You know how people say high school will be the best years of your life? Those people were talking about the kids who were thin, fit, popular, and powerful. I was none of these things. I was miserable, overweight, and unhappy. Being made fun of didn't help situations.
Here's me, Senior year
I hate this picture. I can't believe my mother let me wear this out of the house. Let alone for a senior picture!
Things got a little better after this. I started my freshman year of college and got a job at a sandwich shop. I was making money, making friends, and having a new life away from the people in high school who made me the sad, lonely girl I was. I was a new happy person!
These sandwiches were the object of my demise. Working, sometimes, 12 hour shifts, I would eat two of these a day loaded with mayonnaise and fatty meats, plus bags of chips and unlimited sodas and sweet teas.
You know that freshman 15? Yeah, I had the freshman 30.
This was one of the most fun nights of my life. We went to see the Broadway tour of RENT. At 30 pounds more than I was in high school, I was the heaviest I'd ever been at this very moment.
So what was the turning point in my life you might ask?
This boy right here...Corey.
We were laying in bed one night and I, of course, was complaining about my weight. He let me finish my crying and complaining and then turned to me and said "I love you no matter what you look like, but if you're sick of the way you look, do something about it! Don't sit there and complain and then continue to eat bad food!" And that was all it took. It was like he turned on a light switch that had always been there, but never turned on. The next day I started my food journal. I wrote down everything I ate and slowly started adding exercise to my life. I was becoming everything I ever wanted to be...Thin.
From June-October, Corey went to the 16 week Police Academy. I wanted to be at my goal weight by the time he got back. I didn't quite make my goal by the deadline because I plateaued (stopped losing weight), but I was closer! I had lost a whole 30 pounds in that 4 month time span.
This is me at my best friend's wedding. I was starting to show a waist line!! It felt good to feel confident in something I was wearing.
And so we come to January 1st. 40 pounds down! I felt so good this night. My skin was cleared up, my mood had improved, I looked good, and I was the happiest with my body I had ever been in my entire life.
I was HEALTHY.
This is the skinniest I've ever been. This was on a rare warm day in January I went HIKING without getting winded. This was a huge accomplishment.
The holidays did take a huge toll on my body.
November: Thanksgiving
December: Christmas
January: Corey's birthday (Thus meriting a trip to our favorite Italian Restaurant)
February: My birthday (same restaurant)
And after all that up until now, I've ended up gaining 10 pounds back. So here I am. Trying to get back the same happy lifestyle I had on January 1st.
While losing the weight, I've also made a career choice. I'm in school right now to become a Registered Dietitian. I want to use this degree to help people, just like the sad girl I used to be, lose the weight, and get them to a happier life. I hope to help prevent diseases like diabetes, obesity and cancer, not with medicine, but with a healthy diet. I know what works and I know what's possible.
Instead of eating "fat free" and "low calorie" pre-packaged meals that are full of chemicals to make them so (which is how I was dieting), I will be buying fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains...all natural foods. These foods will provide the ultimate in nutrition and health. I hope to help anyone who reads this make the decision to become healthy and happy!
