26 | January | 2016 | BodyByBrendaT

Here are some FACTS about my life:

In 74 days, I will be 45 years old.

I am permanently partially disabled, and have been so since I was 22 years old, and in 1999, I was told that there was nothing more that could be done to repair my back, so to just be gentle with it and walk as often as I could. And by all means, NEVER lift too much!

I have degenerative disc disease, arthritis, RA, an L3-S1 Spinal fusion, and Raynaud’s Syndrome.

I am a food addict, and have battled my weight for as long as I can remember.

I weighed over 12# when I was born, I was a chunky kid, an overweight teen, an obese young adult(except for a few times when the bulimia, laxatives, diet pills, drugs, fad diets, and starvation worked for more than a few weeks at a time), and was considered morbidly obese by the time I was 24!

I have also dealt with abuse, mental illness, the loss of a child, depression, losing my Mom who also was my best friend 6 weeks before my wedding, addiction to prescription drugs and alcohol, and battling feelings of believing that I am 1000% Worthless!

In the early spring of 2008, as my scales tipped closer and closer to 300#, I knew something had to change. I had a health scare, that turned out to be “just” symptoms of Endometriosis, but still had no idea what to do. I was ready to totally give up on life!

Here are a few OTHER facts about my life-

From July 2008-June 2010, I lost over 140#

In May 2010, I ran my first Half-Marathon.

In April 2011, I ran my first, and probably ONLY, FULL Marathon! In under 5 hours no less! 🙂

In October of 2011, I started working out at Legacy Martial Arts, and loved it. Here I was also introduced to Zumba.

October 2012, I became certified as a Zumba Instructor

In February 2013 I became a Beachbody Coach.

In October 2015 I was Certified as a Certified Personal Trainer through the National Academy of Sports Medicine.

I love to learn about different theories on fitness and nutrition.

I have dealt with injuries, some minor some not so minor, losing my dad, depression, people not believing in me and even trying to tear me down, and pressed on!

Today, I at nearly 45 years old, I am embarking on what I truly believe is going to be the most successful and prosperous time of my life! I am fit. I am healthy. I have an AMAZING growing business. I have a husband who supports my dreams. I have people in my life who truly care about MY Happiness. I have found out that there really IS something to this Personal Development thing, and that not ALL of the books are just filled with “feel good hocus pocus”! And I am finally at peace enough with myself that I honestly don’t care if people don’t like me, or I don’t fit into some mold that “THEY” think I should fit into with the way I look or act. I get messages from people all the time telling me that I inspire, motivate, help, encourage, etc…. them, just by being my true self! My heart is full and with each one of those messages, I know deeper in my heart that I am EXACTLY where I am supposed to be and doing EXACTLY what I am supposed to do. And after searching for years to find happiness in being “skinny”, I FINALLY know what TRULY makes ME happy, and no one can take that from me!

And I also now KNOW that I am not now, nor will I ever be PERFECT! I also know that that is OK!

So, I honestly remember a time when 45 was O.L.D.!!!

But not now.

Not me!

I am just getting started! 🙂

dash-2 (1).jpg