So I know I can sound preachy when talking about health and fitness to you all sometimes, but there's good reason for it. I honestly don't know where I would be had I not taken proper care of myself over the years. It's really not all about looks. You should exercise because you love your body not because you hate it.

This is going to be a bit long, but I promise there's a point to it all lol! I just want to share a little about myself(:

Okay, where to begin...

As most of you may already know, I'm a 25yo (26 on August 3rd) mom of 2 beautiful girls (6 years (7 on August 19th) & 13 months). My mom got pregnant with my identical twin sister and I when she was 15, dropped out of HS due to extreme morning sickness (she was throwing up at the bus stop), and had us a week after she turned 16. The doctor actually wanted to adopt my sister and I. I guess it was because my mom was so young and my dad was drunk in the delivery room.

I'm not gonna lie, I do think about how different my life would've been had I been adopted by that Dr. Would it have been easier, less painful and more fulfilling? But then I quickly realize I wouldn't be who I am today. Plus, I wouldn't have met my SO and I wouldn't have my daughters and my family is absolutely everything to me.

Like her mom, my mom is also a recovering addict (methamphetamine and opiates are her drugs of choice) My mom was in and out of my life a lot (physically and mentally), but we still shared some beautiful memories together. I was a huge mama's girl haha!

My grandma and grandpa (dad's mom and dad) took care of my sister and I for the first couple years of our lives. I've never met my mom's dad, but from what I understand, he sexually abused my mom when she was very young and just wasn't a good person. He also died before I was born.

Anyway, back to the point.. It got so bad that I didn't even know where my mom was or if she was even alive for months. I even came home one day to find my things pawned for drug money. She said she was letting someone "borrow" my laptop. One time, I came home from school to my mom in the back of an ambulance, because she had a seizure. Everyone didn't even think she was my mom, because she was so underweight. They thought she was a little girl. My mom would hear voices and have episodes and say the craziest things. I've seen many things that no child should ever have to see their parent do and go through. I've moved countless times and went to multiple different elementary schools, 3 different middle schools, and 3 different high schools within my junior year alone.

My dad is an alcoholic and I rarely ever see or talk to him. He's peed all over himself in public, has multiple DUIs and no license. He was more involved in my life when I was a kid, but idk what happened. Anyway, my sister and I had to have a legal guardian throughout HS, and he was a male family friend. I'm forever grateful for him and the sacrifices he made for my sister and I, but it was very awkward and he didn't really talk much and unfortunately, it never really felt like home living with him. I would've loved more than anything to have my mom and dad in my life and to come home to them after school everyday, teach me how to drive, get me ready for prom, etc. But sadly, they experienced none of it with me. I even spent many Christmases without my parents as a kid. Because of this, I clang to my boyfriend I met when I was 15 and in 9th grade. He was in 10th grade. I just craved so badly to feel wanted and loved. I got pregnant during senior year when I was 18.

When I was 6 months pregnant, I walked across the stage and received my HS diploma, and my boyfriend worked really hard for our family after he graduated hs and I've been a SAHM ever since. I absolutely love it! I feel so blessed to be there for my children everyday, to raise them and never miss a thing. I wouldn't want it any other way! My SO and I have been together for over 10 years now (4/16/10), true HS sweethearts 🥰 He is the best partner and daddy I could've ever hoped for! He's so good to us, has a genius IQ and is literally the smartest, most hard working person I've ever met! I still can't believe how lucky I am to have him in my life.

The point of this is in no way intended for you to pity me or feel bad for me. I'm beyond blessed in so many ways, and the point is, with all that I've been through (and I know there's much worse), I've never had to take antidepressants or antianxiety medications (not that there's anything wrong with that at all!) But I truly believe it's due to my love and passion for health and fitness, taking care of myself, eating right, and working out religiously from a young age. However, it's never to late to become a better version of you, begin your journey towards a healthy lifestyle and a wonderful life that's truly worth living. And although I've moved numerous times throughout my childhood and life, I've learned that my body is my true home, and you only get one. If you take care of your body, your body will take care of you ❤

I really just want to help people, to make a difference in just one person's life would mean the absolute world to me. Also, my sister suffered from anorexia when we were in middle school. It was a very difficult time for us. She really struggled with body image and would count calories and barely eat anything, then she would exercise right after. She would even exercise in restaurant bathroom stalls after eating, so maybe that's why I really got into health and fitness when I did.. idk.

So I'm sorry if I sound like a health and fitness know it all at times. I truly just want to help, because if I can get through life without any antidepressants and antianxiety medications, then I know many others out there can too, maybe even you. it just takes a little effort, but trust me when I say it's sooooo worth it!

Please, please don't think I'm hating on these medications or looking down on the ones who do take them. I swear I don't and I'm not. Anxiety and depression run on my mom's side. She takes meds for it and so does my 15 yo sister. It's heartbreaking. I just wish doctors wouldn't push these medications on people so much and so fast when a natural and simple change in lifestyle can make all the difference.

Ugh, I hope I don't sound rude or nasty, because I'm really not like that at all! I'm such a people pleaser and a peace maker, so that's just not me. Obviously every case is different, and a natural approach isn't for everyone. Many people really do need these medications to function. I just want to encourage everyone to be the best they can be with or without antidepressants. We all have endurde so much to get to where we are today. I just hope you can see where I'm coming from and why I'm so into being healthy and exercising. Like the topic says, I'm just proud of how far I've come. You should be proud of you too.

This quote has really stuck with me over the years

Never underestimate the power of exercise. It's amazing how much better I feel after a workout! Get up and get your heart and feel good hormones going! Stay strong ladies ❤❤❤

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