Changing your daily habits can change your life.
I started my journey to living a healthier lifestyle on my 34th birthday, March 3rd 2014. I had gotten to a point in my life that not only did I not recognize who I was within, I no longer recognized the woman staring back at me. This time I decided it wasn't going to be just about losing weight, it was going to about changing my life. I had created a lifestyle that was not serving me in any area and I needed to learn how to create a lifestyle that would. I had been consistent with habits that got me to a place I never wanted to be and it was time to replace those habits with healthier ones so I could get to the place I was desperately craving to be at. I knew this was not going to be easy and I also knew it was going to take time, there were a lot of unhealthy habits I needed to replace with healthier ones but I had hope and such a strong desire to change my life-that is what happens when you hit rock bottom doesn't it?
Little by little I began to replace my habits and little by little I began to feel alive again. The weight started to come off but more importantly I was developing healthier habits and beginning to feel hopeful...something I had not felt in a very long time. I remember going to my follow up appointment with my doctor and him asking what I was doing? I shared everything with him and he said keep going you are creating a healthier lifestyle...this is working wonders for you. So I asked him do you think we can start weaning me off all the medications I was on for depression and anxiety? I could barely respond when he replied yes because I was trying not to burst out in tears. I could not believe I was going to begin to be free of so many side effects after all these years of living heavily mediated. I got into my car and sobbed, I knew these habits I was learning to create needed to be kept for life.
As a mom of three children, putting my needs at the top of my list was never in my thought process-maybe you can relate? I had done so many different diets in the past like Weight Watchers, South Beach Diet, juicing, and sadly the latest in diet pills. I was on medicines that helped me gain and retain weight over the years. Add that to the lack of exercise and the emotional eating, and things were spiraling out of control. I had topped the scale at over 209 pounds and had to purchase my first pair of size 16 pants which barely fit. I was never feeling good, sick all the time, headaches weekly with the occasional migraine. I was so tired, moody and completely embarrassed to be in my own skin. I found myself avoiding social situations because of how poorly I felt. I had reached a point where something had to change. I knew I needed a complete lifestyle change that I could do for the rest of my life and maybe you find yourself shaking your head yes and my hope is if you are you are also getting excited and feeling hopeful because this is not a place anyones needs to stay at and there is hope. I have lost and maintained 60 pounds and 44 inches off my body. I have also gone from a size 16 to a size 6/4. As of May 1st of this year I am finally off all medications and feel alive, but what I need you to know is that it took me a long time and hard work to get here.
The beginning was very difficult. I did not have a healthy relationship with food or alcohol. I used sugary carbs or a glass of wine to satisfy my feelings almost nightly. I had to learn how to no longer rely on this unhealthy habit and replace it with healthier ones. Those habits were not serving me they were hurting me. I wasn't dealing with things in a healthy way, it was contributing to my unhealthy weight gain and it was a vicious cycle I needed to learn how to break. I didn't just have to work on my nutrition, I needed to move my body along with improve my mindset, sleep and stress. I realized quickly once I started working out, how out of shape I truly was. At that time it was very difficult for me to make it through a 25 minute workout. I didn't have the endurance strength or energy but I kept reminding myself that if I was done feeling this way I had to show up and keep trying. I had to decide it didn't matter how long or how hard I was going to have to work at this, I was in this 100% for the rest of my life. I will tell you it did eventually feel easier but it took a while to feel that way. It was a hard fight to get to where I am today especially the first 6 months but I would do it a thousand times over. And my hope is you will truly understand this one day soon as well.