The other day when I was working out i started thinking about my past and where I have come from and come out of. For some reason, it just HIT ME like a ton of bricks...so much to where it brought tears to my eyes and encouraged me to write this and share this with others who may have had the same struggle.
This picture here is me at the age of 22. I had recently gotten married. I gained an incredible husband...but also started to gain weight. No it wasn't a ton...but on a 5'1'' frame...to me it felt like a lot. While I'm smiling in this picture, I was also struggling a lot with confidence, body image, and health. Rewind even further back into my life to junior high and high school....I remember being SO upset when the scale would get over 100 lbs.
Yeah talk about body dysmorphia and being completely obsessed with a number! For some reason, when I looked in the mirror I just hated the way I looked. I was NEVER satisfied with my appearance. So how did I deal with it? I would go basically all day without eating...and in 4th period of High School I'd have a Dr Pepper and maybe some Skittles. Yeah talk about carb craving cause basically I was starving my body! I wondered why the heck I had major digestive issues and a WHOLE lot of stomach Pain. I distinctly remember a time going on a date with Greg later on in college and having to go back home and lay on the couch cause after I ate (after NOT eating all day), I was in horrible pain!
FAST FORWARD now 12 years later to where I am now. I am a much healthier and confident person. I am proud to say that I am way happier with where I am not EVEN after birthing 4 kids!
What changed?
When I started my journey with Beachbody back in 2011 after baby number 2 I found a community and support network that changed the way I thought and took care of my health. Our health and fitness is just as much MENTAL as it is PHYSICAL....if not more so! I finally learned to be grateful for the body God gave me. I no longer look in the mirror and want to hide from myself! I learned what HEALTH really looks like. I learned HOW to eat...and that eating is ACTUALLY a good thing for me! I also learned that that darn number on the scale does NOT define me or my self worth! I learned to stop worrying about what others thought of me or how I looked.
My stomach no longer hurts. With the help of shakeology and clean eating....I never have digestive issues or that horrible burning pain that was eating away at my stomach! I have TONS of energy..so much to where people are a bit boggled as to how I do as much as I do now with my kids, work, and fitness journey.
I now have 4 beautiful girls! I want them to grow up feeling confident and happy with who they are! I want them to know HOW to take care of their bodies and not starve it! I certainly don't want them to grow up with a mom who is constantly putting herself down because they will grow up and doing the exact same thing! They watch everything I do...so I have to always ask myself if the example I am setting is the best one?
If you relate to this story, I'd love to hear from you! If you are struggling on your own fitness journey and mental journey when it comes to your health and fitness. PLEASE reach out. Finding a community that can support you and cheer you on so you don't feel alone is SO powerful!
Reach out here or on fb. www.facebook.com/sharpkristin