My Journey
There are a few things that are etched into my brain from when I was a child. Like most children, I had friends, played outside and enjoyed being a kid. One word that defined much of how I feel about myself as an adult is "husky" the size of the clothes that I had to buy. A husky is a dog..not in sizes though...husky means you are too big for regular clothes. I was acutely aware that I was larger than others. I remember being on diets. One time my family was in the newspaper for losing weight on a low carb diet. In the paper was our picture with how much each of us lost. In high school I was on the spinach diet and while friends ate spaghetti, I remember having "spaghetti" bean spouts and shrimp with cocktail sauce. Most every day I stood on the scale and was weighed. Needless to say, I was acutely aware of my size. I would hide food from my parents. When my friends and I bought ice cream or a shake, I would give my ice cream or shake to my friends when I saw my dad -- always saying it was not mine. As I progressed into adulthood, I decided never to be on a diet. I was active...I went to the gym but ate what I wanted.
After two children, my weight began to go up. As I approached my late 40's I realized that for my health, I needed to make a change. As many people do, I went to the gym and "watched" what I ate. I have to admit that I was not faithful to the gym. I was not truly motivated. When I was 50, I tried a diet. I lost 30 lbs but as soon as I stopped the diet, I gained it all back. I did not learn how to make healthy choices. I was just cooking all the time. It was not sustainable.
A year ago I had a tear in my meniscus which led me to learn that I had high blood pressure. I was put on medication. After surgery, I tried again to lose weight. I went to the gym but had little weight loss.
This last fall I met my coach who shared her story with me, Her powerful story inspired me to make a change in my life, in my health and in my head/heart. She showed me that I could learn how to make healthy choices for a life change. So, this began "The Journey to find Me" as I call it. My journey first focused on my outward appearance. My weight went down, I went from an XL, 1X or 2X shirts and size 18-20 pants to now M and L shirts and size 14 pants. The next part of me that I began to work on was my head/heart. My coach asked me if I would like to encourage others to begin their journey as I have. I jumped at the chance to help others. Helping others has always been part of me so being a coach seemed natural. What I am learning from all the other coaches...their passion...their honesty is fueling the fire in me to want to help others write the story of their journey. What I have learned is that this journey is a gift...not the type of gift you keep to yourself...it is the gift that must be shared. We, those who are on the healthy life journey are a community, We are connected by the common goal of optimal health. I would be honored to help you begin your journey.
After two children, my weight began to go up. As I approached my late 40's I realized that for my health, I needed to make a change. As many people do, I went to the gym and "watched" what I ate. I have to admit that I was not faithful to the gym. I was not truly motivated. When I was 50, I tried a diet. I lost 30 lbs but as soon as I stopped the diet, I gained it all back. I did not learn how to make healthy choices. I was just cooking all the time. It was not sustainable.
A year ago I had a tear in my meniscus which led me to learn that I had high blood pressure. I was put on medication. After surgery, I tried again to lose weight. I went to the gym but had little weight loss.
This last fall I met my coach who shared her story with me, Her powerful story inspired me to make a change in my life, in my health and in my head/heart. She showed me that I could learn how to make healthy choices for a life change. So, this began "The Journey to find Me" as I call it. My journey first focused on my outward appearance. My weight went down, I went from an XL, 1X or 2X shirts and size 18-20 pants to now M and L shirts and size 14 pants. The next part of me that I began to work on was my head/heart. My coach asked me if I would like to encourage others to begin their journey as I have. I jumped at the chance to help others. Helping others has always been part of me so being a coach seemed natural. What I am learning from all the other coaches...their passion...their honesty is fueling the fire in me to want to help others write the story of their journey. What I have learned is that this journey is a gift...not the type of gift you keep to yourself...it is the gift that must be shared. We, those who are on the healthy life journey are a community, We are connected by the common goal of optimal health. I would be honored to help you begin your journey.
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