Everyone has to start somewhere.....

Everyone has to start somewhere....and that somewhere for me was at 9 month postpartum with my 3rd baby! 

But let me start with a little background.  I grew up super athletic...never thin but always excelled at playing sports.  I remember being chubby from about 5th grade on always struggled with good self esteem.  As an adult in my early 20's, I focused a lot of my time on getting in shape and it worked for the most part. Although, my methods of getting there weren't always the best. Usually starvation and over exercising.

So now fast forward to my 30's. With each pregnancy, I gained over 40 lbs. and was always able to get most of the weight off within two years.  This last time, it was different. I was now a mother of 3 kids under the age of 5 and I could barely take care of them...how was I supposed to take care of myself?

I worked out the entire pregnancy this last time, in hopes of not gaining a lot of extra weight, but towards the end, the weight just kept adding up.  In the 9 months post baby, I was able to get off maybe 15 lbs. on my own, but the last 25 lbs. was not going anywhere, anytime soon.

In February of 2015, I remember sitting in my closet trying to get dressed to (just leave the house to go shopping) and nothing fit right.  I felt awful, I looked awful and all I could do was cry (right on the floor of my closet). 

I looked at myself in the mirror and decided this what it. I wasn't going to be this person anymore. I was going to make long term changes and for once be healthy and happy both inside and out.

In the next few weeks following my closet tantrum, I was scrolling through my Facebook feed and saw my friend Kristina posting about her fitness journey. I was intrigued and began to follow her more closely.   She was inspiring, posting videos of her workouts each day, recipes....I wanted to do what she was doing.

I kept seeing her posts about the 21 Day Fix with Shakeology and at that point had no idea what this even was.  I just brushed it off as another weight loss gimmick so take my money and leave me still overweight.

Then it all happened....Kristina posted about an upcoming fitness challenge group she was offering on Facebook and I needed the extra support and motivation....so I messaged her and was all signed up.

She mentioned the 21 Day Fix program and gave me all the details about the program and what Shakeology was.  $140 she said...

I turned to my husband and told him I wanted to buy this weight loss program and give it a shot...I was waiting for him to cringe at the price, but at that point my unhappiness was clear and he gave me the go ahead to order.  He was and always has been my greatest supporter and for that I love him.

Well, to make this long story short....the program came in the mail, I joined Kristina's challenge group, I followed the meal plan, did the home workouts everyday that were included and drank my Shakeology every morning.  21 Days later, I was already down 10 lbs.!!!

I did the 21 Day program 3 more times after that and by the end of April 2015, I was down 25 lbs.! I felt great, was down to my pre-pregnancy weight, but still had ways to go to be where I wanted to be. 

At that point in my journey, I really believed that the 21 Day Fix program was a life changer for me. People were asking what I was doing to lose the weight and I wanted to help them like Kristina had helped me, so I asked her about becoming a coach (the 25% discount on my Shakeology was enough of a benefit for me!!).  With no hesitation, I signed up and people started believing in me. They came to me for help and I was able to help them. Help them become healthier and happier like I was becoming.

Becoming a coach set a fire for me. It gave me so much more accountability and motivation. I had to be the product of the products. I had to inspire people. I don't like to fail. 

Since becoming a coach...I have now lost a total of 45 lbs. I am healthier, thinner and stronger than I have ever been.  It has inspired me to do what I have always wanted to do and that is to help others.

I have now become a certified Insanity Live and Piyo instructor and am now currently working on getting my Personal Training Certificate.

So, when you look in that mirror and doubt yourself. Remember that doubts ruins more goals than failure ever will.  Everyone has a starting point.