Where’s the best place for listeners to connect with you?: Instagram @jenruns2fit is the best way. I love connecting with people there and don't use a ton of other social media outlets at this point.
Describe your weight loss journey.: I started my weight loss journey in July of 2018 around 300 lbs. I had gained and lost weight over the years and knew myself well enough to know I needed something to strategically plan for not just the weight loss but long term maintenance and success. I began the process to have gastric bypass surgery then and had weight loss surgery in January 2019. I lost 35 lbs or so before then and weighed 265 the day of my surgery. Today, I range around 155-160 ( give or take either way) and this is my happy weight. I found a love for fitness, especially running. I wad never a runner because I knew I couldn't physically do it before. I've since ran countless half marathons and two full marathons. Long distance running gives me a mental challenge and sense of accomplishment every single time I step on the pavement.
Fitness became a way of life for me and something I enjoyed more and more as time went on. I loved getting stronger both physically and mentally. For myself, my family and especially my kids. I can go down slides, chase them, jump on a trampoline or walk for hours with them now. Weight loss and fitness really changed my entire life.
What’s a skill you developed as a result of working through your weight loss process?: I'm much more thoughtful in how I process things. I've become more empathetic to really knowing the struggles someone may face and how they impact their daily life, even body mass alone.
During this time I was also working on my master's degree in social work and graduated last May. I'm much more resilient these days but I'm also much more focused on self awareness and growth and not holding things that weigh me down. There is something about gaining confidence that leads you to a better way of expressing yourself and your expectations.
What has that skill led to outside of weight loss?: Not resisting fear anymore. Similar to above, I don't avoid social activities or worry about my outfit, how big I look, if people will stare at me, etc. I have a better sense of my self and self worth and that's been the best part.
What advice would you give to someone working through their weight loss journey?: There are stages of a weight loss journey that seem so hard, so long and some days you will absolutely feel like you're digging your way to the top. There are just as many days that you feel like you're already on top. Like there is nothing that can stop you or that you cannot overcome.
Take a ton of pictures and videos. Have your friends and family them them for you too. You will be so happy to have transformation pictures and sometimes those even help get you through the tough days.
Most importantly, make small goals. Reward yourself too. Change is hard and should be recognized every step of the way!
What's something most people don't know about you that has nothing to do with weight loss?: I grew up with two sisters ( I’m the oldest) , my mom and dad in a small trailer in the country. My parents worked but absolutely did not have a lot of money. My dad died when I was 11 and my mom raised my sisters and I herself. We are all extremely close and our mom is incredible.
From that, she taught us that we have to always be prepared to deal with anything in our life. That at any given moment something could change and the rest of our lives would change. That there could be a time we would have to take care of ourselves and that we are capable. I became a very independent and self sufficient child, teen and adult with the same mindset and sense of needing to accomplish anything that was important to me. I'm forever thankful for the mom I have and who she is and always has been. Taking a leap of faith isn't easy but it's almost always worth it!
