Nina Marie's Weight Loss Journey (INSPIRING).

About a month ago I profiled one of my close friends since 6th grade on her weight loss journey. This story touched my heart because i am someone who is struggling with my own weight ass well. However, my Professor didn't seem to agree with my story. It broke my heart as i saw my grade and i felt ashamed, but i was writing the truth. 

Here is the story below along with my board project i had created for her & for my grade. Enjoy!

A change of Body and Mind

Nina Marie is a twenty-one year old female who stands five foot and seven inches tall, who currently weighs 201 lbs. She resides in the village of Sinajana and is an Alumni student from Southern High School of 2012. Nina decided to take a long break from furthering her education through College but currently works in a Cathedral she would like to remain anonymous. Other than achieving her goals through school and work, she has overcome other accomplishments that she has struggled with her whole life as well. Weight loss has been a problem for Nina till the year 2014, that's when her life has changed. 

After a break up with her boyfriend of three years Nina was left to face emotional depression that also affected her physically. Throughout this moment in her life, Nina ate less than an average person should causing her belly to shrink. The less food she indulged, the more weight she lost without exercise. “Many people with depression lose both energy and interest. This can include a loss of interest in eating.” (Dr. Kennedy, web).

As a result to her depression, Nina had ignored friends she used to see and communicate with on a daily basis. Majority of her time she spent in her room at home; her mother would get on her case for what she assumed that Nina was just being lazy. During that time, not even her mother knew that she was depressed and she didn't want to be around people. No one knew that Nina spent a lot of her money buying Nyquil pills to put her to bed. The more she slept the more meals she'd miss, which, she wanted.

For as long as Nina could remember, she has been going to Express Care to get her annual physical along with her Mother for years, however, this one time she went alone. Nina goes to Express Care because the service is fast and she didn’t have to talk to a whole bunch of people, which was perfect at the time for her because during her depression she wasn’t exactly thrilled to see or speak to anyone. As Nina was getting her vital signs and information from the triage nurse, she was noticed that her blood pressure was really low and that her weight has dropped significantly. Nina then left the clinic realizing that she was not in the best health and that she had to change her mindset, or she will eventually end up in the hospital.

Mid November 2014 Nina began her journey to a healthier lifestyle, with both her body and mind. Nina was taught to cook healthy homemade meals; she cut off bad foods and started portioning her meals to a smaller size with the help of an iPhone App called ‘Yummly’. Daily, Nina walked for at least 30-45 minutes, just to get an exercise in. Within a month or so into her diet and exercise, Nina felt a change within her attitude. She took her new positive energy and used that to make better decisions in not only what she eats or exercises on but how she was able to fix broken relationships with friends and family whom she had shut out.

Her motivators and support system did not come from just her loved ones who believed in her goals but along with the fear of giving up. At the end of her days, Nina goes online and searches up motivation quotes, this quote helped her to hold on longer and to go further in her journey, “I may not be there yet, but I'm closer than I was yesterday” (Jose N. Harris, web). Insecurities inspired Nina the most. Every day she came across people who were in shape, clothes that she wouldn't fit into, and foods she couldn't eat. Nina had to set a goal to achieve in order to fulfill those wants. She began to trust in herself with the workouts that she planned on accomplishing. Along with her insecurities, Nina found her strength and improved some of her weaknesses.

Changing her lifestyle was not easy. There were times Nina failed to keep up with her diet and the length of her workouts. The sacrifices she made were a challenge, but then again, what new lifestyle isn't a challenge? In order to breakthrough, Nina looked at certain foods as poison. With change in her dieting, and new exercie challenges, Nina was able to lose 2-3 pounds a week, but the healthy way.

At the beginning of her journey Nina weighed 298 lbs, almost one year later, she now weighs 201 pounds. Her life has changed not just her, but her family members as well. Being raised into an overweight family made losing weight difficult for her to start somewhere. Standing nearly 100 pounds less, Nina has been happier with herself and found confidence she did not have before. She then no longer allows any condition that may come her way to take over her life; instead, she takes over the conditions.

Five years from now, she finds her life to be changed tremendously. In the future, she sees herself being able to run around and play with her children without the loss of breath from being overweight. Not only would she love to continue her healthy lifestyle of being in shape, Nina plans to stay on track with her positive mindset as well. Nina gives advice to young girls to stay strong and that no heartbreak is worth the damage of your mind and body. Through faith, anything is possible. Despite the hardships that come along with the journey, the outcome will be worth it all, in the long run.

- Xoxo, bs