Today marks a huge milestone in my life.
5 years ago, I was thrilled that I had given birth to a healthy baby girl. I looked forward to raising her, connecting with her, and dressing her in cute little girly clothes.
But when I got home from the hospital, something was different about me. I couldn’t sit on the couch I had been sitting on for years for longer than 15 minutes without my lower back starting to badly hurt.
I told my husband we needed a new couch — it seemed old and uncomfortable.
I dreaded getting up to dress my girl, because it was painful to bend over to get her clothes from the drawer and stand while I was putting them on her.
My shape had seemed to change – and I couldn’t even imagine getting into any of my old clothes.
After a few weeks, I even stayed away from taking the kids outside for a walk along the beautiful NY skyline outside our apartment — because it would tire me out.
It was as this point I knew I had to do something to return to the person I was. I loved being a mom, but I knew to truly be the best mom I could be, I would have to be happy with myself first.
I decided to try something new, something I hadn’t tried after all those years I’d dieted in the past. Instead of eating less, I started eating differently. I added protein to my diet and replaced fast-burning carbs like bread and rice with slow-burning carbs like beans and lentils.
I kept the flavor I loved and grew up with in my food. I added spices like cumin, coriander, turmeric, red chili powder, and herbs like garlic and ginger to everything I ate.
I started LOVING what I was eating — and it was so exciting!
I creatively come up with new dishes and combinations that I loved — eating healthy became fun!
All of a sudden, I started having so much energy! Instead of wanting to keep my eyes shut in the morning, I would wake up and want to jump out of bed with all the ideas I had for the day!
I started trading in the maternity pants that I was wearing for the jeans and pants I used to wear. I would look in the mirror and feel so accomplished.
I lost my first 10 pounds ONLY from changing what I was eating – and loving every morsel of what went into my mouth.
I was exhilarated! I thought it was too good to be true, so I didn’t track it or take pictures. I thought that was my after and I would stay there. I was already happy.
I just kept up the way I was eating, because it wasn’t hard. In fact, it was easier than what I had been doing. With my new way of eating, I was suprisingly adding time to my life. I was eating simply, and eating similar dishes over and over throughout the week. I had go-to recipes that I made all the time. And when I went out, I had a framework of foods from which I would order.
I started adding 2 strength training / lifting workouts a week. I went to the gym for 30 — 45 minutes each time and focused on getting stronger.
And then 10 pounds more came off for a total of 20. Within 3 months, I had returned to my pre-pregnancy weight.
I would sit on the same couch that had hurt me to sit on and it didn’t bother me at all anymore!
I thought I would just stop there, since that was the weight I knew
But my husband told me, “You might find a new normal for yourself. See what happens.”
And this way of thinking changed everything. See, if I had been losing weight on my own, I would have set my own limitations on where I could get — based on my history and what I truly thought was possible for me.
So I kept my mind strong, and I kept going.
By the time my daughter was a little over a year, I had lost a total of 40 pounds. I was 20 pounds lighter than when I was in high school.
It was a thrilling ride! I got past the limits I thought stopped me, and started wearing the clothes I had seen only girls in magazines wearing!
It’s been about 4 years since the weight has come off — and not only has it stayed off, but I’ve learned so much more about how to make it a lifestyle to keep my body in shape.
My back is stronger, and I can support carrying my daughter on my shoulders. I can walk through train stations and through the city and on hikes with her because my core is firm and strong and doesn’t waver when I walk.
Here’s some pictures of my daughter and me today – I’m so much healthier now than I was ever before in my life and now I get to share this energy with her!
Today is a huge day for me. I’m so excited to have you to share it with.
If I had kept my weight on and lived these last 5 years being 40 pounds heavier, my whole experience walking through Earth would have been different. I wouldn’t have had the enthusiasm to go hiking on Saturday mornings, to take my daughter to the beach all summer, to go swimming in the pool the other days of the summer.
My annual physical appointments would have been worrisome instead of effortless.
I would have stayed home a LOT more.
If you’re in a place where you’re struggling, uncomfortable, and not feeling like yourself, I want you to understand what a big deal it is to be happy with your body.
Having a fit and healthy body has a direct effect on the pain you feel, the energy you get, and the comfort you experience when you put on your clothes.
It’s an improvement that’s worth prioritizing. It changes EVERYTHING when you are healthier and feel confident about your body:
- Your relationship with your husband or partner
- Your desire to do active things with your kids or friends
- The comfort you feel when you put on your clothes
- Your happiness when you look in the mirror
- The invincible feeling when you run a 5k or hike up a mountain
- Decrease in likeliness to get medical conditions such as diabetes
Think about what would change for you if you lost 10 pounds or more starting today.
Why aren’t you doing anything about it? Why is it OK for you to have that weight on? And why isn’t it the biggest thing in your life to get it off? You can have a fresh, new amazing life that can go on for decades!!!
I’ve made it my life’s work now to help other women feel amazing about their bodies. I know you can do it – if you take the steps to get there.
It becomes so much more realistic and practical to lose weight when you eat healthier and believe you can lose the weight. When you have someone showing you step-by-step exactly what to do, it’s seriously a no-brainer to lose weight.
I can show you the exact foods will help you lose weight faster, give you the exact recipes that excite you, and bring the accountability to your life to keep you consistent.
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