Whoever said “words cannot bring you down” was clearly trying to dim their own pain with a catchy saying. Here’s the truth: words matter. Words are impactful. Words labeled me when I was growing up. I was always “the fat one” of the friend group. I was called “chubby,” “fat,” “overweight,” etc. These labels created a deep insecurity in me from a very young age.
When I was 14 years old, I was tired of hearing these labels and I was convinced that being skinny would make all these mean words go away. I believed that being skinny would lead to happiness; therefore, I began a diet centered around the goal of becoming model thin. To make a long story short, the methods I used to achieve this goal were very unsafe and unhealthy. I cringe thinking about how much danger I put myself in at 14 years old because I believed and was obsessed with the idea that skinny equals beauty and happiness.
This dangerous diet was the only time in my life where I was “thin” and the fat-shaming labels stopped, but I was miserable. I had no energy, I was angry all the time, and the “perks” of having a slim figure were not worth what I was paying. I was finally forced to see the reality of how much danger I was putting myself in, so I stopped the diet around the time I entered high school. Since this was the only time my body had ever had results from a diet, I assumed this is what dieting was and I was terrified of ever dieting again because I knew the gain wasn’t worth the pain.
My health got worse and worse over the years, and I found myself in class 2 obesity with a BMI of 37.3 during my sophomore year of college. I knew I needed to change, but I genuinely never thought I’d be able to change. I figured I was too far gone. I thought about fad diets like the Special K Challenge and the whole “eat less, walk more” solution, but how were these dieting plans going to work on me when 1) my past left me terrified of dieting and 2) I was addicted to my unhealthy lifestyle. I didn’t see a way out, so I gave up…but then it happened.
In May 2018, I began a health journey without even realizing it had started. I now have a BMI of 23 and I live a life that focuses on health and well-being. Am I skinny? No. I’m healthy. I understand now why/how that “diet” I did when I was 14 was wrong. It wasn’t a diet, it was an obsession with all the wrong things. Dieting should focus on your health and your overall well-being should be the target. This is where society lies to you—health and happiness are not concerned with weight. Health consists of your full well-being and weight is nothing more than an after thought.
That is the key understanding I have gained through this journey, and that is what this blog is truly about. I’m telling my story to encourage other positive, healthy journeys. That 14 year old girl really needed someone who was open and honest about body image. She needed someone to explain what’s important in dieting and how to do it in a healthy manner. I hope to give that through this blog. I hope others will carve their path—modeled by mine or not—in a healthy manner and focus on their health, happiness, and well-being as the target. I hope to get rid of the notions that “being skinny is the key to happiness” or “being skinny makes you pretty,” because these are such dangerous lies. Health is the key to happiness, and beauty comes in all shapes and sizes.
It’s hard to be open, but it’s important to do if we want to change the narrative on health, weight, and body image. If me being open and honest about my journey can help just one person, it was all worth it. So, take a deep breath girl. Cheers to the beginning! Here’s how I did it!
Special Thanks
I want to first thank the Tomiet family. Y’all helped begin this journey (even though none of us realized it!) and I will forever be grateful ❤ À bientôt!
I want to thank my aunt, Jaymie. Thank you for giving me the time and drive to work on this blog, thank you for encouraging me throughout this entire journey, and thank you for supporting me always. I love you.
I want to thank my grandma for her recipes and patience with me as I used her kitchen to cook food for the pictures! hehe! Love you!
I want to thank Ansley and Catt for being such great friends and helping me put this thing together! Thank you both for your friendship, I truly am so so lucky.
I want to thank Julia Landon for taking the amazing pictures posted here! (check her out y’all! Insta: @juliaelandon )
I want to thank all my friends in person or on social media that reached out when I first began going public that I was on this journey. Your support was so helpful and your kind words make me so thankful that I know so many wonderful people.
If you’re reading this blog, I thank you! I hope it’s helpful in whatever way you need it to be.
My Health Journey 