|
My story begins in elementary school.
For as long as I can remember, I have struggled with weight. My first memory of my struggle was in second grade when, concerned for my weight, my mother took me to the doctor and he suggested a diet of healthier foods. I can remember sitting at the table and eating carrot sticks and telling my mother I didn't feel full. Several years later, she shared that she agonized over helping me select healthy food choices and often felt helpless and uneducated in helping me make my decisions. During my eighth grade year, determined to shed a few extra pounds in preparation for high school (and boys!), a family friend invited me to attend weekly Weight Watchers meetings with her. My mother and I spent the winter of that year learning more about nutrition and celebrating my weight loss success. |
|
Thanks to a horrid eighth grade science teacher, I became more aware of animal cruelty issues in the food industry, declared myself a Vegetarian and ate many, many salads and peanut butter sandwiches for the next five years. My mother was constantly worrying about the nutritional needs of a growing teenage girl, and the lack of meat and proteins in my diet, but she and my dad understood my tender heart for animals and supported me throughout high school with my eating choices. Eventually I grew tired of my limited diet, and felt I took a stand on my beliefs and, in the spring of my senior year of high school, decided to turn back into a meat-eater. My friends and I celebrated my new declaration of eating "real meat" by savoring a hamburger at McDonalds. :)
I swam competively in High School and don't recall being particularly self-conscious about my weight; although I do remember comparing myself to other teammates and friends. In fact, I vividly remember using a black Sharpie marker to color in my thighs on our team photos!
I don't know exactly when I decided I hated my body.
But my poor body image took its toll with years of low self-esteem and self-defeating behaviors that carried me well into adulthood.
After high school, I went on to college and earned a Bachelor of Business Leadership degree, married my sweetheart at age 20, and continued to struggle with ups and downs of weight, low self-esteem and emotional eating issues that came with that humiliating cycle.
I can specifically remember our first year of marriage. I had added over 50 pounds to my 5' 7" frame. I was so happy and content with my husband, we were busy working full-time, creating our first home and building our life together. We ate many of our meals in fast food restaurants because we really didn't know how to cook. The weight quickly crept up on me. So much so, that we spent our first anniversary in our little bathroom. I, unfortunately, had gained so much weight that Ben had to cut my wedding band off my finger. That was a devastatingly low-point in my weight process. One that sent me back to Weight Watchers. Again.
This gain-and-lose pattern would continue for the next several years.
On October 14, 2006, 15 months after the birth of our second son and with the guidance of Weight Watchers, I had finally shed over 80 pounds and declared victory at my healthy lifetime weight. Eventually I became a certified Meeting Receptionist and Leader for Weight Watchers. I believe that during this time as Meeting Leader, I realized my passion for educating, supporting and encouraging others to walk a healthy path toward weight loss and management began to spark.
I didn't realize the importance of healthy, supportive thinking skills, self-discovery and lifelong learning until Fall 2012 when I decided to follow this blossoming passion for nutrition and wellness and became certified as a Health Coach in 2013.
It is only through my own experience, knowledge and passion for educating others on eating for nutrition instead of comfort that I launch my own coaching practice to help educate, support and encourage others to address the self-esteem issues, start on an important path of self-discovery and pursuit of wellness.
I am anxious to hear your story, help with your struggles, and celebrate with you as you unlock your healthy potential!
Take the time to pursue your goals - YOU are worth it!
Healthy Blessings,
Sara
I swam competively in High School and don't recall being particularly self-conscious about my weight; although I do remember comparing myself to other teammates and friends. In fact, I vividly remember using a black Sharpie marker to color in my thighs on our team photos!
I don't know exactly when I decided I hated my body.
But my poor body image took its toll with years of low self-esteem and self-defeating behaviors that carried me well into adulthood.
After high school, I went on to college and earned a Bachelor of Business Leadership degree, married my sweetheart at age 20, and continued to struggle with ups and downs of weight, low self-esteem and emotional eating issues that came with that humiliating cycle.
I can specifically remember our first year of marriage. I had added over 50 pounds to my 5' 7" frame. I was so happy and content with my husband, we were busy working full-time, creating our first home and building our life together. We ate many of our meals in fast food restaurants because we really didn't know how to cook. The weight quickly crept up on me. So much so, that we spent our first anniversary in our little bathroom. I, unfortunately, had gained so much weight that Ben had to cut my wedding band off my finger. That was a devastatingly low-point in my weight process. One that sent me back to Weight Watchers. Again.
This gain-and-lose pattern would continue for the next several years.
On October 14, 2006, 15 months after the birth of our second son and with the guidance of Weight Watchers, I had finally shed over 80 pounds and declared victory at my healthy lifetime weight. Eventually I became a certified Meeting Receptionist and Leader for Weight Watchers. I believe that during this time as Meeting Leader, I realized my passion for educating, supporting and encouraging others to walk a healthy path toward weight loss and management began to spark.
I didn't realize the importance of healthy, supportive thinking skills, self-discovery and lifelong learning until Fall 2012 when I decided to follow this blossoming passion for nutrition and wellness and became certified as a Health Coach in 2013.
It is only through my own experience, knowledge and passion for educating others on eating for nutrition instead of comfort that I launch my own coaching practice to help educate, support and encourage others to address the self-esteem issues, start on an important path of self-discovery and pursuit of wellness.
I am anxious to hear your story, help with your struggles, and celebrate with you as you unlock your healthy potential!
Take the time to pursue your goals - YOU are worth it!
Healthy Blessings,
Sara
