Before starting with Healthy Life, I lead the typical yo-yo life style. I let others influence how I see myself. There are too many hurtful stories to tell. I buried my depression, loneliness, hurt feelings, buried it all with food. This began my journey through life sabotaging and destroying relationships and my own self-worth, then bury the hurt with food.
November 2021 was the month that will stay with me. This is when I made the decision, NO MORE. I had a doctor’s appointment and weighed in at 256 pounds. I typically avoided the scale so I wouldn’t have to know what I weighed. I remember sitting in my car and crying. Emotionally, it was so hard to accept what I was doing to myself. I have tried everything out there short of surgery.
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Acceptance, trust, and support play a huge role in getting me where I am. Accepting help has always been hard for me. I am learning to share my emotions and accept help dealing with issues without turning to food. I had to learn to trust the process. It took me a couple months but finally that light bulb came on
and I realized I can do this. I have had so much support. My advisor, Heather Landers, never gave up on me. She has always been there through it all. I have been amazed how she can just know, hey I need to call Bonnie. My family are my biggest cheerleader’s. They genuinely get excited right along with me. I know it hurt them to see me at my lowest. Our Healthy Life with Heather community, can’t say enough about this group. Wonderful group of people that encourage and share.
Don’t get me wrong, I still have ups and downs and I fall down. The key now is I get right back up and continue. It took a couple months for me to really trust the process but I started feeling so much better. I feel wonderful and do so much now. I am getting stronger every day, week, month….I can do burpees and jump rope. I hiked to the top of Sugarloaf Mountain after kayaking across the lake. I even went indoor rock climbing. I am discovering a new me!! I am accepting me for who I am. I can look in the mirror or at a picture and not cringe. I love my new lifestyle.
Trust the process. Don’t give up because of a few setbacks. Every day is not perfect. Always know that tomorrow is a new day. Know that you are in control and challenge yourself. Don’t let others bring you down. Know that you are worthy. Love yourself! Lean on your advisor. Use the app. There is so much information out there. Most of all, set small goals, share and celebrate those achievements you will touch someone else when you share. There is someone else out there that needs that encouragement.
- Bonnie N.