Hello

   

 

Trust me when I say, been there done that. Not just in my weight loss journey but through the ups and downs of life. Just like those ups and downs, my health has also been a roller coaster ride. I've battled "dieting" my entire life from a very young age. It wasn't until recently that I took the initiative to stop dieting and take control of my life style. You can, too! 

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How It Started

     In high school I tossed not eating and binge eating around like it was a game. Shortly after graduation, I became pregnant with my first son while a freshman in college. This was a huge turning point in my eating habits. I knew I had to feed myself and my baby. This in turn triggered an 80 pound weight gain in a 7 month time frame. I held on to this weight until my second son's pregnancy only to add weight on top of the 80 pounds. I had no motivation and my focus was on graduation and trying to work on saving an unhealthy marriage. 

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      Life events played a significant role in where I was at in my weight and size. Shortly after my second son, I encountered divorce and binge eating once again reappeared. I was living on minimal calories and excessive caffeine in denial that I was destroying my health. Addictions come in a variety of costumes and mine tends to be food. I became the smallest I had ever been and added a new addiction, the gym(not that this is a bad addiction, this was therapy for me). If I wasn't drinking coffee, I was busting it in the gym. It kept my mind clear and helped fight through the quiet when my kids weren't home. I'm sure the gym saved me in many ways at this rock bottom I had hit. I can remember the moment, looking in the mirror, and breaking knowing that I couldn't continue to destroy my body this way. I looked great but I was exhausted and unhealthy. I found a wonderful coach who helped re-wire the way I handled my control with food. I was finally on the right track.

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Here We Go Again 

    Life can be funny sometimes, though.I met my husband a few years after my divorce. We both were each other's biggest encouragers and besides being best friends we were also best gym partners. I was eating right and working out when I became septic and needed emergency bowel reconstruction surgery. We were flabbergasted at how fast my body had turned on itself and how much work it would take to fight. It's still a guessing game as to why this medical emergency happened to me but I'm very positive in thinking it was the havoc I had put on my body. Overcoming the sepsis and recovery was challenging. Even more challenging was healing my body through it while being pregnant. In order to keep myself and our sweet baby girl healthy and alive, I was put on limited activity. I ate right and in moderation  but with no exercise, 60 of the 80 pounds lost found their way right back to me. If there is anyone who understands excuses, it's me. I didn't have "time" (we'll come back to this). Shortly after recovering, my husband and I decided to move and take on new career opportunities and to be honest, I lost myself.....again. In the course of 3 years, I became the heaviest and unhealthiest I have ever been. It wasn't like I wasn't trying. I ate well but not excessively, I played and ran with my kids. What was wrong with me? I had blood work done to eliminate anything that could give me an excuse for being out of control.I literally worked at trying to find excuses. I knew I couldn't go back to old addictions but I did know that I could take control of my life. 

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Taking Control

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    I was done with excuses.I was done loving everyone but myself. During the quarantine period of 2020, I decided it was time to fix what I had broken and do it RIGHT. In the process I lost weight but gained so much knowledge. Along the way, I began 75 Hard. I wanted not only a physical challenge but a mental challenge as well. I took control again by changing the way I thought about food, physical activity, and self care. Diets are a great tool to use but I didn't want to be a lifelong dieter. I wanted to be able to educate myself and others on conquering the journey to a healthy life style by living life, which led me to my certifications in personal training and nutrition. I know the battles of yoyo dieting. I know the battles of finding time (remember, when I said I used this excuse most). I'm busy. I'm actually busier now than I was 12 years ago with two toddler boys. Along with my full time job, I do photography on the side, working with a publishing company on a book, and still find the time to workout at least an hour a day and take at least a 2 mile walk daily. It's about knocking out excuses and getting up to conquer all your goals. It's about prioritizing what means the most to you and taking control of how you manage your time. I want to inspire you to find the best you. I want to inspire you to stop dieting and start living. I want to inspire you to find joy in life and your journey. Your story is worth being heard and your story is worth having the best ending. 

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                                                                                                          Live Big,

                                                                                                              Coach Rox