Transformation Tuesday

Then and Now

Yesterday, as I was scrolling through my Facebook feed I came upon a post from an old “frienemy”.  This girl was the person you didn’t want to piss off in high school; she was also the person who teased me about my weight on a regular basis.  This girl’s Facebook status definitely surprised me.  She is now a member of a sorority and this week they are discussing “fat” as a label and how it shouldn’t be used to describe women. This post, although a very true statement hurt me more than it inspired me simply because of the person that it was coming from.  She has never struggled with her weight, had to work to be beautiful, had to sacrifice major milestones because she didn’t get asked (can you say homecoming and prom?)….she was popular, the girl everyone wanted to be.  She used to use that very word to break people (especially me) down. 

“Fat so”

“People like her shouldn’t be wearing skinny jeans”

“She’s only going to get bigger….”

Ladies, if anyone EVER calls you fat, do not take it to heart.  I know that it makes us cry, eat, and feel horrible about ourselves, but it is NOT worth it.  The people that say those horrible things to us are horrible and ugly on the inside and that is not who we are.  Women come in all different shapes and sizes and that is perfectly okay, the important thing is your health.  There are always ways to be better, but no one is perfect.  Don’t strive for perfection because quite frankly it is not going to happen.  Strive for that smaller jean size, a new bathing suit, a running race, one healthy meal a day, whatever it is, show them who the strong person is….YOU!

 I took this Facebook status as a sign that I needed to reflect on the transformation I have gone through over the last five months in order to prepare for the wedding this weekend.  My original goal coming out of my freshmen year of college was a size 8 before Megan’s wedding.  Five months later here I am!

 

Here’s me before:

I found this picture of Katie, some random sombrero guy, and me from Country Jam our senior year.

 

 

Here’s me now:

 

All ready for my education department interview. Rocking a size medium dress.

 

I hadn't really noticed the difference in myself before comparing old pictures to me now...there is definitely no denying the change now....

I have gone from a size 16 to a size 6/8 while working and going to school! If I can do it, anyone can!

It got me thinking of how much I have changed not only physically (I mean look at the difference), but emotionally.  I would give my right arm to run into any of the bullies that used to call me fat on a daily basis in elementary school, junior high or high school and tell them that they may have broken me down then, but they did not make me change.  I made this change for me. 

Bailey and I have had many conversations about what it is going to be like to go back to our 5 year high school reunion looking better than we did in high school and see the girls who were twigs back then who probably won’t be in the future.

These last five months have made me a truly better person and I couldn’t have done it without my wonderful family and friends.

 

I can't wait until Thursday and Friday when I get to see family that I haven't seen in months if not years, they aren't going to recognize me and I can't wait to share my story with others!

Until tomorrow J

C