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Let ’ s fast forward in this journey shall we ? So , there I was several years later , happy as can be with a BMI in the high 30 ’ s with zero physically activity … yikes ! How did I get here and when did this happen ? With being on the taller side , you carry weight differently , but weight is weight , so over time it does add up . I ’ ve spent the last decade or so in the travel industry , and it has afforded me the ability to see the world and stay at some of the finest all-inclusive accommodations possible . I took full advantage of it and ate , and ate , and ate . Why jog on the beach at sunset when you can lay on the beach , sipping your favorite drink while eating your umpteenth plate of food ? Yes , I had a problem , and it involved my mindset with food and fitness .
On my last company trip to Jamaica , I had to borrow a dress from another travel agent because I had managed to outgrow mine . I remember looking at those pictures and although they were beautiful , I knew that wasn ’ t the “ me ” I wanted to be . I decided when I returned home things were going to change . Lo and behold , not 3 days after arriving home , I had a terrible fall and was bedridden for several weeks . It was during that time that I decided to stop messing around and take charge of my health . I researched anti-inflammatory foods , what to eat to feel fuller for longer , safe exercises that could be done from my bed , you name it . I needed physical therapy because of my torn MCL and discovered I had an untapped interest in anatomy . As I understood my body more and more , I developed a new respect for it as well as a better understanding of what I had been doing to it for all those years .
Several months later , my BMI was in the low 30s and within a year , it was down to the high 20s ! Was I still overweight … yes . Did I feel great … absolutely ! I developed a new mindset , relationship with food , with fitness and for life . Today , with a BMI under 25 with a passion for wellness and a respect for food , I am still on my journey . Is there more to it , you better believe it , but that ’ s for another issue .
Until then , be well , be strong , be the “ YOU ” you have always wanted to be !
Adrienne Dawkins-Smith