Body Transformation - Your Before‐After Share Portal

No one ever asks what made you GAIN weight!

“No one ever asks what made you GAIN weight!
⠀
I never thought I’d be brave enough to share this part of my life. Though this is painful to share, I know we are stronger when we talk about our struggles-and I hope you will share yours with me below. (#metoo)
⠀
When I was 21 I was slipped a date-rape drug.
The remaining details are not significant to my story, but something was taken from me that night that I’ll never get back.
⠀
The final words I was left with were “I only gave you what you deserved”…which were words that pierced my heart and mind for many years to come.
⠀
What I…deserved???
⠀
I immediately turned to food for comfort. Honestly, the more weight I gained-the safer I felt. I felt like if I was overweight, no one would find me attractive and I wouldn’t ever get hurt again.
⠀
But the weight that I carried pierced much deeper.
⠀
Instead of dealing with it, I tucked it away in my mind and hoped I would never have to face it. I started eating my feelings instead…
⠀
The sad reality is: 1 in 6 women will be a victim of sexual assault/rape. And it’s something we don’t talk about. At least I didn’t for many years. It was a secret I hid from the world because I felt so ashamed.
NOBODY is deserving of that. NOBODY. And it took me many years to fully believe that.
⠀
I didn’t take care of myself anymore…
I didn’t love myself anymore…
Food was the only comfort that I had…
The thought of taking it away made me UNcomforable.
⠀
But I took my life BACK…and so can you. I share this with you, because I know I’m not alone. Many of us had an event that triggered us to gain weight. But the beautiful thing is: you have the power within you to overcome it.
⠀
We are not defined by our past.
We are not what had happened to us.
We have the power to design a bright future and never look back.
We have nothing to be ashamed of.
⠀
Our trials can become our TRIUMPHS.
Our tests can become our TESTIMONY.
Our messes can become our MESSAGE.
⠀
And I know that if I can overcome my struggles…so can YOU.❤️️️️️”

160 Pound Difference

This time last year I was trapped in a 300+ pound prison of my own making. I was living the life I thought I deserved

I struggled with negative internal dialogue, low self-esteem and feelings of hopelessness

But then something magical happened…. I started believing in myself.

There was no ‘quick fix’ or ‘secret’

I decided I no longer wanted to exist in my life, I wanted to live my life to the fullest and become the best version of myself

I started making small changes to my nutrition and began moving more. Throughout the first few weeks/months, small changes turned into huge results.

I have changed the way I look at food. I don’t see food as either ‘good’ or ‘bad’ instead I understand that some foods are more nutritious than others

I like to follow 80-20 thinking when it comes to my food choices, 80% of the time I choose more nutritious foods and 20% of the time I choose less nutritious foods. This way I don’t feel deprived from the fun foods that I enjoy

When life happens, which it always does, and I have a little too many ‘fun foods’ I don’t waste time beating myself up about it, instead I always know I will be right back on track the next day

Was it easy? Of course not! But it was and still is 100% worth it!

I’m putting my story out there to show if you want change, anything is possible and you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to. But I had to choose it for myself, and in that moment I stopped existing and realized I deserved more!

Be inspired to love yourself, be inspired to believe in yourself, be inspired to live your life to the fullest and stop accepting less than you are worth!

Life change

EW to the photo on the left. Still unconscious from surgery. I remember what it was like to be a prisoner in my own body. Like I was trapped in a body that didn’t reflect how I felt inside and wasn’t anything I wanted to be. I didn’t know self-love was something I could ever feel. 💕

Left: 287 lbs. | Right: 210 lbs.
Feb 2018 | July 2018

Trying on a pre baby skirt

Trying on a pre baby skirt! This skirt is a size 6 from zara and the last time I could fit into this skirt I was starving myself and hated my body so much. It’s crazy that I’m on this fitness journey filled with self love and only positive comments about myself. I eat healthy but I still live my life and eat a pizza now and again or if I’m craving a cookie I’ll just eat the cookie!! No more starving myself, no more weighing myself everyday, no more making myself unhappy to get to a size/weight. If I can’t naturally get to a weight while being happy then it’s not worth it!!!! But it just goes to show taking care of myself and doing things slowly do pay off because I can now fit back into a size 6 denim skirt that has no stretch! Clothing size isn’t important but I’m just trying to show that my approach of slow progress is better than no progress, eating full healthy meals and not being on crazy diets has lead me to this place 💞 always listen to yourself and give your body the time it needs! It will always get there eventually 💋💕

Don’t think about what can happen in a month

Don’t think about what can happen in a month. Don’t think about what can happen in a year. Just focus on the 24 hours in front of you and do what you can to get closer to where you want to be. Left was summer 2010, right is summer 2018. I set goals every month and crushed them! Low calorie and getting off my ass, no better way to say it. I always used to say to myself on those late nights as I laid in bed crying because I was so unhappy with my weight, “maybe I’m just meant to be big…” It wasn’t all about what I looked like, I felt beauty even at my biggest, but I was tired of being tired. Friends would invite me out to concerts, Six Flags, camping, etc…and I dreaded the though because I hated physical activity and in all honesty, it hurt to walk and stand up for long periods of time. It was time for a change, so I did. No one can tell you what you’re capable of. Do it for no one but yourself, you’re the only one that can stop you! BE STRONG, LIVE LONG💟

Today I challenge you to take up new ways

“Nothing tastes as good as skinny feels” is bullshit. I can promise you in both of these pictures chocolate chip cookies tasted exactly the same. The difference was how I have taught myself to THINK about food. I used to live for the next meal. Like…literally eating lunch I was thinking about what I would eat for dinner. I have learned to enjoy NEW things about food. I’ve learned to love cooking and am finding new ways everyday to make low sugar/carb meals that taste great but don’t keep me from my goals. I’ve learned to stop EATING my feelings and find new outlets for them. Mine are playing piano and working out (even though I hate working out…it clears me mind.)

Today I challenge you to take up new ways to blow off stress. New ways to feel good. Cause I learned the hard way that while bad food feels good now…it doesn’t make you feel good in the end.”

Live for your dreams

OVERCOME YOUR FEARS AND FULFILL YOUR DREAMS!!!!

Fears in life are what keep us from trying new things and going after our dreams.

You fail from not trying, not from trying and not succeeding.

These “attempts” at new things are some of the best growing experiences we can have in our life.

In order for each of us to reach our goals we must go after our dreams.

It is difficult at times to keep trying over and over again without seeing any results…trust me I get it.

It is much easier to just feel defeated, to settle for less because we think there is nothing more.

We believe a lie that there is nothing bigger.

That right there is the fear in us speaking.

When we think something might cause pain or is a threat to us we are experiencing fear.

Many of us are experiencing fear without even being conscious of it.

Do you ever look back on your life and wish you had done “it” but didn’t?

Live for your dreams.

Know your fears and be BOLD in moving forward.

Find new ways to come to terms with your fears… FACE them over and over again.

Do NOT listen to your fears!

Learn your fears so you know EXACTLY how to CONQUER them!

Keep doing it so that you have no “WHAT IF I HAD DONE THIS” in life, only “I HAVE DONE IT.”

I decided to change my life

I hope to motivate more and more people with my story ! Don’t think it’s easy, wake up every day sometimes 4:30 am on sunny days rainy days and go to the gym, not that I got addicted, but I’m sure this was the best option. I was happy but I was missing something . I also did not lose weight for vanity, but when I started to look at reality and realize that obesity is a silent disease, I decided to change.

It was not for small projects like a party or an event, I decided to change my life!!! And so persist!
Total dedication every day and a huge effort between myself and I to continue focusing … The power is within you in your mind and only if you believe that you are capable you will achieve and reach your dream and your limit and keep aiming for the skies! .

This first photo shoot marked that vow that I made to myself

When I was over weight, I rarely felt beautiful, sexy, or really worthy of attention in any way. I was objectified by my body type, stereotypically assumed and felt as though I was not allowed to feel beautiful, as though it was shameful and pointless of me to even try.
Having tried to lose weight countless times as a child and teen, I decided that if I wanted to be successful this time, something would have to change – I needed to do it out of genuine love for myself, not because I hated my body and would only feel worthy if I changed it.
This first photo shoot marked that vow that I made to myself. I was so uncomfortable in front of that camera, even though it was just my sister taking the photos. But I can honestly say that the moment I saw those photos was the most beautiful I had ever felt up to that point in my life. I saw a lot more than my body in them. I saw a promise that I knew I would keep, and it was just the most empowering feeling.
Flash forward about a year and a half- I decided to do an updated shoot. I was down 115 pounds, stretch marks faded, hair thinning, body deflated leaving behind quite a bit of excess skin, but nevertheless, seeing the photos from this shoot brought back that same feeling as the first, except it was also the moment I realized that I had kept that vow I had made. It took a lot of hard work and a fair amount of “faking it till I made it,” but along the way I really did learn to love my body, along with the person inside of it.

No one else knows your whole story but you

I am learning to treat myself with compassion and understanding because I am the only one who knows my whole story

And only I know that it was through my brokenness that I found my humanity, my purpose and my drive. .

Be gracious, forgiving and loving with yourself. No one else knows your whole story but you. ❤❤❤

Background Information:
1. I lost 160 pounds in less than a year through natural weight lost (changing my eating habits and moving my body more) and consistently staying in a calorie deficit.
2. I calorie count. I eat between 1500-2000 calories when I am maintaining my weight. I eat 1200-1500 when I am actively trying to lose weight.
3. I don’t have a set meal plan. However, my meals usually consist of a lean protein (chicken, turkey, beans, etc) and tons of vegetables (broccoli, cauliflower, cucumber, bell pepper, green beans, Brussel sprouts, asparagus, spinach, cabbage, carrots, etc) everything else in moderation. I try to stick with 80% healthier options and 20% less nutritious options that I think of as my “fun foods.” ….4. I change my workouts all the time to fit my goals/lifestyle. I work out at home. Currently I am on the elliptical 5 days a week for 30-45 minutes. I do at home, full body, strength training, (mostly body weight exercises) 2-3 days a week. I do these exercises before I do my cardio. My strength training varies but usually includes: squats, hip thrusts, push-ups, sit ups, crunches, and a variety of other movements that I can do at home.
5. During the first six months of my weight loss I did not eat out and I did not drink my calories.