It's that time again...#pushit challenge for week 4. I am so excited for y'all to meet someone who is a big part of my life. She is my best friend, my biggest pain in the butt, and someone I am so very proud of. She is my little sister, Stephanie Glaspie. She is showing the world that when you fall down, you gotta get back up. So with that being said, please enjoy my sister's story...
I've never possessed high self-esteem throughout the years. I
was never the skinniest, the smartest or the most popular in school. I
wore baggy clothes ranging from sizes large to extra-large, with a size 15-17
in pants. I did not like to work out, do physical
activities with friends or diet. I was a lost cause when it came to my weight,
so from this I will tell my story.
I guess you could say I started my weight
loss journey back in 2008. I went home during one of my college breaks and met
a guy. He was a family friend, who got my number from my parents and we started
to talk. He was in the Air Force, older than me, liked to have a good time and
had these blue eyes that locked me in immediately. We were on and off for over
a year due to me being in college and him traveling because of his job. I received
a call one afternoon, and he said he was done with our relationship. I was at a loss for words and just sat in my
car. Looking out the window at the Windermere Pool, or as we liked to call it, "America’s Next Top Model Pool", something clicked. I wanted to lose weight.
I weighed myself a
week or so after that thought and weighed in at 195 pounds. “How did this
happen!? No wonder he let me go!” I
thought to myself. I was disgusted at what I had become. Most
people joke about the freshman 15, but I gained the freshman 30-40! That’s when
I made my change.
I started going to the Windermere gym late at
night in hopes no one would be in there. I couldn’t even run for a minute
without stopping because I thought I was going to pass out. After a couple
months of slow running and walking, I slowly started getting the confidence to
attempt the weight machines. I had some knowledge from using them in high
school, but I didn’t even know where to start! I would
nervously look around and try to examine the little figurines on the side in
hope to figure it out quickly before someone noticed I had no idea what I was
doing. I always felt so out of place in the gym, but I kept going.
I would lose 5 pounds
here, 5 pounds there and before I knew it, the gym became part of my lifestyle.
As much as the break-up hurt me, it pushed me to focus on myself and
accomplish goals I never thought I could do.
It has been almost six years since I first
started working out. In those six years,
I have managed to run 2.50 miles without stopping, increased my weights and
slimmed down my waistline. I now wear mediums in shirts and size 9 in jeans. I
go to the gym anywhere from 3-5 times a week to keep my weight off and lost 60
pounds at my smallest, weighing in at 138 lbs. on my wedding day. I was so proud of
myself because I never thought I could do this.
After all those lonely nights at the gym by myself, blisters
on my toes, eczema flare ups from all the sweat and leg muscles so sore that I could barely get up the stairs, I had achieved what I set my mind to. I never gave up and kept pushing myself hard.
I was happy. I told myself four years
ago, I was never going back to what I once was. But little did I know I would ever go through the heartache
of a divorce...
I went from being with someone who brought out the best in me, to
someone who brought the worst out in me. I tried to keep our marriage together,
but he did not want to be married. I was devastated. I began to have thoughts
of failure in myself, depression sank in and had no energy to do anything. He
had mentally and emotionally exhausted me.
I turned to food for comfort and exchanged my jeans for sweatpants. I
gained 15 pounds from eating cookies, Reese cups, pizza, etc. I came back to my parents from Fort Drum, NY
with a little amount of money, my clothes, dishes and my dog, Miley Jo. I lost my car due
to the horrendous winter, my home, my husband, insurance and had no job. I hit
rock bottom and it wasn’t pretty.
But here I am, telling myself exactly
what I told myself six years ago—don’t give up. Life threw me for a loop, but I
am coming out of this relapse a stronger and wiser woman. Friends and family
are encouraging me, giving me hope and keeping me motivated. I am
back focusing on myself and pushing forward every day. I know I haven’t reached
my ultimate weight loss goal, but I have determination and strength to keep going
for it. The journey might not always be easy,
but never give up and always believe in yourself.
“Fall down seven times, stand up eight!”
2008 (Before)
 |
2014 (After)
 |
This week’s push-it challenge:
I’ve been trying to tone my arms
for summer, so lets get those arms moving!
There are many arm work-outs- some with just
your body weight or some with dumbells. Just work your arms a couple times this
week if you haven’t been doing so, and let's get ready for summer!
If you bench press or use weight
machines: Increase your weight by just 5 pounds by the end of this week.
Work those muscles!
Stephanie <3
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