I had a whole big post waiting to go today, but after seeing a recent Facebook post from my 22 year old beautiful daughter, I have put that aside and will highlight her story.
In a nutshell, Mackenzie, our first born, was a healthy infant, toddler and pre-teen…then, like so many teens, she struggled. She loved her Doritos, ice cream and fast food. Some of her friends could binge and not gain a pound. Some of her friends ate minuscule meals at school while she sat by and felt terrible that she was eating a “full lunch”. We never pressured, protested or pushed her to look a certain way. We loved (and love) her for exactly who she is. No Matter what.
I cringe when I think about my daughter’s challenges through high school. We’ve talked a bit but I’m sure she has many more cringe worthy stories. The teenage years are rough. Enter college and…well, we all know that health and fitness are not a priority for most.
But, through talks and positive influence, we made it less about “skinny” and more about “healthy”, I think when you put it in that perspective, it becomes a little easier. What do you want your quality of life to be when you get older? (Cuz you’re gonna get older)…What is your motivation for being healthy? Being able to dance all night at the clubs? Keep up with the hiking group? Running after a toddler? What? The minute you define WHY you want to be healthy, that’s when you can begin to make permanent change.
Here is our beautiful, confident, sassy daughter (both then and now), feeling and looking so healthy. This didn’t happen overnight, …30 pounds were lost over the course of a year. She had her ups and downs, she stuck with a plan. She didn’t use potions or pills, she ate healthier and moved more. This is what 22 should be. This is what every age should be. You have the power to take control.Cheers to you and your journey…It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Smell the roses!
