How I went from being laughed at to admired in 5 years without really realizing it.
I don’t know that I even know how I got to where I am but as I receive more and more comments and e-mails on my success it’s occurred to me that I have accomplished something many people are amazed by. How I turned my life from “the fat house wife with no dreams” to “successful fitness mom with goals and big dreams”.
I truly believe that success grows when shared. You can’t succeed alone and I think everyone deserves the opportunity to discover their own success by following their own path. Personal success shouldn’t be hidden or diminished or your hindering your own growth. Which has gotten me to the point where I am now. I finally feel ready to share my experiences that I have been too afraid of until now. Which is mostly why I started this blog. I have hidden some of my success’ because I just don’t like where I started from. I’m embarrassed of how far I let things go.
My whole life I was a slightly overweight girl. My family was quite honest in pointing this out to me. I could not attend a family gathering without a comment about weight. From about the age of 10 to the age of 23 I had heard it countless times. You need to lose weight, you need to exercise, you need to think about your health. But I didn’t want to listen to anyone else. Because I didn’t want to fit into their world and expectations of me I wanted to create my own. Every comment from my childhood about my weight I remember to a T. These are engraved in me, and may be what drive me still to this day.
I have counted calories since I was 10 years old. I’ve tried countless quick fix diet plans and exercise programs. But none of which I was able to stick to or maintain weight loss once the program ended. I needed to create my own system that worked for me.
In 2011 after having my third child I noticed I was having really intense nightmares, feelings and fears of death, depression and unhappiness. I had imprisoned myself in my need to focus on everything that wasn’t going my way. I was addicted to being the victim and only seeing the negative. After seeing Doctors, Naturopathic Doctors , Counsellors… the only thing that was recommended for my unstable mood was getting into a regular exercise routine and eating a protein rich diet. I was doubtful that my mood would get much better but I decided to try committing to a 5k running goal and started analyzing nutrition labels. I was running regularly and eating around 1500 calories a day. Within 6 months I had lost 80 lbs, had beat my 5km goal and was running 10 km races and training for further. I was starting to be seen as a totally different person. I saw myself as being capable and people started to see my hidden “beauty”. I was featured in Canadian Living Magazine for my weight loss success. I was happy with my results.
At the time I was in a unhealthy abusive relationship. I had three children. My partner worked out of town. My looks changed drastically I was suddenly receiving a lot of attention mainly from men. Which was a whole new experience for me. I enjoyed the attention but it was different. My family all thought I was “too skinny” now. I think this was when I gave up all hope of ever meeting their standards.
I started setting personal goals which led to my Hypnosis Certification. This was intended to be a stepping stone towards an interest in birthing hypnosis, but this ended up being a pivotal point in my life. I had some very interesting visions while I was taking this course. I was changed mentally, hypnosis gave me hope that everything in life CAN CHANGE but only if you want it to. Hypnosis was the first step in changing my thoguht pattern. When I came home from a month long course I had no intentions of changing anything instantly. But when I came home to a huge argument between my partner. I was torn and so upset with the way I was always being treated. I ended the relationship, right then after 8 year I was done. I should have been done a long time ago but this was it, I was now a single mother of 3.
This is a beautiful post! I truly believe that everyone needs time to find for themselves what they are passionate about. Teaching the mind to change its ways is no easy task, and you conquered it. Congrats!
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Such a raw and honest post! Thank you for sharing your heart and struggles. Growth is so often times painful, but worth it in the end as I’m sure you now know!
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❤ Thank you. That's for sure. I wouldn't change it but growth is definitly painful.
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Thank you for sharing your personal experience! Being healthy is not easy…I admire you for the determination you have had to live a healthier life.
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I really admire your disciple and determination to meet your goals! Not easy, especially as a Mom.
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You are, and were, beautiful, inside and out.
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Thank you ❤
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