Today, I wanted to share my own transformation story on “Transformation Tuesday” and go through everything that got me to this point. So about me; I’m a mom of a three year old, a wife, a full time corporate employee in the oil and gas industry, a budding entrepreneur, and a full time student at the Institute for Integrative Nutrition. So to say I’m busy, would be the understatement of the year. But let me go back to where I was a few years ago.

In my before picture here, I was 15 or so pounds heavier, I had an 8 month old, was stressed beyond belief, going through the motions of life, and feeling lost. I was a newlywed, and it should have been the happiest time of my life, but it wasn’t. I was so uncomfortable in my own skin. I hated trying on clothes, looking in mirrors, you name it. I was probably suffering from orthorexia, and was literally destroying my body with over exercising and extreme diets. Only to end up giving myself hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. I was taking diet pills and eating very little. So to put it lightly, I was a miserable person.

I finally had to stop and figure out what was going on with my body. After noticing my hair was falling out in the shower (way more than normal) I decided it was time to figure out what was going on. After researching and getting blood work done, I found out I had hypothyroidism and adrenal fatigue. My body was exhausted and falling apart. I was fueling up on excess coffee and energy drinks, and I wasn’t getting the nutrients I needed. And on top of that, I was killing myself in the gym. A recipe for disaster.

So I stopped. I stopped spending hours on the treadmill or elliptical and I took a break from exercise. (Apparently cardio can make your hypothyroidism worse…who knew right?) I started researching what I should be eating. I shifted my diet from one of low calories, to one that was full of whole organic foods, with carbs (yes, I said carbs) healthy fats, and lean protein. I started to figure out how to fuel my body, so I had energy and started lifting weights and enjoying resistance training.

Not only did my body start to transform, but so did my mind. I started to appreciate my body. Instead of looking in mirrors and hating what was looking back at me, I started to appreciate that I have a shape. I have curves, strong arms, a tighter core, a booty and strong legs. I have a body that gained 40 pounds in pregnancy and gave me a son. I’m happier and healthier than I’ve ever been. I am stronger mentally than I have ever been before. Am I the lowest weight I have seen on the scale right now? Absolutely not. Do I care? NOPE!

Because I’m happy with my body and how I treat it. If there is one thing I could pass on to other young women, it would be this; you are beautiful no matter what your size, but treating your body to be healthy, will make you feel beautiful no matter what.

*This post was originally published on Rachael Morris Health. For more from Rachael, be sure to visit her site.

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