Sometime all it takes is one picture, out of the blue, to remind you of how far you have come! I almost didn’t even recognize myself when this popped up on my facebook timeline the other day! My first thought was that this photo needs to be destroyed.
But then I really stopped to look at it.
Sometimes, that is all that it takes put things into perspective, show you how far you have come.
This is a friendship that has lasted through many years, hundreds of miles, more than a few weddings, kids, laughs, tears and so much more. We shared adventures and friends over the last 20+ years and even tho we only see each other once every few years (ok, I guess it has been 8 years now!), we are able to pic up where we left off and spend hours laughing and enjoying the company.
It also serves as a reminder that we are strong enough to overcome so much. It helps to see that, even if we are not where we want to be on this journey, we have come a long way from where we once were.
Yes, that’s me on the right. I was probably close the the heaviest I had ever been.
This was before so much.
Before I started running.
Before I started going to the gym on a regular basis.
Before I really had started playing attention to what I was eating (I did believe the afternoon this was taken, we had just inhaled some of the best pizza in the county).
Before I broke free of being controlled by the scale.
Before I started thinking about food in terms of how it was fueling my body
But it also fails to mention so much more!
But looking back now, I wasn’t necessarily healthy.
I was eating a lot of processed foods, because we all thought they were healthy.
I wasn’t eating enough.
I wasn’t listening to my body when it would try to tell me what it needed.
I wasn’t sleeping good.
I had terrible mood swings.
I was dealing with migraines at least twice a month.
And so much more!
As a result, I ended up gaining all that weight back, and then some.
I can honestly say that today, I am not the same person I was 8+ years ago when this photo was taken.
Today, I know that I am still a work in progress and and not giving up the fight. However, now I have learned so much more about wellness, nutrition, fitness, myself and so much in between.
I have learned that Food is Medicine and the right foods can do so much for every aspect of our life!
I have learned to love spending time in the kitchen, creating healthy meals for my family.
I’ve learned to listen to my body and rest when I need to.
As a result,
I am sleeping better,
have more energy and
I no longer have the mood swings that no one liked before!
I have had 2 migraines in the last 2 years, instead of having an average of 2 every MONTH before!
Would I like to remove a few more pounds? Yes, who wouldn’t? But there is more to being healthy than the number on the scale. I am working to become the strongest, healthiest version of me that I can be. Will I ever get back to that weight I was for my wedding? Probably not. Why? I am continuously working on building more muscle. Muscle that that the old version of me failed to work for. I am ok with that. I am more than that number. I want to keep doing the things that I love… running, hiking, biking and so much more. I strive to become the healthiest version of me possible.
Thank you Sonia for sharing this photo! And YES, we need to get together again SOON to retake this and catch up on far too many years gone by!!
Each day is a new adventure and it is up to us to make the most out of it! You don’t have to be limited or defined by the walls that you, or society puts around you. You are in control of your own destiny! Let get out there and find it!
If any of this sounds like you and you are ready to make the change, I am here for you! Let’s see what we can do together to get you to where you want to be! Sign up today for your FREE Health History Consultation HEREand I will be in touch to set up an appointment. Just looking for more ideas on health, wellness, food and more, join us on my Facebook Page! Just be sure to Like the page so that you don’t miss any of the fun stuff!
Until next time, stay positive and keep moving forward my friends!