• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Run Lift Eat Repeat

  • About
  • Recipes
    • Appetizers & Snacks
    • Breakfast
      • Breads
      • Donuts
      • Eggs
      • French Toast
      • Muffins
      • Pancakes
    • Dessert
      • Brownies & Bars
      • Cakes & Pies
      • Cookies
      • Cupcakes
    • Dietary
      • Dairy-Free
      • Gluten-Free
      • Paleo
      • Vegan
      • Vegetarian
    • Dinner & Sides
    • Holidays
      • Christmas
      • Easter
      • Fourth of July
      • Labor Day
      • Memorial Day
      • Thanksgiving
    • Savory
      • Beef
      • Chicken
      • Fish
      • Pasta
      • Soups
      • Turkey
    • Method
      • One Pan
      • Instant Pot
      • Slow Cooker
  • Extra
    • Baby
  • Shop
  • Work With Me
menu icon
go to homepage
subscribe
search icon
Homepage link
  • RECIPES
  • SHOP MY FAVORITES
  • ABOUT ME
    • Facebook
    • Instagram
    • Pinterest
  • ×

    Losing 140 Pounds Was Easy Compared To...

    This post may contain affiliate sales links. This website generates income via ads. Please see our full privacy policy for details.

    I have always been identified as fat.

    I was larger than most of the girls in my class but not what someone would call severely overweight. I was more muscular, had a broad back and shoulders, wasn't even close to a size zero, and that made me different. Different was not good. I spent my entire teenage years being made fun of ― day in and day out. I tried so hard to look like those girls that I constantly went back and forth between completely restricting myself and then bingeing. The cycle repeated over and over again.

    When I finally stopped hating my body and started to embrace it, it made me want to start treating it better. It made me respect my body for what it is and for what it can do. You only get ONE body for your entire life — work hard to embrace, love, and respect it. Once you do, the rest starts to fall into place.

    When I look back at pictures from that time it fills me with sadness. It immediately takes me back to how out of tune I was with my own body because of what others thought of me ― I remember constantly telling myself, "If I were thin like them everything would be better." I truly believed that being thin would be a magical cure to all of it.

    As the years passed some of those feelings still lingered and I started to isolate myself ― I felt alone and depressed because I felt so uncomfortable in my own skin. By 27 I weighed my heaviest at 325 pounds. I was significantly overweight and my doctor had major concerns. The realization of how unhealthy I was had a profound effect on me. Something shifted. That's when I started to take control and change my life.

    Months later as I was driving home, I felt an overwhelming amount of sadness and burst into tears asking myself, "What the fuck is wrong with me?!" By this point I had lost close to 70 pounds and that's when I realized that the "if I were thin like them everything would be better" line that I used to tell myself was a complete lie. It didn't matter how much weight I lost if nothing was going to change on the inside. That's when the hard work ― the most important work ― was just beginning.

    When I finally stopped hating my body and started to embrace it, it made me want to start treating it better. It made me respect my body for what it is and for what it can do. You only get ONE body for your entire life — work hard to embrace, love, and respect it. Once you do, the rest starts to fall into place.

    I've now lost 140 pounds ― a truly remarkable achievement ― but that was relatively easy compared to the process of learning to love myself and being happy with who I am at any weight. I know that my physical health is in a far better place now that it was almost 3 years ago, but it's the emotional change that is rarely talked about.

    I have learned that the emotional journey is one of finding self-awareness ― it's learning to respect, embrace, and appreciate the body that you've been given for what it is and what it can do. It's understanding that validation comes from within yourself and from no one else.

    When I finally stopped hating my body and started to embrace it, it made me want to start treating it better. It made me respect my body for what it is and for what it can do. You only get ONE body for your entire life — work hard to embrace, love, and respect it. Once you do, the rest starts to fall into place.

    Today's post is brought to you by my friends at prAna. All opinions expressed are my own. My fab friends at prAna are giving all of you 15% off your order by using the code: PHCT18

    More Fitness

    • I'm an advocate of body positivity. I truly believe that we owe it to ourselves to love our bodies, appreciate what they have done and continue to do for us every day, and not hate them because they don't look like the 'standard'.
      Find Reasons to Love Your Body
    • If you're anything like I was 3 years ago you struggle with exercising regularly— that is until I figured out how to build a healthy relationship with exercise.
      How to Build a Healthy Relationship with Exercise
    • As we shift into holiday mode, our shopping is getting started. Here's the holiday gift guide for the fitness enthusiast in your life!
      20 Holiday Gifts for the Fitness Enthusiast In Your Life.
    • Thank you Lorissa’s Kitchen for sponsoring this post. Lorissa’s Kitchen makes delicious snacks using high quality meats like 100% grass-fed beef and chicken raised without antibiotics! Click here to purchase Lorissa’s Kitchen on Amazon!
      Staying Healthy While Traveling + 12 Minute Bodyweight Workout

    You Might Also Like...

    These slow cooker buffalo chicken sliders are an instant crowd-pleaser. Toss the ingredients together in a slow cooker and let it do 99% of the work for you! Your guests will be coming back for more— perfect for game days!

    Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders

    The best smash burger recipe— zero exaggeration! These burgers are incredibly juicy, perfectly crispy, smothered in cheese, and topped with a hefty amount of secret sauce. Serve between a toasted brioche bun and this is truly the ultimate smash burger recipe.

    The Best Smash Burger Recipe

    Add this cheesy rotini pasta with roasted vegetables to your dinner menu! Combined together in a pot— rotini pasta, melted cheese, rich marinara sauce, and roasted vegetables. It adds a twist to a classic pasta dish that the entire family will love!

    Cheesy Rotini Pasta with Roasted Vegetables

    Easy Peanut Butter Granola

    Reader Interactions

    Comments

    1. Rudy Stankowitz

      October 22, 2018 at 10:00 am

      Wow! How very inspirational for those that challenge themselves to be more, to do more. Thank you for sharing this very personal story of your triumphs and the road you travel. You Got This! ?

      Reply
    2. CrazyFitnessGuy

      October 22, 2018 at 11:25 am

      You don't look fat in the pictures. But congrats on losing the weight and keep up the good work. Don't let anyone tell you that you are fat.

      Reply

    Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    Rate this recipe




    Primary Sidebar

    Hi, I'm Christina! I’m a cook, baker, photographer, and fitness enthusiast. I started this space to share the truth, the fails, the struggles, and the triumphs about my weight loss journey. It later turned into a way to also share healthier recipes.

    More About Christina →

    Trending Right Now

    • These easy to make cookie dough protein bites are made from just 6 basic ingredients and taste just like cookie dough. Perfect on-the-go or pre-workout snack!
      Cookie Dough Protein Bites
    • This creamy mushroom pasta recipe is an easy weeknight meal that's ready in just 30 minutes! The mushroom sauce is heavenly — it's bright, flavorful, tons of garlic and incredibly creamy.
      Creamy Mushroom Pasta
    • These gluten-free pancakes are light and fluffy, just like all pancakes should be. Load them with the add-ins of your choice!
      Gluten-Free Pancakes
    • This avocado egg toast is a simple breakfast that takes just 10 minutes. With just 5 ingredients, this breakfast will keep you full for hours!
      10-Minute Avocado Egg Toast
    • These big fat soft-baked chocolate chip cookies are thick and slightly crispy around the edges. The secret for the chewiest chocolate chip cookie texture is more brown sugar than granulated sugar, an extra egg yolk, plus a little cornstarch! No chilling required!
      Soft-Baked Chocolate Chip Cookies
    • This banana pudding pie recipe combines a crunchy cookie crust, soft and sweet vanilla pudding, thick slices of bananas, layers of Nilla Wafers, and a mountain of homemade whipped cream. Everyone who tried a slice instantly loved it.
      The Easiest Banana Pudding Pie
    • These soft and chewy oatmeal cookies have that classic homemade flavor—made with no refined sugar, hearty oats, and whole wheat flour. Your family will fall in love with this recipe.
      Healthier Soft & Chewy Oatmeal Cookies
    • When you're craving donuts but want to make them at home without all the work— these glazed donuts save the day! This glazed donut recipe is incredibly simple, 35 minutes start to finish, and are baked, not fried. Perfect for the weekend or even during the week!
      Easy Baked Glazed Donuts

    Recent Recipes

    • These buffalo chicken sliders are an instant crowd-pleaser. Toss the ingredients together in a slow cooker and let it do 99% of the work for you! Your guests will be coming back for more— perfect for game days!
      Slow Cooker Buffalo Chicken Sliders
    • The best smash burger recipe— zero exaggeration! These burgers are incredibly juicy, perfectly crispy, smothered in cheese, and topped with a hefty amount of secret sauce. Serve between a toasted brioche bun and this is truly the ultimate smash burger recipe.
      The Best Smash Burger Recipe
    • Add this cheesy rotini pasta with roasted vegetables to your dinner menu! Combined together in a pot— rotini pasta, melted cheese, rich marinara sauce, and roasted vegetables. It adds a twist to a classic pasta dish that the entire family will love!
      Cheesy Rotini Pasta with Roasted Vegetables
    • This homemade peanut butter granola is satisfying and delicious. Made with basic pantry ingredients— oats, cinnamon, coconut oil, honey, and maple syrup. With tons of flavor in each bite, you'll keep coming back for more!
      Easy Peanut Butter Granola

    Footer

    ↑ back to top

    About

    • Meet Christina
    • Privacy Policy

    Newsletter

    • Sign Up! to get recipes to your inbox for FREE!

    Contact

    • Contact
    • Work With Me

    This website earns from qualifying purchases from affiliate links and generates income via ads.

    Copyright © 2023 Run Lift Eat Repeat on the Foodie Pro Theme