Hey America,
Its me, Drew! Remember me? Probably not. Allow me to quickly refresh your memory. I am the girl who started this blog a little over three years ago with a goal to lose all of her excess weight within two years. Still not ringing a bell? I am the girl who seriously fell off the wagon after making these flashy claims? Remember me now? Well, I'm back, my tail is securely between my legs and I am asking humbly if you would try accompanying me on my weight loss journey, again. So before you agree to rejoin me on my road trip to the healthier version of me you probably have some questions that you would feel super awkward asking publicly so let me try to assume and answer as many as I can.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Great question. So in a nutshell the easiest explanation is that a few months into my former weightless journey where I had lost 35 pounds and was a dancing Zumba queen I accidentally got pregnant with a super cute baby. Not satisfied? Well, This super cute baby decided to hate all of the foods I was eating to maintain my healthy lifestyle and conveniently sat on my right hip making it difficult to do things like walk to the bathroom. I tried to stay strong but just couldn't keep up with my body. To make things even more awesome after having the baby I was too exhausted to get back to the gym and quickly let old habits creep back in. Eventually I just quit trying. Also when that same adorable baby was 7 months old we decided to move back home to Wisconsin and lived with my parents for almost a year while we searched tirelessly for a place to live. After moving back to Wisconsin I started having some health problems which made things even worse and eventually made weight loss the furthest thing from my mind. I know... excuses...excuses..sheesh.
Hold on, how do you "accidentally get pregnant"? This all sounds very sketch...
I am so glad you asked. So without divulging too much detail. After we had our first glorious baby girl in 2011 we were unsuccessful in future attempts at creating more super cute babies so we kind of just assumed it was no longer a possibility for us. When I started losing weight my body's baby growing software rebooted and voila! A baby was born. I know that sounds super smart and medically sound and legit so I will just leave it there.
Why now?
Why not....Satisfied? Great! Let's move on.
JUST KIDDING. Ok, lets get a little more real. So when I quit my weight loss journey in 2013 it was actually very difficult for me and took a toll on me emotionally. When we moved it was a very emotional time and with my health problems happening I started to lose value in myself. If you remember I have written about the importance of self confidence and personal value in regards to weight loss and at the time I didn't have any. In 2015 I decided to start taking a more personal interest in myself and to find worth in myself again. I didn't immediately start with weight-loss as I knew that wouldn't be successful until I fell back in love with myself wholly (every giggly bit of me.) So on my birthday April 25, 2015 I started the process to selfie love. I had a makeover done on myself and began placing more effort into my appearance which I had recently given up doing. Don't get me wrong I wasn't walking around looking like a homeless starter pack BUT I wasn't living up to my full flawless potential. After a few months into my journey to a more fly looking version of myself I had some more health set backs happen (which I will give more details about in future blogs so I guess you will have to subscribe to my blog so you won't miss out on the juicy details). These health set backs made me realize it was time to start looking back at my health again. My outward appearance was doing great but my healthy appearance was struggling. One night when in the ER because of some serious health things going on they had me step on the scale and to my dismay I had not only regained every pound I had worked so hard to lose but gained an additional 38 pounds on top of it. Nothing is more sobering than seeing all your hard work gone to waste and having no one to blame but yourself. So I started becoming more aware of my body. I would LOVE to tell you that from that moment I hit the pavement and started shredding pounds like a lady boss BUT that isn't the case. I first had to deal with my health issues before I could pursue a healthier me and I was still dealing with that whole falling back in love with myself thing. Well, I started making minor healthy lifestyle changes and continued on my self love and awareness journey. Fast forward to January 2016 where this story picks up some steam. In January I started getting some much needed answers to medical questions and with time started to feel more myself again. At the end of February I started a youtube channel dedicated to makeup, lifestyle and fun. Part of the recapturing myself journey came accompanied with a serious addiction to makeup. I found something that I was passionate about and ran (not literally... let's get real here) with it. The passion isn't just in wearing makeup its everything about it but if you want to peek into that addiction you can go watch my youtube channel (shameless plug) at this site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqfQKQZuTxIJlCHaRtZ2Ejg
and have JustlikeDrew overload.
In March I knew it was time and that I was ready to jump back in to my health journey, for real this time. I met with a nutritionist and created a game plan on how we can make this happen (more details on that in a later blog). One exciting thing is that when I met with the nutritionist we discovered that I had already lost 29 pounds. My birthday was on its way again and I decided to dedicate this year to becoming the healthiest version of myself. I had completed my year of recapturing my self love, worth, and value and knew it was time to go the rest of the way in my transformation. So, I am happy to let you know that after being back on the wagon since March 30 I have already lost 18 pounds (So if you aren't keeping track I have lost a total of 47 pounds since the ER visit I mentioned...hair flip). This is my next step in becoming the best me I can be and I am ready.
What is different this time?
I have a stronger support network of family and friends cheering me on. I also have people keeping me accountable that I asked to do so. I also am meeting regularly with my nutritionist to ensure that I keep on track with my program. Also I am going to be a little smarter with my body this time and not planning on any more surprise babies right now.
How do I know you will stick with it this time?
You don't. I am asking that you take a gamble on me, again. This time feels different ( honestly, last time felt different too) and I have been making changes in my personal life to make this change more possible.
What personal changes?
I am making this health journey a priority. Meaning, I have had to make tough cuts and choices in my schedule in order to ensure that I don't fall off the wagon into an abyss again. I am meeting regularly with my nutritionist in order to stay accountable. I also have people I check in with regularly about my progress or lack thereof. I am tracking my calories and have created a workout plan with my partner. I have also gotten one of those step tracker watches in order to force myself to keep moving so that I don't have to face the red bar of doom!
Why are you blogging again?
I was asked by some friends if I would pick my blog back up again after posting about my recent weight loss on social media. After some reluctance I decided to dust off my keyboard and start it again.
Why were you reluctant?
I had failed so badly last time that I didn't want to start blogging again unless I was sure I could and WOULD keep going this time. After some soul searching I knew I needed to bring my blog back from the dead. It is a great outlet for me to vent and celebrate the realities of weight loss. I was also reluctant because when you put yourself out there and tell people that you are working on your weight it causes people to focus on the part of yourself where you are most vulnerable. Some people will feel like this is an open invitation to criticize and comment on a very personal part of my life. It also reassures your greatest fears that some people have never really seen you as a person but a large number on a scale. I have had family members make comments about my physical appearance while I have been working on bettering myself and reminded me that my excess weight is all that they see and not the real me. I was also reluctant because I already had friends assuming that I was "losing weight the wrong way" and were already trying to convince me to change coarse and try a more drastic diet plan. While I understand that my family and friends mean well most of them don't understand the difficulty in trying to lose weight in the first place. Most people assume that all weight issues are a result in overeating and do not realize the vast number of reasons you may be struggling with weight gain in the first place. They also forget that you are a person, with feelings. People seem to think that when you are overweight that you openly invite constant personal criticism and that with every extra pound you are less sensitive to rude comments and that you deserve your societal mistreatment (Fat Shaming, anyone?). When someone allows you into their weight loss journey they are inviting you into something that is very private and personal. There is nothing more deflating in a health journey then when people begin trying to tell you how to lose weight and assume that you have done no research in the process and that you've been sitting around for years just waiting for them to show you their miracle juice, diet, pill, workout etc...
You should view it as a privilege and take on the role of support and NOTHING more. You are not being invited in order to come host weekly weigh ins at their house and thus discourage them all the more. ok... Sorry, got a little sidetracked there.
So what's next?
Well, this blog is what's next. I am Re-inviting you into my very personal health journey. I will try to post regularly on here and we will see how that goes. I will still be posting regular videos on my youtube channel which will be more focused on makeup and personal appearance. I will keep this blog more health focused and dedicated to my weightless journey.
What is your goal with this blog?
To inspire those who don't think they are capable of greatness. To show others how to love themselves at every juncture of their lives. To remind people that we are all works in progress and that we are NEVER really finished with improving ourselves.
So my last question is for you, the reader. Will you rejoin me on this rollercoaster and put your faith in my once again?
For those of you who never stopped believing in me... your support holds more value than you could ever fathom.
In the meantime.
Stay Sexy America.
Be true to you.
With Love,
- Drew
Its me, Drew! Remember me? Probably not. Allow me to quickly refresh your memory. I am the girl who started this blog a little over three years ago with a goal to lose all of her excess weight within two years. Still not ringing a bell? I am the girl who seriously fell off the wagon after making these flashy claims? Remember me now? Well, I'm back, my tail is securely between my legs and I am asking humbly if you would try accompanying me on my weight loss journey, again. So before you agree to rejoin me on my road trip to the healthier version of me you probably have some questions that you would feel super awkward asking publicly so let me try to assume and answer as many as I can.
WHAT HAPPENED?
Great question. So in a nutshell the easiest explanation is that a few months into my former weightless journey where I had lost 35 pounds and was a dancing Zumba queen I accidentally got pregnant with a super cute baby. Not satisfied? Well, This super cute baby decided to hate all of the foods I was eating to maintain my healthy lifestyle and conveniently sat on my right hip making it difficult to do things like walk to the bathroom. I tried to stay strong but just couldn't keep up with my body. To make things even more awesome after having the baby I was too exhausted to get back to the gym and quickly let old habits creep back in. Eventually I just quit trying. Also when that same adorable baby was 7 months old we decided to move back home to Wisconsin and lived with my parents for almost a year while we searched tirelessly for a place to live. After moving back to Wisconsin I started having some health problems which made things even worse and eventually made weight loss the furthest thing from my mind. I know... excuses...excuses..sheesh.
Hold on, how do you "accidentally get pregnant"? This all sounds very sketch...
I am so glad you asked. So without divulging too much detail. After we had our first glorious baby girl in 2011 we were unsuccessful in future attempts at creating more super cute babies so we kind of just assumed it was no longer a possibility for us. When I started losing weight my body's baby growing software rebooted and voila! A baby was born. I know that sounds super smart and medically sound and legit so I will just leave it there.
Why now?
Why not....Satisfied? Great! Let's move on.
JUST KIDDING. Ok, lets get a little more real. So when I quit my weight loss journey in 2013 it was actually very difficult for me and took a toll on me emotionally. When we moved it was a very emotional time and with my health problems happening I started to lose value in myself. If you remember I have written about the importance of self confidence and personal value in regards to weight loss and at the time I didn't have any. In 2015 I decided to start taking a more personal interest in myself and to find worth in myself again. I didn't immediately start with weight-loss as I knew that wouldn't be successful until I fell back in love with myself wholly (every giggly bit of me.) So on my birthday April 25, 2015 I started the process to selfie love. I had a makeover done on myself and began placing more effort into my appearance which I had recently given up doing. Don't get me wrong I wasn't walking around looking like a homeless starter pack BUT I wasn't living up to my full flawless potential. After a few months into my journey to a more fly looking version of myself I had some more health set backs happen (which I will give more details about in future blogs so I guess you will have to subscribe to my blog so you won't miss out on the juicy details). These health set backs made me realize it was time to start looking back at my health again. My outward appearance was doing great but my healthy appearance was struggling. One night when in the ER because of some serious health things going on they had me step on the scale and to my dismay I had not only regained every pound I had worked so hard to lose but gained an additional 38 pounds on top of it. Nothing is more sobering than seeing all your hard work gone to waste and having no one to blame but yourself. So I started becoming more aware of my body. I would LOVE to tell you that from that moment I hit the pavement and started shredding pounds like a lady boss BUT that isn't the case. I first had to deal with my health issues before I could pursue a healthier me and I was still dealing with that whole falling back in love with myself thing. Well, I started making minor healthy lifestyle changes and continued on my self love and awareness journey. Fast forward to January 2016 where this story picks up some steam. In January I started getting some much needed answers to medical questions and with time started to feel more myself again. At the end of February I started a youtube channel dedicated to makeup, lifestyle and fun. Part of the recapturing myself journey came accompanied with a serious addiction to makeup. I found something that I was passionate about and ran (not literally... let's get real here) with it. The passion isn't just in wearing makeup its everything about it but if you want to peek into that addiction you can go watch my youtube channel (shameless plug) at this site https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCqfQKQZuTxIJlCHaRtZ2Ejg
and have JustlikeDrew overload.
In March I knew it was time and that I was ready to jump back in to my health journey, for real this time. I met with a nutritionist and created a game plan on how we can make this happen (more details on that in a later blog). One exciting thing is that when I met with the nutritionist we discovered that I had already lost 29 pounds. My birthday was on its way again and I decided to dedicate this year to becoming the healthiest version of myself. I had completed my year of recapturing my self love, worth, and value and knew it was time to go the rest of the way in my transformation. So, I am happy to let you know that after being back on the wagon since March 30 I have already lost 18 pounds (So if you aren't keeping track I have lost a total of 47 pounds since the ER visit I mentioned...hair flip). This is my next step in becoming the best me I can be and I am ready.
What is different this time?
I have a stronger support network of family and friends cheering me on. I also have people keeping me accountable that I asked to do so. I also am meeting regularly with my nutritionist to ensure that I keep on track with my program. Also I am going to be a little smarter with my body this time and not planning on any more surprise babies right now.
How do I know you will stick with it this time?
You don't. I am asking that you take a gamble on me, again. This time feels different ( honestly, last time felt different too) and I have been making changes in my personal life to make this change more possible.
What personal changes?
I am making this health journey a priority. Meaning, I have had to make tough cuts and choices in my schedule in order to ensure that I don't fall off the wagon into an abyss again. I am meeting regularly with my nutritionist in order to stay accountable. I also have people I check in with regularly about my progress or lack thereof. I am tracking my calories and have created a workout plan with my partner. I have also gotten one of those step tracker watches in order to force myself to keep moving so that I don't have to face the red bar of doom!
Why are you blogging again?
I was asked by some friends if I would pick my blog back up again after posting about my recent weight loss on social media. After some reluctance I decided to dust off my keyboard and start it again.
Why were you reluctant?
I had failed so badly last time that I didn't want to start blogging again unless I was sure I could and WOULD keep going this time. After some soul searching I knew I needed to bring my blog back from the dead. It is a great outlet for me to vent and celebrate the realities of weight loss. I was also reluctant because when you put yourself out there and tell people that you are working on your weight it causes people to focus on the part of yourself where you are most vulnerable. Some people will feel like this is an open invitation to criticize and comment on a very personal part of my life. It also reassures your greatest fears that some people have never really seen you as a person but a large number on a scale. I have had family members make comments about my physical appearance while I have been working on bettering myself and reminded me that my excess weight is all that they see and not the real me. I was also reluctant because I already had friends assuming that I was "losing weight the wrong way" and were already trying to convince me to change coarse and try a more drastic diet plan. While I understand that my family and friends mean well most of them don't understand the difficulty in trying to lose weight in the first place. Most people assume that all weight issues are a result in overeating and do not realize the vast number of reasons you may be struggling with weight gain in the first place. They also forget that you are a person, with feelings. People seem to think that when you are overweight that you openly invite constant personal criticism and that with every extra pound you are less sensitive to rude comments and that you deserve your societal mistreatment (Fat Shaming, anyone?). When someone allows you into their weight loss journey they are inviting you into something that is very private and personal. There is nothing more deflating in a health journey then when people begin trying to tell you how to lose weight and assume that you have done no research in the process and that you've been sitting around for years just waiting for them to show you their miracle juice, diet, pill, workout etc...
You should view it as a privilege and take on the role of support and NOTHING more. You are not being invited in order to come host weekly weigh ins at their house and thus discourage them all the more. ok... Sorry, got a little sidetracked there.
So what's next?
Well, this blog is what's next. I am Re-inviting you into my very personal health journey. I will try to post regularly on here and we will see how that goes. I will still be posting regular videos on my youtube channel which will be more focused on makeup and personal appearance. I will keep this blog more health focused and dedicated to my weightless journey.
What is your goal with this blog?
To inspire those who don't think they are capable of greatness. To show others how to love themselves at every juncture of their lives. To remind people that we are all works in progress and that we are NEVER really finished with improving ourselves.
So my last question is for you, the reader. Will you rejoin me on this rollercoaster and put your faith in my once again?
For those of you who never stopped believing in me... your support holds more value than you could ever fathom.
In the meantime.
Stay Sexy America.
Be true to you.
With Love,
- Drew
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