A few months, I told you that I didn’t have a weight loss story. THAT was a lie. (said in my best Maury voice)

I’m sorry!

If it’s any consolation, I was lying to myself. The truth didn’t hit me until a stumbled on a 13 year old picture of me. This picture:

That’s me my sophomore year of college. I don’t even know how much I weighed in that picture, but I was easily 10-15 lbs more than when I first arrived on campus freshman year.

It’s not hard to see what put me there: I lived off of hot pockets, late night pizza slices, and Natty Ice. Exercise? You’re kidding, right? I’d always played sports growing up, but going to the gym was a whole new ball game – one I had no interest in playing.

I ignored the fact that I was overweight. I STILL ignore it.

I’m not that person anymore, but it hurts me to look at that picture and to think about the person that I was then. I like to think of myself as someone who has it all together, who has ALWAYS had it all together, but in that moment, in that time in my life, and in that picture, it’s so clear to me that I was out of control.

That picture is the culmination of many years of letting drugs and alcohol “solve” my problems, hiding who I really was, and holding closely to hurt and negativity.

It had nothing to do with college (or the Freshman 15); it had everything to do with me.

I’m so happy, thankful, and grateful that less than 1 year later I decided to take matters into my own hands and take my health back.

I did a 7-day detox and lost almost all the weight that I put on. But a detox wouldn’t keep the weight off.

I’ve spent the last 10 years going deeper into this journey with my body, my mind, and my health. All the tiny little steps – from running my first 5k, to cutting out sugar, to green smoothies, to reading dozens of “self help” books, to investing in my first coach – have led me to where I am now: the fittest, healthiest, and happiest I have ever been.

It has been incredibly hard for me to share this, to be vulnerable and for you to know that there was a time when I didn’t have it together. But if sharing my story helps just one person, it was worth it. Please know that I’ve been there and I’m here to help you in any way I can.

From near or far, I want to support you in your journey. xo