“There’s no reward without work, no victory without effort, no battle won without risk”

With the wise words of Nora Roberts in mind, I have decided to assume control of my life. I began having health issues a couple of years ago – resistance to insulin, which made me gain weight and losing it difficult, plus this health issue will only go away if I, you guessed it, if I lose weight! For someone who up to that stage had a very quick metabolism, not only was it a shock mentally, but for my body as well that started complaining with pains. Not fitting into clothes was only a tiny part of it…

Besides daily pains, I still suffer to this day, I was taken with depression and self-hate. Basically, I was a weeping couch potato mess that ate crap, got depressed about it and ate more. Not fun for me or for my family, specifically my mother who is always intuitive to how I am feeling and has always been supportive.

For some odd reason, something clicked in my head this week. I started loving myself and I had for the first time in years accepted my body completely. It was a sense of complete calmness.

I still want to lose weight. And I have given my all lately. I’ve been doing Aqua Cross (a variant of the infamous Cross Fit class) and hydrogimnastics. And the soreness in my body will tell you that it’s not easy. So just because I am exercising in a pool doesn’t make it easier. Besides underwater treadmill and elastic bed, the classes use a lot of resistance from the water with special gloves or weight objects and tiring moves. And I even had to climb a rope! In a pool! I was as surprised as you probably are.

Now, exercising and taking control of your life makes you immediately feel better. It’s actually dramatic how much it can change your mood. And for the first time yesterday I felt the after workout adrenaline. I was excited and energetic. It was wonderful, truly. And if exercise was the reason behind it or a tiny part of accepting myself… Well, it doesn’t matter. I urge anyone to find a way to exercise they like (we don’t have to go as far as saying love) and keep at it! Your life will improve in every aspect.

And so, I realized. My body is mine. It’s part of who I am and I have no reason to hate it. I can change it if I only want. And I will.

Join this battle with me. Step by step we can make it. I can do it and so can you!

xoxo, stay healthy.

XO,