YLF: 064 Chat with Sara
Where’s the best place for listeners to connect with you?: Instagram - @Bypassedandbougie
Describe your weight loss journey.: I started dieting around age 14/15 and as a result my relationship with food changed drastically. I would go from one extreme to another and it overtook my life. I went to treatment for an eating disorder but ultimately continued to struggle. My sister is a surgeon and had gently brought up the topic of weight loss surgery but my pride got in the way. I moved to Kansas (from Arizona) and it was a fresh start. I became committed to the gym, but I was still in the mindset of living to eat not eating to live. I had to acknowledge that my life was extremely limited due to my weight and I had to make a change. So I proceeded with surgery. The strong willed side of me committed to getting this right. Not many people are given second chances and I refused to blow my chance to regain my life. I Followed drs orders, developed a healthier mindset with food, and my love for the gym pushed me to participate in 75 hard. That was huge and I learned a lot about how quick I am to make excuses for myself. Approaching 4 years post op I began the process of preparing for plastics. My results are beyond anything I could have hoped for or ever imagined. I’m back in the gym and there’s a fire under me to see what kind of goals I can crush! I lost 203lbs and gained a whole new life.
What’s a skill you developed as a result of working through your weight loss process?: Recognizing my unhealthy behaviors, no longer accepting excuses to avoid working out, and putting myself first. I’ve been Criticized by some people, because it’s interpreted as being selfish however the people who are closest to me couldn’t be prouder because they see that I am finally making myself a priority and that was something that I had locked for so long.
What has that skill led to outside of weight loss?: I don’t just go with others flow. I advocate for myself and have gained a lot of appreciation for my strong willed nature that for a long time held me back, but when I’m holding myself accountable it’s been one of my greatest characteristics because I am responsible for my happiness, my results, and my overall growth.
What advice would you give to someone working through their weight loss journey?: Keep going. Dust off. As many times as you have to! It will get harder before it gets easier but it’s possible for this to become a new lifestyle for you and once that happens, things fall into place and every stumble seems worth it because you learned from it and you overcame an obstacle and that’s something to be proud of!
What's something most people don't know about you that has nothing to do with weight loss?: Overall I think people will be surprised to find out that “in real life“ I’m actually a super private person and so the vulnerability that I show has been not only a tool of accountability but also a challenge for myself to be more open. Wow I have always had a goal that sharing my story and leaving my page public would help at least one person, I can’t help but see the growth that it has provided in my own life when it comes to me being more open and making this topic and conversation more normal amongst people who wouldn’t necessarily have felt comfortable talking about that, myself included.
I feel like that might still be weight loss related so another fun little fact is my hype sessions aren’t just for IG… they are necessary in life and I highly encourage everyone to turn up the music and just vibe wherever they are going :)
You might also like…
