blog
february 6, 2010
A testimonial...
In each of our lives, I think, there comes a time when you must rely on someone else to help you become the person you always believed you were. That person for me was Matt. A personal journey that began almost seven years ago has finally come to a close thanks to his constant support, friendship and willingness to be the “bad guy” I needed him to be. Someone had to tell me to stop eating junk. Someone had to tell me to exercise more. Someone had to work me past the roadblocks I installed in my own head. He willingly took on that someone role and led me to a place I never thought I would reach. When Matt met me, I was a woman lost, struggling between two identities. There was the “past” me—that insecure woman who just couldn’t seem to break free of this grossly obese image in her head. And then there was the new me—that image of the girl I wanted to be. The second girl was a very strong presence in my mind—this beautifully strong, athletic woman, who wasn’t afraid of anything. Both of them existed simultaneously and which one faced the world, depended on the day. Within one year, Matt taught the second girl how to live as a reality every day. I went from 220 pounds to 183 and have maintained that weight for over a year. When I started training with Matt, I couldn’t run for even 5 minutes at our first training session. And now? I ran 6.2 miles in Matt’s gym in December of 2009—a 10K. I run 5K races regularly and I can engage in any physical activity I choose and feel good about it. I went from a girl who couldn’t speak for herself; to having a voice that speaks loud and clear. From believing I wasn’t good enough; to knowing I am. From sad girl to happy; and self-loathing to self-victory. Exercise has become the sanctuary that food used to be. And I live and breathe it as testament to the way exercise and physical fitness can enhance a life. And most certainly, can change the course of it. Thank you for teaching me how to find my inner strength, in both mind and body. I like this girl much better.
comments
wonder how she could weigh 183 and be in shape? and she only lost 17 pounds?
posted on february 6, 2010 by In shape?
First of all, that number is a typo. It should be 220, not 200. And second, I'm 5'10": my healthy weight range is 139-173. So I'm very close to that number. Lastly, when I started on my own 5 years ago, I weighed 318 pounds. And yes, I am in shape. But thanks for posting as though were being ultra-critical. That helps make people who read Matt's blog feel much better about themselves.
posted on february 26, 2010 by Stephanie