Have you seen the latest Jenny Craig campaign? During my snowed in weekend, I caught a glimpse of the new commercials that are running to promote the weight loss program.
Just to be clear: I am not inspired because Jenny Craig asked me to be “inspired” in anyway, nor because it is my weight loss plan of choice…. instead, I find inspiration because I am a woman who has struggled with my weight my entire life and I find these moments to be powerful and life-changing.
Everyone has their “moment”… that one that makes you pause. That one that makes you change your course and change your life for the better.
I absolutely love that Jenny is highlighting these moments because my hope is that there’s just one person out there that pauses… and relates to the moment that is shared. Maybe they’d even make that moment their moment…
Today, I’m going to share with you guys my moment… and I hope that you too will share yours here on the blog in the comments, and with others you might encounter.
My story isn’t miraculous, even though it involves what I consider to be a hell of a transformation. I like to think that “my moment” was actually a string of moments… I tend to be that person that requires twelve signs before I tackle something that scares me. And, when it came to weight loss, it took every sign and every moment you see below for me to make a decision to act.
In 2010, I spent my summer wrapped up in a horrible relationship. I knew I didn’t need to be with him but liked the company. I felt myself settling for a situation that I would have never recommended to a friend, and on most days, I didn’t feel anywhere close to beautiful. Smart? Absolutely… but beautiful and worthy, not so much. As that relationship ended, I really started thinking about what I wanted next. It’s amazing how the end of a relationship can do that.
It was right about that time that one of my friends at work told me that she’d scheduled gastric bypass surgery. She was so excited about the transformation that lied ahead… and she had a plan. It made me realize I had no plan and while the thought of gastric bypass terrified me, I envied her plan… More than anything, I never wanted to get to the point where surgery was my solution.
Two days later, I was whisked away to Nashville for the weekend. Just a fun visit with friends. A little hesitant to see them not because I don’t enjoy time with them, but instead because I was ashamed of how I’d let myself go. I’d moved to Colorado to explore a better life… and instead piled on the pounds alone with bags of greasy fast food. Mostly, Wendy’s btw… a terrible habit I had picked up in college.
And, after a chips-and-salsa-filled meal with friends at my favorite Mexican restaurant, we took a picture to commemorate the visit. This picture.
Aren’t these ladies fabulous? They’re smart, funny, beautiful, and had been my rock for years… and when this picture appeared, I really couldn’t see them. All I could see was me, in the middle, and the fact that it was hard to tell if it was me or Alex that was 7 months pregnant in this picture.
All of these moments merged, and I knew more than anything that I needed a plan. This couldn’t continue. Hours later and talking through my pain with my friend Jaede, her mom shared with me that she had success with Jenny Craig.
And, just like that my decision was made. I flew home and two days later had my first consultation at Jenny. With tears in my eyes and determination in my soul, I started on this journey and never looked back.
It took a few standout moments for me to start the process of changing my life. I had quietly ignored how much weight I had put on for months, and it’s no coincidence that all of these moments showed up at once to knock me over the head and wake me up.
More than 4 years later, I remember these moments like it was yesterday. I remember how it felt to be overweight, how difficult it was to do the things “normal” people did so easily. I remember how I felt about myself… how destructive it was to my psyche and my well-being.
I am eternally grateful for these moments, and the life they led me to find. Find your moments… your life is waiting for you.
What was your moment?