In January of 2010 I decided to join a gym because, hello, New Year's resolutions? And I went every day after school for about a month. I would get on the elliptical. Do some free weights. But the truth was, I had no clue what I was doing. And because I wasn't seeing results, I went less and less until I quit going altogether. Nothing was changing. I lost a few pounds but was still using food as a stress reliever. Andrew was in the middle of busy season at work and we rarely saw each other. As spring rolled around, I had lost a few pounds at most but my New Year's resolution was a flop. I committed to using my summer off to get in shape. That was until I found out that Andrew and I were expecting. I was ecstatic. Yet instead of that being my wake-up call to become healthy, I used pregnancy as an excuse to be lazy (didn't want to hurt the baby) and eat whatever I pleased. (I was eating for two, right??)
15 weeks already up a size
16 weeks
6 ish months.
I was at my highest weight. I gained over 40 pounds when pregnant. I had heartburn, back pain, and was always uncomfortable. After I had Hudson I vowed to lose the weight. To get healthy. And I started to. I lost all the baby weight and even then some but I felt constantly sick. After months (almost a year) of having stomach pain I scheduled an appointment with a specialist. I was being tested for IBS, celiac. I couldn't help but think my bad eating habits were catching up to me. I was talking with the specialist about the possibility of having to have a scope done when Andrew and I found out we were pregnant again. Although I was at a healthier starting weight, and Andrew and I were definitely more settled in our jobs, we were planning a move to a larger house for our growing family so our lives were still hectic. But I was determined to be healthy. I had to do better than last time. And I did at the beginning. My baby brother was getting married and I had a dress to fit in.
16 weeks with Beau
But once that day passed, it was easy to fall back into old patterns. I was working full time and we moved. I was setting up our home and taking care of a toddler. I focused all my energy on my family and making life for them fun. I never thought about ways to take of myself, my health.
2 weeks before Beau was due
After Beau was born, the holidays were quickly approaching. Even though I had just had a c-section, I went full force into holiday prep. It was three weeks after Beau had been born, three weeks until Christmas when it happened. I was wrapping presents with Andrew, Beau was sleeping and I felt like I couldn't breathe. I had intense pain and immediately vomited. Never having been seriously ill, I told Andrew to either call an ambulance or get me to the hospital. He thought I was being a bit dramatic until he realized how pale I was. We called my mom to meet us at the hospital to get the boys. After tests, being sent home, having another round of intense pain, and further tests, it was decided that my gallbladder had to come out. Lots of those symptoms I experienced post Hudson were probably my gallbladder acting out but this pregnancy did me in. There I was in the hospital with a three week old and a 21 month old at home. Talk about feeling helpless. I knew that if I didn't take care of my health and myself, I would never be the mom I wanted to be.
Another January came around. I knew I had a goal but this time I went about it a different way. I asked for help. I was far too busy to go to the gym and I lacked knowledge to know what to do when there. Besides that, if I was honest with myself, I needed someone to push me. A friend of mine had caught my attention on Facebook the last few months of my pregnancy. She was constantly posting motivating pictures and phrases, statuses about her workouts and progress. A few weeks post Beau she posted her before and afters. My jaw dropped! Had I not known this girl I would have claimed photoshop--they were that amazing. I began messaging her and learned she did all at home. She told me I could do the exact same workout and she would help me with a healthier eating plan. I was scared. My stomach wasn't handling healthy food (salads) well since my surgery. She told me about a product that was all natural, not processed and safe to use while breastfeeding, Shakeology. She also told me she would encourage me every day. It was as if God had sent her to me. I actually felt like I could succeed. It was a lot of money (in hindsight it was actually really affordable compared to the monthly gym membership I paid every month and wasted) but I chose to invest in myself.
It was hard. I was coming off of two surgeries. But every night after Hudson went to bed between Beau's dinner feeding and last feeding I would workout. In my living room. No one watching me or judging me. A trainer on my TV encouraging me and telling me how great I was doing. And daily I would get a message from my friend, something motivating or funny. It drove me to keep going.
The workout and product changed my life. For the first time I was excited to workout. My thinking changed. That girl that wanted to be skinny realized skipping meals and eating poorly would never give me results. I realized cardio and some weights actually shaped my body like the ones I desired to be like. I had more energy. I had more confidence. And I knew, if I continued these HABITS daily, I would be that mom I always wanted to be. I would be able to always be around to play with my kids. To watch them grow and learn.
Day 1: 144 pounds, Size 10 Day 60: 130 pounds, size 4
After my transformation I knew that I wanted to pay it forward. To help others the way my friend helped me. I began my journey in pursing my OWN business of daily IMPACTING the lives of others. I wake up EXCITED to start my day, looking forward to the new conversations I will have with others about their goals. I love watching others gain control of their health and fitness, gain confidence in who they are and reach their goals!!
Check out my full transformation from Day 1 to now!
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