YLF 097: Chat with Justine
Where’s the best place for listeners to connect with you?: Instagram
Describe your weight loss journey.: I was always the “heavy set” kid in the class. There are twelve kids total in my family and we grew up very poor, so unfortunately our food options were mostly carbs. So my childhood was very unhealthy which stayed with me until the age of 17. I was 198 at 17 and I got a bike and rode my bike six miles every day for three months and I was 171 pounds. I maintained that weight for three years very well. Didn’t go above 177. Then at age 20 I get married. My bad habits kicked back into full drive because the marriage was bad and full of abuse. Food was a way for me to try and cope. Then I went from 180 pounds to 275 pounds within two years. The biggest I’ve ever been. Then I found Mixed Martial Arts. Took classes for one month and went from 275 pounds to 230 pounds. Then I divorced my ex and got back into a healthier lifestyle. Worked two jobs, put myself through college and went to the gym four days a week for at least one hour. I did that for six months and lost about 20 pounds. Even though I was physically active, my nutrition was awful and my weight was up and down. When it got warm out and Spring arrived and got back on my bike again. Then I meet my current husband Phil who REALLY showed me what health was. Not just physically but mentally and emotionally. I had an addiction to food, still do to the day. It was then that I knew I needed to change and work hard to defeat and kick my bad habits. Then found BeachBody through my friend Kayla, who I used to work with and went to high school with. Began with that and found out that fitness is SO much more than cardio, it’s lifting weights and HITT training. For five years I was doing so great, then I find out that I’m just weeks pregnant with my daughter. I gained 45 pounds with my pregnancy and I’m now struggling to lose my pregnancy weight. That’s my journey so far.
What’s a skill you developed as a result of working through your weight loss process?: Self discipline. Some days are better than others and I still continue to push myself even on the days where I really don’t feel like it. Still working on self discipline through nutrition.
What has that skill led to outside of weight loss?: My mental state. I felt better after my workouts, it was like I found a lost battery within myself that I never knew I had and it gave me all the energy I needed. I was bubbly and giddy and was just so happy. I still am but it’s a whole different ball game when I left. I felt better, I slept better, and then my mental views improved starting with social media. It was years of mental cleaning that I did.
What advice would you give to someone working through their weight loss journey?: 1. If you fall, get back up and move even if it’s slow. You’ll feel better and be so much happier with yourself. You’ve got to learn to be patient with yourself.
2. Be kind to yourself. I’m still learning this. You wouldn’t let someone speak poorly to someone that you love, so why are you doing it to yourself? It’s the same thing.
3. Find your people. My journey has been SO much more enjoyable because of the people in my corner. Find your supporters, support them back and make your circle of positive influences to keep yourself and your team on track.
What's something most people don't know about you that has nothing to do with weight loss?: I sing. I’ve been singing since I was about seven years old. It’s one of my favorite hobbies.
