I Was Bullied in Elementary School - My Story

Time for me to be 100% honest with all of you. I have struggled with my weight all my life - no surprise there! But those struggles also run deep emotionally. Being the "fat kid" makes you the target for bullies. What I am about to share with you is something that I have never shared with anyone, ever. But, it needs to be shared. Not everyone has a support system they can turn to when they are facing bullies, or they don't know what to do when they are being bullied. You don't think there  is anything you can do, so you just keep everything to yourself.

When I was in elementary school, yes, ELEMENTARY SCHOOL, I was picked on because of my weight. Even in middle school I was. But elementary school? I know kids can be mean, and a random comment here or there about my weight never really affected me. What truly hurt was this one person repeatedly doing it. They weren't even in my grade, so I didn't know why they even paid attention. It always happened at recess. I would get made fun of because I wasn't fast, or I couldn't run as far, etc., but I never said anything to the kid. But the comments really hurt me. I remember going home and crying because I wasn't "skinny" because I thought I wasn't good at anything. It really gave me a complex at an early age, not to mention body image issues that I still struggle with, and probably always will.

If I could talk to this person today, I don't even know what I would say. I would like to think that I have put the past behind me and all the comments have made me a stronger person, but I would be lying. I still think back to those times on the playground and wonder what it would have been like if I was skinny. Being picked on is something that a lot of kids have to endure, and it shouldn't be that way. You NEVER know what the other person is going through, so you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover. I never had the courage or confidence to stand up for myself. Confidence is something that I continue to struggle with, but I am working on it and have significantly increased my self-confidence over the past year.

April 2014

A year ago, I decided I wanted, heck, even NEEDED a change. That is when I decided that my health was important and decided to give Beachbody a shot! This was one of the best decisions I have ever made.  If I would have had the confidence back then that I have now, I don't know if it would have had the same effect on me. Yes, it still bothers me, but it is in my past and I WILL NOT let if hold me back from reaching my goals! I think this experience has made me more compassionate and understanding, not only as a person, but also as a coach. I know what some of my challengers are going through, and I can relate to them. No, I'm not that kid anymore, but I have grown into someone who wants to pay it forward and help as many in a similar situation as I was to reach their goals. I understand my challengers on a different level than most coaches. I'm still not the skinny person people expect fitness coaches to be, but I am a fitter, healthier person than I have ever been because of my decision to give Beachbody a try.

April 2015

Whether you are a teenager, adult, whatever, and you are being bullied, just know that there are people in your lives that are willing to help you. Just have enough strength to go and talk to someone. Don't let the bullies get to you. You are strong and your life is worth living.

If you are ready to make positive changes in your life, then join me in my next challenge group! I would love to have you and get to know your story!

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Update On My Life - Back to Basics With the 21 Day Fix

Here is an update with what all has been going on in my life these past few months.

I have been off social media for a while, and I really appreciate all of the messages from everyone asking if I am okay because you haven't seen me online in a while. I just wanted to let everyone know that I am fine. I just have a lot going on in my life right now and have some tough decisions ahead of me to make. Nothing serious, so no need to worry! :) With that being said, I will tell you that I started a job that has kept me very busy, I have been trying to conduct research so I can write a paper that will hopefully get published, and my dad has been suffering from some medical issues. That has taken up a lot of my time and has had me stressed to the max for a while.

Even though I have been very busy, I have been working out everyday, drinking my shakeology, and trying to eat as healthy as I can. I am trying not to sabotage myself that way. Stress usually makes me want to eat ALL THE TIME, eat foods that are bad for me, and hide from everything. With the exception of the later, I have not eaten terribly (with the exception a the occasional ice cream), and have eaten fairly clean and healthy because I plan out all of my meals.

Exercise really is good for the soul. It allows me time to focus on me and what all I can do in situations that I can control. Everything else, I can just pray things work out the way they are meant to.  I usually take it easy on Sundays with my workouts to allow my body time to rest. So, instead of working out today, I spent the day with my husband and mother-in-law fishing.
I am not a "girlie girl" by any means, but I HATE things slimy. When the day started, they were the ones baiting my hook and taking the fish off for me haha. By the end of the day, I was doing it all by myself! :) It was nice to take the day and just do something relaxing for a change, instead of going 100 miles an hour all the time.

On to the point of this post. Accountability and support are the keys to my success in everything I do - working out, school work, my job, every aspect of my life. I would not be where I am today without the support of my family and friends and the accountability I take for my won decisions and for my Beachbody family when it comes to my health.  I say Beachbody family because that is what it is. We are a family - we support one another, we are a shoulder to lean on when we are feeling down, we are motivators to one another. Without the support of my Beachbody coach and other coaches on the team, I would not have been able to be as successful in my weight loss journey as I have been. The constant encouragement, pep talks, guidance, support, motivation, etc. has been what has made me reach goal after goal.

I have been on Shakeology for almost a year, and have been doing Beachbody workout since September 2014. Since then, I have lost about 75 pounds! Yes, you read that correctly. 75 POUNDS!! But, it isn't about what I have lost. It is about what I have GAINED! My confidence and self-esteem are at an all time high! Being able to see results is what motivates me to keep working towards my goals. This is what also DRIVES me to help as many others reach their health and fitness goals as I can.

You know what? It all started with a decision to TRY! Give it 21 days to see if the program worked. I will be honest, I was skeptical that I would be starving on this program. I could not have been more wrong! I was never hungry! I remember thinking to myself, "There is no way that I can lose weight eating this much food!" It isn't the amount of food that you eat, it is the quality of food. Eating healthy allows you to eat more food, and eating every 2-3 hours keeps your metabolism revved up. That's the key to success. The 21 Day Fix is my all-time favorite program because IT WORKS! Plain and simple. The support from the challenge group makes you want to do your best.

Why not you? Why not give yourself the opportunity to create a new lifestyle? It is only 21 days. You can do anything for 21 days! Trust me on this! I will help you make your meal plans, help hold you accountable, provide you with support, and give you a place where you can be you without worrying about how people will react. Everyone has a bad day, and with the challenge group, we support each other and help you stay on track. Everyone deserves to have some "ME TIME." The workouts in this program are only 30 minutes (2% of your day). You don't have to be in peak performance to do these workouts. They are for every fitness level. Anybody can do it! Join me for my next challenge group, starting June 22nd! Help hold me accountable with my health, and I promise to do the same for you! Limited spots available, so hurry up and reserve yours before they are all gone!

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