The past 5 years

My schedule has changed a lot in the past 5 years.

In 2015 after graduating high school & starting out as a college student a lot was changing for me. I was finally free from high-school and was so excited to hop into that college experience. Looking back now, I loved everything about college. While attending, I was working full time while doing a mix of online & on campus classes. It was a lot to juggle and sometimes it seemed like all I filled my time with was work, studying, homework & classes. But as a busy college student, who didn’t feel that way?

Work was, well, work. It wasn’t anything fancy by any means, but an easy way to earn some money to help me through college & buy things that I might need or want. The only downside to work was that mindless eating & snacking. The slice of greasy pizza for lunch and that bag of chips for a snack. Or it was leftover chicken tenders on the night shift & that huge cappuccino to get me through the opening shift. The energy drink to pick me up after a busy lunch rush... I started to not care about how I was treating my body, or to be honest, I started to not think twice about what I was putting into my body. Soon I felt sluggish, I felt drained, I felt bloated, I felt… just not good about myself. But I didn’t think twice about doing anything proactive to change that. Why? Because I had that “busy college student just trying to get through” mentality that I just used as an excuse thinking it would get my by for the time being.

When I graduated & moved into the 9-5 world in 2017, it was a big change for me; as I would suspect it is for any other person. I would wake up, get ready, pack a quick lunch, go into work, come home & then literally do nothing for the rest of the day - yes literally nothing. I would come home, lay in bed or sit on the couch & just aimlessly scrolling through my phone & social media. Seeing all of these other girls working out, being active & fit, showing up for themselves.. but something in me was just hanging onto another excuse. I continued gaining weight but used the “I don’t have time” excuse. Now looking back.. I only wish that I could take back all that *wasted* time.

2018 came around I finally had enough of “watching” and wanted to try doing. More importantly, I had enough of WISHING I looked a certain way and decided to actually try to make a change. I started dipping my toes into online workouts that I would either find on Pinterest or even on YouTube. They were hard.. so if I told you that they were easy for me.. I would be lying. I would stick to working out each day after work for at least 20 minutes, eat as clean & as “healthy” as I thought I could. But after a few weeks passed I would just fall off and give up. Then eventually I would pick it back up. It was this cycle that I was stuck in & I just couldn’t seem to get myself out of.

2019 was the year. The year that the best opportunity literally fell into my lap, a little message that just said hi quick that turned into so so much more. I signed up to start a workout program, with a girl I had never met before (shout out to you Tara, ILY!), and just jumped in with both feet. I had no clue what I was getting myself into, but all I knew is that it felt right. I didn’t know what was to come, but I knew that it was a change & a step in the right direction.

Before I knew it I had completed my first program. It was 80 days long (on day 1 it seemed close to impossible to finish) but I started seeing some pretty AMAZING results. Like, brag about results. Results that made me want more & made me realize some pretty big things about myself. Results that were not only physical but mental and I was hooked. Soon I was onto my next program, and then the next and it just kept going and is still going! I was immediately plugged into the most incredible, kind & encouraging accountability group where the girls have become some of the best friends I could ask for.

To say 2019 brought me some great things is an understatement. I got engaged to my best friend (one of the best days everrr!!) I said yes to this amazing journey. I have grown in so many areas of my life & just have taken so many steps forward that i'll forever be thankful for.

But, I finally had the tools to help me make those steps forward. Those resources that I so badly needed before that I never had at my fingertips. Meal plans, accountability, recipes, daily encouragement, a community to plug into every dang day.. Everything that I needed to get started & become successful I had and still have every day.

Does this all sound familiar? Maybe your story is different than mine but this makes you get that weird feeling in your stomach because you know how it feels to feel lost in yourself. Maybe it’s very similar to how you feel. Either way, YOU have a story & YOU have a CHOICE. I still work full time. I still make time for my family & friends. I still live my life & have fun. But now I am taking that proactive step to make sure that my health is at the top of my list every single day.

Maybe this sounds like something you need, too. If so, let’s chat - it’s time to start living that life you love.

XO,

Michelle Elizabeth