An Introduction to Collegiate Wellness and my Progress
Hello everyone! My name is Sarah and I've decided that as a way to both keep me accountable and share my newfound passion for health and fitness with as many people as I possibly can.
I suppose it is important to start with a little bit about myself, I'm 19 years old, gearing up for my junior of college, and I have had a life long battle with my weight. I remember storing and hiding food in my room so that I could eat it without the shame of other people knowing just how much I was eating. Anytime something stressful happened for me, the answer was always...chocolate, cookies, ice cream, etc. However, in high school I was maintaining a fairly active lifestyle. I played varsity level tennis, and was pretty active. So while I was definitely overweight - it wasn't something that alarmed me.
Then, everything changed. I went away to college, tennis stopped, the stress and pressure of making sure I was thriving at school.... it all sent me on a downward spiral. I didn't even realize it was happening, but quickly my meals got larger, my snacks more frequent, my clothes didn't quite fit the same, and I was gaining weight - more rapidly than I would probably even care to admit now. I have always been a person who prided myself on my ability to be mature and rational, however, when it came to the situation of my own health - I couldn't have been more blind or irrational. That was until I was struck with a wakeup call like only a truly terrible picture can produce, I went home for my cousin's bridal shower and this picture of me was taken:
I felt so huge, it was as though I had no neck, no shape, no nothing, I was just a big blob. It was a really hard reality to face because quite frankly, there was a lot more to it than weight. I was struggling with the confidence that I had worked so hard to gain in high school. I was not getting the grades I got in high school and it was terrifying me. Looking at this picture made me think - had I already failed in some way? Had I worked myself up so much that I stopped caring about myself?
The pain continued, a few weeks later.... this picture was taken:
It was getting worse... So, that night I stepped on the scale for the first time in what felt like ages and I was absolutely astounded with what I saw. I was 245.8lbs. It scared me half to death. I had always watched shows like the biggest loser, and suddenly I realized... I could be one of those contestants. So from that day on my life changed. A week later I was registered for a spin class (now I feel like all I do is spin, but I digress), I rejoined a gym, I stopped drinking soda, and I was off to the races...
This all started a year ago June... I'm not going to pretend that the last year has been easy or that it has all been a joy, but it is so so worth it. It's worth it despite the moments I have to say no. It's worth it despite the times I feel like I'm failing. It was worth it even when I was mortified by how out of shape I was when I started working out.
It's all worth it because I learned that I truly do love myself and that I deserve to. I learned that I am so much stronger than I could've ever imagined. It's all worth it because I've found my true self.... The pictures you'll see below.... they're all secondary to the happiness I feel in my own accomplishments.
I hope you'll join me on this blog, I stand before you now at 168lbs with a goal to lose 100lbs by my 20th birthday.
and remember if I can do this - so can you. We're all in this together.
