My Story

I did not think I could ever be fit. Ever.

I actually remember in elementary school when a classmate pinched my cheek and said, “See that, that means you’re fat!” This was the first time I started to be discontent with my body. Third grade! Let’s continue…

Ok, background.

Let's start with food. Basically I grew up eating fresh foods with heavy doses of Italian-American and San Antonio Tex-Mex flavors, and a dash (more a like sploosh) of ice cream and popcorn. So pasta, olive oil, salad, pasta, rice, meat, bread, garlic, pasta, ranch, bread, eating out, pasta, bean & cheese tacos, KFC, and bread. My body decided this diet was acceptable until I hit sophomore year in high-school, which is when the the weight-gain began. Mind you, I was never comfortable in my skin up to this point anyway. This of course was compounded by the freshman 15, and the college 40 very soon after. In college I fell for all the shakes (slim and non-slim), the Special K Diet, weight loss pills, Weight Watchers food, NutriSystem, do-it-your-self punishments diets, and any other food idea that had been come up with. Nothing worked. I was decently active and would even go to the gym occasional and sweat my face off for a time period with no results and then give up.

This is where it gets a bit interesting… to put it in a nutshell, God put it on a best friend and I’s heart to travel for a year and serve where we were. The best name I can think of for it is a “Jesus-year” (more on that later). To get ready for it my best friend moved in with me and we began to save and prep for the Jesus-year. Little did I know that it would be almost a year and a half of prepping and saving that would involve me learning that I was deeply convicted about my body and how I was living.

You see, my best friend was a very fit person who ate super healthy… which revealed to me that I didn’t even come close to her skinny-habits and I was annoyed at her for it because I was not.  I had never noticed it before because honestly she wasn’t calorie-conscious and she ate all the time. Either way, I decided to join her at the gym so I at least wouldn’t feel too bad about myself for the camaraderie and maybe I could osmosis her skinny-ness. With the gym sign-up came a free personal training session… ok! I was thinking maybe I could learn everything in one session and then do it on my own. Turns out God wanted me in personal training for about 6 months (not easy when you’re completely broke… but that’s a story for a later day) and I at least started to learn that there was a smart-ish way to work out and I began to dabble in healthier eating.

Anyway! The time came for my best friend and I to fly off to Australia to begin our Jesus-Year. I had made about five pounds of progress and was desperate to keep the weight off, plus my friend wanted to stay active (her legs hurt if she didn’t do something during the day… I know… right?!) so we bought a great program and flew off.

We lived on an island for about 6 months working as cleaners in a hostel where we jerry-rigged a workout spot for our program using crazy resistance bands and bunk beds. I got stronger and THICKER. Not pleased about this but I at least felt better and my eating had not really changed almost improved. Honestly, I didn’t workout everyday… maybe 3-4 times a week… maybe.

Then God called us to New Zealand. So beautiful! We ended up living with different families and eating what they did. We didn’t have a whole lot of control over our food, there was no working out, and we were introduced to “Time for tea!”. Ok so… breakdown… there is breakfast and then there is tea (which has pastries), then there is lunch followed by tea (which has pastries), then there is dinner which is followed by tea (which has pastries). P.S. Most meals also include pastries. AAAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! Needless to say both of our waistbands expanded. Top that off with moving back to Australia and eating out with my family (who were in Sydney for a wedding), almost every meal for two weeks and you have a properly stuffed muffin-ing-over-her-pants me!

So! By the time I came back to the states I was the biggest I’d ever been, unhealthy as all get-out, every time I ate my stomach hurt, and I could not poo for the life of me.  I thought I was toast - remember, I can’t get fit… it’s not in my genes. Fully ready to deal with just being overweight embrace the “curvy” lifestyle I saw a woman in my church with the program we had been using logo stamped on her T-shirt. AH! I immediately introduced myself and she said, “First thing was to get your nutrition set… you need to be on a health supplement.” Um NO. How about heck no! As in “been there done that and the t-shirt is too small and it’s make-believe”. If I was going to do this I was going to do it with real food… but thank you.

She patiently smiled at me and said, “No, this is different… how about you do the research and then we’ll talk.” Fair enough. I was game.

I felt amazing! You have to understand here, food was food. First of all, if it’s going in my mouth it better be delicious. But, if I ate it, my tummy would probably hurt afterwards, and the day would go on. It didn’t ever make me feel energetic (If anything it made me sleepy) or “good.” I thought that was something people told themselves to make them feel better about eating “rabbit food.” So, this was a new experience. And… I started losing weight. As in 20-pounds-that-never-came-back losing weight! A later story for another day.

With finally starting to lose weight I thought I maybe JUST MAYBE could do get fit…ish. At least fit-ish. I started my first workout and I have never looked back.

One other thing: I had been praying that whole year that God would train me into a woman of his heart. One that encouraged, affirmed, served, laughed, lived life with people in a way that built them towards Christ, and overall a woman of action. After a few weeks my coach packet came in, I figured I could at least go over it and see what was up. I also just happened to have my Bible open to Titus and Proverbs while reading what it takes to be a coach… the characteristics were identical. WHAT?! Right there God made it clear that I was to become a coach.  ARE YOU KIDDING ME!! I DO NOT LIKE WORKING OUT! But it was clear - I had asked for training and this was it. I argued with Him for all of five seconds before I caved. This was going to be intentional training to be a woman of His heart and He was going to blow my world up with it.

Since then… I lost over 40 pounds and then had to lose it all over again after having my sweet boys (yes, twins) and I am eating delicious food. I have found a way to move and keep myself fit that I love. I am fit, healthy, can-chase-my-boys-around happy, energetic during my 3rd pregnancy, and I enjoy my body. Now being pregnant with my 3rd, I cannot wait to see what God does next!