldn't handle more than that.
After that month I knew I had to make a change! I knew if I was going to heal my mind and heart, I was going to have to start with my body! If I could reach physical health, the rest would follow. I started to work out every day and eat whole foods in appropriate portion sizes. As a result I lost all my pregnancy weight and fit back into my pre-pregnancy clothes 9 months later!
Physically I felt great! I had addressed a huge piece to the puzzle; eating healthy whole foods, moving my body daily, and getting more sleep. But by May of 2012 the heaviness of my grief and desire to have another healthy baby, that my ex-husband would not agree to, consumed me. So I started seeing a therapist regularly to address my mental health more directly, and learn healthy coping strategies. Yes, I put in a lot of work to move myself towards wellness! As a caregiver you always need to remind yourself that you need to become a priority to achieve your wellness goals! It’s not being selfish, it’s taking care of you, so you can continue to care for others!!!
However, despite my efforts my wellness journey got derailed…
In January of 2012 I decided to go back to school to earn my degree in Elementary Education. This meant I was raising two kids under 4, working 2 days a week, and working on 2-3 college level classes each semester. So as many of you moms know, I put my family first, then my job, then school and oh yeah, then there was me…but by the time I got to me I had no time or energy left.
By August of 2012 I stopped working to focus on raising my kids and enrolled as a full-time student. Until the end of 2014 I was not going to bed before midnight, because I would have to finish homework after everyone was in bed, and getting up by 6, so again I was not getting the recommended 8 hours of sleep each night.
Most of us will put all our other duties first, meaning we are not taking care of ourselves the way we should. I will share how I changed that, and how in just a few simple steps you can as well!!!
I’ve always had a sweet tooth, but at this point in my life, food was used as a comfort, instead of a means of fueling my body. When I was overwhelmed I ate, when I was sad I ate, and when I felt stressed I ate. I also used the sugar boost to stay up completing course work or writing papers, and used it throughout the day to sustain some form of energy. Food (sugar) was my addiction, my fix, my unhealthy coping strategy.
By 2014 I weighed about 180, and was a size 12 or 14, I started to suffer from carpal tunnel, sleep related issues (like snoring), and my cholesterol and blood sugar levels were elevated. But the worst was experiencing panic attacks on the regular!
I was lethargic and had no energy. There was at least one solid year where all I did, after taking care of my kids and the house, was sit in front of the TV…for hours on end…every day! I hated leaving the house. I didn’t like being in public…I was embarrassed about who might see me, and did not have the energy to leave, because I was always so tired!!!
By 2015 I started my teaching career and by 2018 I had gained a total of 85 pounds and weighed 215 (maybe 220) at my heaviest and was in a size 20 bottoms and an XL (sometimes even an XXL depending on the brand) in tops.
Multiple people had mistaken me for being pregnant, and asked when I was due!!! Then one night I saw an old friend at the grocery store and I left feeling so embarrassed, consumed with shame, by how I looked. It was then, in that moment, something just clicked and I was determined to make a change! My cousin had also just been diagnosed with cancer….
I knew I needed to do this not just for me, but for my kids!!! So with the knowledge I had at the time I started the 2nd attempt at my wellness journey…
These are the habits that created HUGE CHANGE!!!
-I started to drink more water, it was an easy goal, and I focused only on that.
-I incorporated movement; I chose an online platform that had dozens of programs to choose from. I chose a low impact workout I felt would be appropriate for my fitness level and stuck with it.
-I designated a spot in the house as just my “workout” room and started with a yoga mat, some light weights and resistance loops. I did my workout every day after dinner. For me this worked because I couldn’t get up in the mornings, so scheduling my workout during a time of day that I knew I could commit to was crucial to sticking to my movement goals.
-I researched what to eat to lose weight and feel your best, and I incorporated that into my daily practice…eating whole foods in appropriate portion sizes. Sign up for my courses and I will walk you through this individual process step by step!!!
Another crucial element to my wellness journey was to cut sugar out of my diet. I not only craved sugar, I was addicted to it. I could not handle having it in moderation, I would go overboard every time. So many people struggle with the same thing, so please know you are not alone! As someone who has been where you are I have first hand experience of the feelings and daily struggle associated with this addiction. And I earned my Behavior Change Specialization in order to have knowledge of the scientific methods that help individuals change their mindset around food leading to success!!!
Cutting out sugar not only helped me lose weight, but I noticed that without the sugar and processed foods I had more energy…I felt like I was a fully functioning person again, not someone zoned out and running on autopilot. My skin also started to have a glow. My anxiety lessened between the adjustment of food, no sugar, moving my body regularly, and appropriate sleep. And I wasn’t jittery and irritable all the time.
At the start of my wellness journey my end goal was largely focused on a goal weight and clothing size. I weighed myself weekly at first and focused on losing a few pounds at a time. My first goal was to get under 200 pounds. Then the goal was to get under 190, under 180, under 170, under 160 and down to 150. Well, by 2020 I reached my goal weight of 150. My weight went up and down throughout those 2 years, but I did reach my goal weight! I am sharing this to let you know you are not alone, when you experience tricky days! Days that are harder to stay on track! Just keep going and you will see the results you are looking for!!!
I had crept back up to 175 pounds and back down to 155 by 2021. But again, with the stress of life getting in the way and a home remodel underway, I slacked on my workouts and healthy eating habits, and I was back up to 180 by May 2022. And that’s when my ex-husband left me!!!
Well if your husband of 15 years doesn't light a fire under your ass…I’m not sure what will! At that point I was determined to get back to 150 pounds or less. I was not going to let him and his foolishness bring me down. I was going to become the best version of myself possible!!! I was consistently choosing healthy, whole foods at each meal and snack, and I had eliminated sugar again. I began weighing myself daily and focused on losing 2 pounds at a time (small goals). I was also consistent with my workouts, they helped shake off all the unbearable feelings.
Through a time of my life that was so uncertain and out of my control I took advantage of the one thing I could control, moving my body and fueling my body. This was how I survived what I thought for sure would kill me! And it made me better and stronger for my kids who needed every ounce of anything I had left to give!!!
Once I did get back to 150 pounds I became less focused with the number on the scale and focused on how my clothes fit…how I looked and felt in my clothes. Some of my new goals included gaining muscle, or focusing on specific goals around body composition with the different muscle groups on my body. The goal was not to be skinny, the goal was to be toned and tight, (and look good naked, lol)!!!
It took me a while, but through this process I realized the key to feeling so good wasn't just about the number on the scale…the key to my transformation and newly found freedom resulted from caring for and respecting my body! When you do this your body rewards you and every aspect of your life!!!
And in November 2023, I decided I was going to make a career change…I wanted to become a Certified Wellness and Nutrition coach! I wanted a career where I could focus on what I love…Wellness…a career where I could share my passion to help others along their journey to wellness!
Changing my daily habits changed my body, my mind, my access to relationships and the world around me!!! I felt love for myself that I haven’t felt in a very long time, my confidence was back!!! I had energy and the clarity to tackle any goal that I desired!!! I was able to rise above all of the hurt and challenges placed in my life. Without my wellness I would not have been strong enough to survive the toughest days of my life!!!
You have the same potential, and when you are given the right tools, you learn to unlock that potential!!
If you have a desired outcome, set small achievable goals along the way, and stay motivated you can accomplish anything you set your mind to!!!
Like I mentioned earlier, I am going to be real with you…there is no magic pill, no quick easy fix to what you want to accomplish. You need to put in the work, you are going to need to make sacrifices. You will not make a change without those 2 components. And guess what you are going to fail along the way, I know I did, and that’s OK, that’s how we learn, how we change, how we grow!!
You have to become disciplined, because the motivation will not always be there, I can promise you that! I do not look at my movement and healthy eating as an option, I do it even when I’m not motivated, and once I’m done I never regret it. Set small goals, create healthy sustainable habits, stay disciplined and the rest will follow. Your body and your life will be transformed!!! You won’t even believe the possibilities, but they are life changing!!!
There is a quote that says…
Losing weight is hard, being overweight is hard…choose your hard!
And so on and so forth. There will always be two “hards”, so choose your hard wisely! In my experience the hard that many people avoid, is the hard that yields the most rewarding outcome and the hard that many people gravitate towards because it seems easy at the time yields negative consequences.
Eating whole foods, moving your body, and getting enough sleep are the goals that should take priority and the rewarding outcomes will follow…just one of them being weight loss!!! Some other amazing benefits include, having more energy, experiencing less health related issues, increased mental and emotional health, which allows you access to so many opportunities in your life!!! And if you are a parent, your kids are learning about wellness by watching your example.
Are you ready to have more energy, experience less health related issues, and increase your mental and emotional health? Are you ready to make changes that will make the life you only dream about right now a reality?
From someone who has been where you are, believe me when I say that the life I am living, creating right now, the goals that I am able to accomplish right now, the opportunities that I have access to are only possible because I choose to fuel my body with healthy food, I choose to move my body, I choose to get enough sleep, and I choose to care for mental and emotional well-being!
If you are ready to take control of your body, your health, your life…I want to help!!! Sign up for my courses and I will walk you through the steps that will help you achieve goals towards your own life-changing transformation!!! No bullshit, no judgement, just guidance from someone who has found freedom in her own wellness journey and wants to share that with you because you deserve it too!!!