Transparency Tuesday - My mind is the leader. My body will follow it.

#𝗧𝗿𝗮𝗻𝘀𝗽𝗮𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗰𝘆𝗧𝘂𝗲𝘀𝗱𝗮𝘆

My connections through my fitness & wellness community inspire & call me up in such a positive way. Thank you for being a tribe, "my people" and sharing so openly about your personal challenges.

I remember taking both of those photos so disappointed. I stepped into Lane Bryant & I had to go up another size. A size 28. Plus, I was tipping the scale at almost 400 lbs. I put all of the new shirts back & left. (No lie - I shed a few tears driving home) But I refused to buy that size & get comfortable in it.

In the right side photo, I was disappointed after losing over 150 lbs. & still seeing reminders of "who I used to be." I was supposedly a size 12 but my clothes were still loose fitting in some areas & tight in others. I didn't realize I could work this hard & not really know my true size - still carrying around loose skin. I remember researching loose skin for months before I started my journey. I wanted to do everything I could to prevent it. After C-sections, breast surgery & corneal transplants I knew it wasn't ideal to add skin removal & a tummy tuck to the budget. Then I had to ask myself "I𝐟 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐝𝐨𝐧'𝐭 𝐚𝐜𝐜𝐞𝐩𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐞𝐲 𝐧𝐨𝐰 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐡𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐲𝐨𝐮?" I began lifting more, sculpting my body & truly embracing it.

💡 Reminder - we have a body that's absolutely capable of pushing itself to work hard for what it deserves, no matter what that looks like. The less I appreciated how far I've come the more I ended up resorting back to old habits.

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗺𝘆 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝗺𝗲?

🧠 Mindful eating & movement.

🧠 Stabilizing emotions. (If the mind takes a hit and becomes unstable - soon enough the body could too)

🧠 Try not to count your body out because your mind keeps psyching 𝗬𝗢𝗨 out.

𝗔𝗳𝗳𝗶𝗿𝗺𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻: 🧠 My mind is the leader & my body will always follow it. If I'm not in control of my thoughts I will never lead my body. If I can't lead myself I can't lead anyone else. - NauBriana L.

I fought mind battles before I could be proud of EVERY step of this journey. I returned to the same-store & tried on a dress 7 sizes smaller just 2 yrs later. I still didn't buy it but it felt amazing to come back to the same place, leave undefeated & anxiety-free. 🙌🏾

𝗪𝗵𝗮𝘁 𝗱𝗼𝗲𝘀 𝗮𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗶𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗯𝗼𝗱𝘆 𝗹𝗼𝗼𝗸 𝗹𝗶𝗸𝗲 𝗳𝗼𝗿 𝘆𝗼𝘂?

#tranformationtuesday #strongmindstrongbody #lifebydesign #wellnessblogger