My weight loss journey…
This is my very first time really sharing publicly about my recent weight gain…and then loss. It’s one thing to write about it, but then it’s another to actually share photos of the “before” & “after”.
Worrying about my weight has always been an issue for me. No surprise, really. Many of us are like this.
I find there is a fine line between obsessing too much and being truly happy with how I look.
That being said, early last year I tipped the scale at just under 180 pounds, (and I am just under 5ft 4).
The thing is, as you get older, it's not only about how you look, but how you feel.
And I was feeling like shit. Sore feet. Out of breath when we were walking. Arthritis nodules showing up on my fingers and thumbs. Extremely lethargic.
I admire people who love their bodies, no matter what. But, when you feel terrible and your health is suffering, that’s when you really need to re-evaluate the path you are on.
My final trigger was seeing a photo, (classic, right, lol). Ugh.
So, in August I decided to do something I have never done before...
Pay for a weight loss "program".
Noom.
I lost 28 pounds, slowly and very healthily over 3 months.
And my daily breathing and yoga practice, which is something they stressed in the lessons, made a huge difference.
And I am not talking about doing a million Chaturangas
Breathwork and restorative yoga is what supported my whole journey.
You see, when you are stressed, (which is one of my biggest problems), your cortisol levels increase.
And cortisol stimulates your fat and carbohydrate metabolism, while increasing your craving for salty, sweet, or fatty foods.
Yoga (especially restorative) LOWERS cortisol levels.
Yoga is simply one tool. There are others, (mindfulness, tracking foods, monitoring weight, movement, breathwork, gratitude etc.), but doing everything all at one time sets people up like me me for failure. I guess that’s why I did so well on Noom.
Noom brought it all together. Made everything attainable and simple. Day by day.
It also helped bring back a lot of my confidence in my work.
The last couple years I have really doubted my work. There have been many days that I have wanted to simply quit all of this. Teaching yoga. Sharing oils. Creating challenges. All of it.
But, after working my way through the morning lessons and challenging myself daily, I came back to my “WHY”, (in business).
Why…
I teach yoga each week.
I am so passionate about oils for mental and physical health.
I try and show up and share my own wellness journey, (the successes and failures)
Why I do monthly wellness challenges.
I do all of this and keep showing up because the tools I have learned and shared over these many years all work. I just needed a little push of my own.
So, thank you for letting me share with you. I have to admit, I took a deep breath before saving and publishing this to share with you.
Please reach out to me if you have any questions. Kelxo