Embrace your struggle

Chances are, you have been through something in your life that has been difficult. It's very likely you are visiting this site because maybe you're currently going through a struggle. It could be anything from weight loss trouble, a bad relationship, family issues, work problems, an eating disorder and everything in between. I'm writing this tonight because I think it's important for you to know that it's okay to embrace that struggle. I know it's hard and I know sometimes we feel stuck. Sometimes we feel like we have hit rock bottom, and guess what, that is perfectly okay.

I think of this a lot actually. By now you probably know that I struggled with an eating disorder and body image disorder for a very long time (if not, check out my previous blogs) .In the moment it was hell. It was something I would not wish upon anyone. But to be completely honest I am so grateful, so blessed that it happened to me. It shaped me and molded me into who I am today. It has given me a foundation for this wonderful, growing business. It has made me an EXPERT in self love and lifestyle change!

Imagine you worked in an office. You never got taught how to do your job the right way. For years you did your job wrong, trying new ways hoping it would work but instead ending up disappointed and defeated every day. One day you asked for help and although it was hard to get out of your old habits, you received 3 years of one on one attention on how to do your job in the best way possible. You would become an expert! That's how I explain my eating disorder. For ten years I was doing my job wrong, trying to figure it out on my own and failing. I was too embarrassed, too proud to ask for help. When I finally did ask I got the help I needed! From therapist, from nutritionist, holistic health specialist, friends, families, books and much more. I spent over 3 years focusing on ME. Focusing on recovering. Focusing on how to love myself. My struggle set me up to become an expert in loving myself and teaching women to do the same.

Whatever journey you are going through, embrace it. One day it's going to be your story. One day it's going to be the reason you do something amazing. Today I was reading through old journals of when I first started going through my recovery. It blew my mind. I sometimes forget how difficult it was. My mindset was 100% different back then compared to now. It was very rewarding for me to be able to read back to those hard times and really see how far i've come.

I see a lot of women every day that struggle. Maybe not to the extent I did, but to some degree. I see them view themselves differently then the rest of us see them. I see them cutting out foods in order to get 'skinny'. I see them talk negatively about themselves using words like fat, lazy and huge. My goal is to change that. I use to be the exact same way and I know what it feels like to now truly love myself. My goal is to get people away from the mindset of diet, calories, restrictions, meal plans and weight. I want to push women towards loving themselves, making themselves feel good, nourishing their bodies and positive self talk. I PROMISE you if you do those things the outside results WILL happen. If we take care of all the internal  and how we treat ourselves we will get results that last a lifetime.

At one point in my eating disorder I was up to 180+lbs. I got down to 160 but I remember struggling so hard and not being able to get below that. I tried diets, extra cardio, cutting out food, etc. It doesnt work.

I am now somewhere in the 140's. I don't have any food limitations. I don't count calories. And yes, I eat carbs. I have had pasta for lunch and dinner the past 2 days, drink coffee, eat dessert when I feel like it and have my toast with peanut butter and honey every single morning. What I do different now is relax. I've created a healthy relationship with my body. I feed myself regularly. I eat what makes my body feel good, and trust that it can handle the not so nutritious stuff every once in a while. I work out hard when I crave it, but settle on going for walks or stretching when I need it. I take time to meditate and deep breath and only say positive things about myself. I focused on the internal and the external came naturally. Trust the process and trust your journey. Is it hard right now? Do you feel stuck? Think of it like this, it will be a hell of a story when your able to share your success with everyone. Embrace the journey. Embrace the struggle.

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