MY STORY

I grew up in suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania in a family of girls. Being a girl in a family of girls, I have always struggled with comparison. When I was in middle school, I started to gain a lot of weight and started to really struggle with self-image. I found myself putting up barriers in my head of what I could and could not do because of my weight. I remember seeing how different I was compared to the rest of my sisters. When I was in middle school I was diagnosed with Graves’ disease and Hashimoto’s disease. Two very difficult thyroid conditions. The weight came on faster than I could handle. And the more the weight, the less confidence I had in myself.

I went to Clarion University of Pennsylvania and graduated in four and half years with a double bachelor’s degree. I dreamed of becoming a teacher, a mother and marrying my high school sweetheart. After graduation, I struggled to get a solid teaching job until I landed my dream career at a middle school in Virginia. At the same time, I was marrying my high school sweetheart, another total dream come true, until it was time for me to try on the wedding dress. I had weighed the most I had weighed my entire life and had zero confidence in myself. This all changed when my health and wellness coach came into my life. She helped me to gain confidence in myself and put on the wedding dress of my dreams! 

I continued to battle my weight throughout my first few years of teaching and marriage. I never felt confident in who I was, and it was reflected in my work and at home. When I was preparing to get pregnant with my first son, I worked really hard and dug in deep into my fitness. I had a healthy pregnancy and a healthy baby boy. I lost 50 pounds and bounced back from pregnancy so easily. But when I was about 6 months postpartum, I found out that I was pregnant again. My second pregnancy was extremely difficult. I gained 70 pounds, I battled sciatic nerve pain, plantar fasciitis and was a high-risk pregnancy. 

When I was recovering from our second c-section, I didn’t know who I was anymore. I knew that I was tired, scared and drained. I didn’t want to admit or realize that I was battling postpartum depression and pushed beyond my emotional limits. I tried to mask over these emotions and feelings until March of 2020. The emphasis COVID hit and rocked my world just like many other Americans. I could no longer hide behind my work; I was now working from home with two toddlers. And I was forced into really digging in deep to take care of myself mentally as I was being exposed to so many of my flaws. 

In such a devastating time for our country and our world, I was blessed. I was blessed with transforming my mindset, my heart and my body. I lost 100 pounds and gained the confidence I had been lacking most of my life. I am not perfect, but I do spend everyday living and putting forth my absolute best. I want my family to get the best version of myself every single day. And it is time for me to share this blessing with others and pay it forward!