I've been on my weight loss journey since 2014. At my heaviest, on the left, I was 181 lbs at 5"2. I would avoid mirrors in my own house. I would refuse to go swimming with my best friends. I would literally pray that I would someday find it in myself to love myself enough to start taking better care of my body. Shortly after the photo on the left was taken, I met Ryan. He was a 27 year old quadriplegic. He had been in a car accident about a year before, and was in a rehabilitation center in St. Louis. The very first time we spoke, he sent me a Facebook message saying "I'm sorry, I know you don't know me, but you just have the most beautiful EYES I've ever seen." I started asking him about his story, and his motivation just blew me away. He was literally re-learning to use his own hands, fighting to delay the atrophy of his muscles to walk again someday, and everything past his neck paralyzed. He was the most intelligent, funniest and smartest man I had ever known.
I knew immediately I loved him. At that moment I began asking myself "What is MY excuse? What's keeping ME from bettering MYSELF? I am able to get myself out of bed every day,, without assistance. I can WALK to the fridge and make my own meals. I can hop on a bike, and go for a ride and see whatever I want, whenever I want!"
So that's what i did. I stuck to a 1,200 calorie a day diet, I stopped drinking soda, and I started working out. And Ryan? He was right there beside me in his wheelchair. He encouraged me to continue college, to travel, and to make myself comfortable in my own skin. Even though he didn't have that ability himself. He changed my life, and I'll always be thankful. But I am the one who did the work! I now work as a Resident Assistant at a hospital, I have a beautiful 3 year old little girl , and at 132 lbs I am a healthy BMI and I have never felt better. And all I needed, was the right kind of motivation. ❤
So that's what i did. I stuck to a 1,200 calorie a day diet, I stopped drinking soda, and I started working out. And Ryan? He was right there beside me in his wheelchair. He encouraged me to continue college, to travel, and to make myself comfortable in my own skin. Even though he didn't have that ability himself. He changed my life, and I'll always be thankful. But I am the one who did the work! I now work as a Resident Assistant at a hospital, I have a beautiful 3 year old little girl , and at 132 lbs I am a healthy BMI and I have never felt better. And all I needed, was the right kind of motivation. ❤
No comments:
Post a Comment