Every month I try to take a look back at my health journey. In the day to day we don’t see the transformation for ourselves, but pictures help tell the story. Below is a picture of me from February of 2026. I was at my heaviest and around 174 pounds, and on the right is me today at 137 pounds.
I was so tired of starting over in my weight loss journey. I would lose a few pounds, celebrate, then gain them back. Then in late March, I decided I would stop eating meat. I wanted to focus my diet on plant forward meals with the occasional piece of fish. I told myself that April would be my month of change. If I could make it through April not eating meat, maybe I could make this a full lifestyle change. Well, April came and went and I discovered that the further away I got from eating meat, the more I did not want to add it back to my diet. I fell in love with plants and how they made me feel after eating them. Currently, I am mostly vegan sprinkled with an occasional vegetarian meal. Then from time to time, I do enjoy fresh PNW fish.
In April, I also decided to get sober. I stopped drinking April 24, 2025. That was 165 days ago, and my life has completely changed since then. I didn’t just stop drinking. I started working on my spiritual growth as well. Every morning since then, before grabbing my phone and scrolling, I sit down to meditate. I focus the first hour of my day in prayer for others and asking God to guide me as the leader of a growing women’s movement. It sets the tone for my day, and I want that to be one that is positive, uplifting, and inspiring.
After morning meditation, I write down inspiring quotes like “trusting the process and letting go of old habits; sharing loving energy and wisdom with all those I have the ability to impact in my day”. Then I spend the remaining time writing down and journaling ten gratitudes in my life. Those gratitudes are a mind altering perspective taking you from “I have to” to “I get to”.
At night before bed, I spend time writing reflections of my day and the whys in how I was able to stay sober, eat healthy, and keep a positive mindset.
I took this picture yesterday which honestly is quite embarrassing to show so much of myself in a bikini, but seeing this reminds me of all the internal work I’ve been doing daily. When I look at this, I don’t see pounds. I see happiness. Also, I never thought I’d find myself in such a skimpy bathing suit. But as I look at this, I see the outside reflecting what is going on inside; positivity multiplying and that light always wins.
I am healing from the inside out learning the confidence is quiet. So is truth. Working daily on yourself is not easy because self reflection is challenging. But when you start feeling the results internally and then seeing them externally, it is a catalyst that helps you keep a growing momentum for a happier, healthier life. I keep hearing that Tim McGraw song “My Next Thirty Years” in my heart and in my head…
