Changing your daily habits can change your life.
I started my journey to a healthier lifestyle on my 34th birthday, March 3rd, 2014. At that point, I barely recognized myself—not just on the outside but within. I had reached a place where I felt lost, disconnected, and weighed down—physically, mentally, and emotionally.This time, I knew it couldn’t just be about losing weight. It had to be about transforming my life. The habits I had been consistent with had led me to a place I never wanted to be. It was time to replace them with new ones—ones that would support and nourish me rather than keep me stuck in a cycle of exhaustion, frustration, and self-doubt.I knew it wouldn’t be easy. I knew it would take time. But hitting rock bottom has a way of igniting a deep, undeniable desire for change, doesn’t it? Small Steps Lead to Big Changes. Little by little, I started replacing my old habits with healthier ones. Slowly, I began to feel alive again. The weight started to come off, but more importantly, I was gaining something I had been missing for so long—hope.I’ll never forget the day I sat in my doctor’s office for a follow-up appointment. He looked at me and asked, "What are you doing? Whatever it is, keep going—this is working wonders for you."That’s when I got the courage to ask: "Do you think we can start weaning me off my depression and anxiety medications?"When he said yes, I could barely hold back my tears. After years of living heavily medicated and enduring the side effects, I was finally on my way to true freedom. As I sat in my car afterward, sobbing with relief, I knew one thing with absolute certainty—the changes I was making weren’t just temporary. This was a lifelong commitment to my well being.
The beginning was incredibly tough. I didn’t have a healthy relationship with food or alcohol—I relied on sugary carbs and a nightly glass of wine to numb my emotions. It became a habit, a temporary escape, but the truth was, it wasn’t helping me—it was only keeping me stuck. I wasn’t dealing with life in a healthy way, and it showed. The emotional eating, the weight gain, the exhaustion—it was a vicious cycle I knew I had to break.
But this wasn’t just about changing my diet. I needed to work on everything—moving my body, shifting my mindset, improving my sleep, and managing my stress. And when I first started working out, reality hit hard. A simple 25-minute workout felt impossible. I had no endurance, no strength, no energy. But every time I wanted to quit, I reminded myself—if I truly want to feel different, I have to keep showing up.
So I made a decision after a dream I had that felt so real: I was going to grab a hold of God's hand and do the work with him. No matter how long it took, no matter how hard it was, I was in this 100%—not just for a few months, but for life. It was time to learn how to honor my mind, body, and soul. And while it did get easier, it didn’t happen overnight. The first six months were especially tough. But looking back now? I’d do it a thousand times over to be where I am today.​
My hope for you? That one day soon, you’ll realize just how worth it this journey is, too.
As a mom of three, putting myself first had never been my priority—maybe you can relate? My life had been filled with diets: Weight Watchers, South Beach, juicing, and even diet pills. I was on medications that caused weight gain, stuck in a cycle of emotional eating, and avoiding exercise altogether. My weight climbed past 209 pounds, and my size 16 pants barely fit.Beyond the physical weight, I was carrying so much more—I felt sick all the time, suffered from weekly headaches and migraines, and was constantly exhausted and moody. Worst of all, I was ashamed to be in my own skin. I avoided social situations, not because I didn’t want to be there, but because I felt so uncomfortable in my body.I had reached my breaking point. Something had to change.I didn’t need another diet—I needed a complete lifestyle shift. Maybe you’re reading this and nodding along, recognizing pieces of your own journey in mine. If you are, I want you to know there is hope. You don’t have to stay stuck. You don’t have to settle for feeling this way.It wasn’t an overnight transformation. It took time, dedication, and hard work. But today, I’ve lost and maintained 60 pounds and 44 inches, going from a size 16 to a size 6/4. As of May 1st of last year, I am officially off all medications for anxiety & depression—and for the first time in years, I feel truly alive.If you’re feeling stuck, overwhelmed, or like lasting change isn’t possible for you, I promise you—it is. God didn't design any of us to live life the way I was living it, I know how true that is now no longer living that way. The key is to take it one step at a time. Small, daily changes will lead to something incredible.You are capable. You are worthy. And you are not alone.
1 Corinthians 6:19–20 “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”