I want to be honest with you – I used to be overweight. And miserable. And disgusted with myself. And embarrassed. I had no self esteem. I wore baggy clothes to hide my stomach and large derriere. My thighs rubbed together when I walked. My stomach stuck out farther than my chest. I felt ugly. I felt out of control. On the outside I seemed happy, but really I just wanted to hide. The larger I got, the more that I, subconsciously, was hiding from the world.
I’m sitting here eating a steak dinner with a side of asparagus that I cooked myself and I just realized, literally in this moment, how far I’ve come. Today I took two workout classes – kickboxing and spinning. I sweat a lot during those classes – so much that the class actually fogged up the mirrors! But I kept up with everyone. I got through it. I didn’t quit. 14 years ago, at my heaviest, which was 45 pounds and 4 sizes larger, a whole 2 minutes on a Stairmaster was the most that I could do. 2 MINUTES…. I’m not even kidding. I got off that Stairmaster and waddled away – a “swishing” sound with each step as my workout pants rubbed together because of my touching thighs. But today I worked out for two hours. And I feel STRONG! I don’t normally work out for two hours, but today was a special day because my favorite instructor was teaching his final two classes at my gym. And I did it, along with about 50 other women.
It’s amazing how your food choices automatically start to change when you exercise and challenge your body. Feeling sore is a nice reminder of just what your body can do, so why ruin it with a bunch of chips or cookies or fast food? 14 years ago, my dinner would have been pizza or Taco Bell or chicken nuggets and French fries or McDonald’s or an entire box of cereal. Today it’s steak and asparagus. And I feel satiated. In fact, I now love food! Food used to be my enemy. It used to SCARE ME. It had control over me. Today I have control over it. It helps me to feel strong and to get even stronger. I’ve been studying nutrition for 7 years now. I know what each morsel of food will do in my body when I eat it. It’s fascinating! Food and I are now friends. We respect each other.
I turned a year older a few days ago, on April 11th – I’m 34 to be exact. I feel 25 and apparently I still look 25, but I can only attribute that to food choices and exercise. This year I had to make a list of commitments to turn into my mentor. I had to list what I wanted to accomplish this year. One of my commitments was that I want to be the strongest, physically, that I have ever been. My first step? I just signed up for my first 5K. I actually hate running, so this is the perfect challenge for me! Feel the fear and do it anyway – that’s my motto!
Why is this commitment to be strong physically so important to me? Because I remember, very vividly, when I felt my weakest. When everything jiggled when I walked. When I wore baggy clothes. When I was easily out of breath. When my eyes looked down as I walked past people. When I wanted to hide.
I no longer want to hide. Yesterday, on April 12th, one day after my birthday, I officially became a published author. I wrote in a book called “The Wellness Code” with 25 other wellness experts. Me? A published author? On WELLNESS? 14 years ago, I would have laughed at you while stuffing my face with chocolate chip cookies. That book is now out for the world to see on Amazon. But you know what will be the scariest of all? When I come out with MY personal story. The one I started writing in 2008 at 3:00am. The one that tells you all that I went through at my lowest, and then how I slowly crawled my way out of it. That story is called “Lose Your Inches Without Losing Your Mind!”© because I truly, at that moment, had lost my mind and didn’t know who I was.
My passion is to help millions of people be happy and healthy. I am passionate because I’ve been there. I’ve felt those lows. If I can get out of if, so can you.
The last thing I’ll leave you with is my personal “Before” and “After” photo. Talk about being really honest….
BEFORE:
AFTER:
Every morning, I make my own, fresh juice with a juicer. It’s quick, easy, and takes as much time to make as a cup of coffee!
