This post is about my transformation. I will show you where I started and where I am today. I will share specific details about how I was able to reach my goals in future posts.
I have always struggled with my weight and consequently my health.
Flashback to high school: I was an overweight teenager, and I was already at risk for developing high blood pressure because of my eating habits and lack of regular exercise. I turned to junk food when stressed or upset about anything, and I used dining out as a reward or when celebrating something. Honestly I was always eating, and when I got to choose the meal, it was seldom healthy. Unfortunately I was not one of those people who could eat whatever and not gain weight. In fact, I'm convinced I gain weight just by smelling food.
Jumping ahead to college, I realized very quickly that the freshman 15 is a real thing! I was a cheerleader in high school, so I did have to participate in some kind of physical activity after school during the season, but in college, I would have to choose to exercise. And this girl choose extra fries instead. I thought it was comical that I could eat an entire pizza with a side of breadsticks followed by a pint of ice cream in once sitting. (Side note: looking back on these habits now, I think I was trying to avoid facing myself. It is easier to laugh and joke than to confront the problem head on.) Anyway what wasn't funny was gaining ten pounds on top of that freshman 15 during my first semester in college. Through extreme dieting, I was actually able to get down to the smallest size I had seen as a young adult. However since I could not sustain the diet, and I reverted back to my old ways of eating, I found all that weight I had lost. I went through this cycle twice before graduation, ending on a heavier note.
Healthy relationships are good for the soul but so bad for the waistline...well mine at least.
I graduated in 2015 and started dating Andy, my now amazing husband, in 2016. Our relationship is the healthiest and most positive relationship I have ever been in (literally), so I got very comfortable very quickly with Andy.
At this point, you have probably picked up on the fact that I love food, and I am not afraid to show it. Definitely not one of those girls who only orders a side salad at dinner or won't eat in front of a boyfriend. I was confident in my relationship with Andy, so I guess I was not necessarily focused on how my food choices where negatively impacting my health and weight.
Between Taco Tuesdays and trying to earn that free Domino's pizza (which takes six ten dollar orders by the way), I found even more weight and other various health problems over the next couple of years. I was having trouble sleeping at night, I started getting migraines regularly, my blood pressure was really high, my joints hurt, and I just felt like crap all the time. When we got married at the end of 2017, I was the heaviest and most unhealthy I have ever been. I will say I was the happiest I have ever been in my life, but my body did not match that mental state.
My breaking point, health wise, was right before Andy deployed. I flew out to Texas to visit him, and we literally spent the entire weekend eating. At one point we ate a meal, and we both acknowledged we weren't even hungry. Side note: Andy is one of those people that can eat what he wants and barely notices a change. He gained a little weight while we were dating but lost a ton during some annual trainings he had to complete for the military as well as preparing for PT tests. Weight, specifically gaining weight, has never been a topic of discussion for us since there is so much more to a relationship than how much one person weighs.
When I got home from Texas and got on the scale, I weighed 238 pounds. I was shocked. I couldn't fit into any of my clothes, and even my wedding ring and onyx were too tight to wear! All I could think was how did I let this happen? Please do not get offended as I say this. If you are comfortable being near this weight, at this weight, or above this weight, then you rock! However I was not comfortable. I had gained 40 pounds in the past two years, and I hated it. I hated the way I felt, and to be completely candid, I hated the way I looked. Once again, please do not get offended. It is seriously amazing if you love the way you look at whatever size you are. I personally just didn't feel like myself.
I decided in that moment I needed to change my lifestyle if I wanted to feel better about myself. Part of this statement was vanity, but the larger part was health; I did want to look better, but I also wanted to feel better.
I will go into way more detail about how and what I changed in future posts, but for now I will just give you a brief summary. I changed my eating habits and started going to the gym regularly. I found accountability partners and sources of inspiration. I started rewarding myself in new ways, and I stopped using food as a source of comfort.
As of today I have lost 75 pounds, but more importantly I can walk up the stairs without getting winded, I can fit into ALL my clothes including my rings, I can go to the gym and complete an hour and a half workout anxiety free, I don't have high blood pressure, I can sleep through the night and wake up rested, and I use food as fuel...well the majority of the time because your girl still loves some mint chocolate chip ice cream!
As of today I can say that I have never felt better about myself. I am the happiest and healthiest I have ever been.
Unfortunately I do not have any secrets to weight loss and living a healthy lifestyle. I have just found a system that works for me. I plan on sharing a detailed piece of my story weekly with anyone willing to read my posts. I hope my story can be inspiring to others who have experienced the same struggles I have, so thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I am NOT an expert when it comes to exercise, dieting, nutrition, mental health etc.
However I do try to educate myself using reliable sources in order to be safe and healthy. Just because something works/worked for me does not mean it will work for everyone. The purpose of this blog is to inspire others with a story about continued hard work, dedication, and self love.
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