My Weight-Loss Journey: Little Steps, Big Changes

My weight has been a constant battle in my life. Following college, I didn’t love my outward appearance, and I was ready to make a change. It took seven years of yo-yo dieting and many tears before I locked a plan down. Prior to having Evan, I’d lost 60 pounds on Weight Watchers and went on to become a Leader Ambassador. I had the opportunity to take topics regarding behavioral struggles during the weight-loss journey and bring them to life with members. I listened, coached, supported and related to my members. It was a position I loved. Very empowering and very fulfilling.

Before Evan, my weight-loss was an image in my mind. It was a photo in a magazine and a number on a dress. The scale was my only feedback; everything came back to a number. Once I had Evan, I struggled with accepting my body after baby (more on that in another post!). There are so many weight-loss forums and weight-loss programs; the world of weight-loss becomes overwhelming. To me, it went from a place I knew so much about to being completely overwhelming and foreign. I gained 75 pounds with Evan, some was preeclampsia and edema, but a lot of it was pancakes and Oreos. I went back to basics and looked to my support system for help.

My life coach (more on that to come!) was a big asset in my journey, as well as my surroundings. It all started with one change, and I went from there and added a few more each time I became comfortable. I went back to the meeting room at Weight Watchers and also educated myself on foods. Sure, I knew how to add points, but I needed to know what was making up my points. I breastfed for 13 months, and during that time I was so focused on what I put in my body to make sure Evan got the best out of each feeding. I know I’m not the only mama who does that, and it got me thinking; if I’m this careful for my son, why don’t I respect myself the same way?

That was an aha moment for me, and that’s when my success began to become a constant. During my journey, I reached out to a nutritionist, Cassy Heffner, at my gym to learn what foods are best for my body. She educated me on what nutrition is necessary for survival and what foods to find that nutrition in. She taught me to be more aware of my food choices as it relates to my workout. I needed this. I have a struggle with food — I use it to satisfy an emotion and worry about it later. I worked with my life coach to learn that food is a legal drug; we just have to learn how to control it and not abuse it.

So, I went clean. I ate clean and I trained hard, which I continue to do. I work with a trainer I love. Taking time to learn proper form and having a reminder that slow and steady wins the race has been forever satisfying. Of course, I also throw in a few Fusion DVDs, too.

What helped the most in my post-baby weight-loss journey was to take the physical image out of healthy and look at it from a different perspective. Healthy has a whole new meaning now — strong, sexy, powerful. Those are just a few ways I describe healthy. It was only when I started to worry less about comparing myself to how I “should” look and I started embracing my imperfections that I accepted my journey as a victory.

If you have a weight-loss success to share, we’d love to hear it — and we’ll be calling for stories later this week so keep an eye out! When did you consider yourself victorious against your weight struggle? —Jennifer