About five years ago, I thought I was the healthiest I had ever been.
I had two beautiful kids (who were out of diapers - hooray!) at ages 4 and 2 and an amazing husband. I was teaching a subject I was passionate about at a public high school and loved my job.
I worked out every morning and restricted my calories as much as I could to try and lose the tummy I gained from being lucky enough to grow two little humans inside of me.
I spent my mornings getting kids dressed, fed and strapped in the car so we could drive 20 minutes to daycare.
My days were spent teaching, planning, grading, worrying about the things teachers tend to worry about and most work days lasted until 5, when the daycare closed.
After work, I picked up the kids, strapped them in their car seats once again, drove 20 minutes, fed them dinner, gave them baths, read them books and then cleaned up the kitchen before crashing into my bed.
Sleep rarely came easily. My thoughts were always racing: what do I need to get done before 1st period tomorrow? How on earth are we going to meet our next yearbook deadline? What am I going to do with that kid who didn’t finish his story for the newspaper? What are we having for dinner tomorrow?
Most mornings I would hit snooze several times, and depending on my mood and how much I had to do that day, wake up to work out or stay in bed until the last possible minute.
This all sounds fairly normal for working moms, right? I was doing what I had to do to make the household work (with the help of my awesome husband), do my job to a self-imposed impossibly high standard, and still exercise so I could continue to fit in my wardrobe and feel good.
Not too long after that, I was 15 pounds heavier, stopping to use the QT bathrooms fearing I wouldn’t make it to the restroom at my school, and falling asleep on the drive home from work - with the kids in the backseat. There were times I would pull over and hand my son my phone to play a game so I could take a power nap before finishing out my commute.
I was canceling plans with friends because of my lack of confidence and because my gut health was so out of whack. I refused to wear shorts in public because I hated my body and the extra weight. I suffered from severe headaches and migraines several days out of every month. Since I had to keep it together at work all day, I got home and tended to take my frustrations and feelings toward myself out on my family. My husband and kids definitely did not get the best of me, but other people’s kids did.
Listen, if you’re still reading this, I have a feeling you can relate - or maybe you’re just curious. Either way, I want you to know I am sharing all this because I was able to change all of it by eating better and making my health a priority.
At the age of 37, I am the healthiest and strongest I’ve ever been. I’ve learned to feed my body the foods it needs to thrive and have the energy it needs to do all the things I love without giving up chocolate or an occasional glass of wine or craft beer. I’ve reprioritized my life and learned that I don’t have to be everything to everyone. I’ve learned to say no. I’ve figured out that the number on the scale shouldn’t determine my mood or how I feel about myself. I’ve also figured out that if I don’t take care of myself, I can’t show up every day and take care of my family.
Whew! I’ve learned a lot recently. :) That’s what comes with age and experience, I guess. While I was working on turning my own health around, I totally nerded out and consumed a lot of books and podcasts on health and wellness which led to me eventually earning my nutrition coaching certification.
Now I am committed to helping others be the healthiest they can be. I believe everyone should feel great and that with a little time, love and consistency anyone can make real, lasting changes to their health.
