My Journey
by Jenna Orick
Fat…no other way to describe it. The terms overweight and obese weren’t really used back in the 70’s when this journey began. I was always the fat kid, or so it seemed in my childhood brain. I was always heavier than everyone else…so that equaled fat. I have to say though, growing up in a small town, I never really experienced the bullying…well except from another girl who was as overweight as I was. All through my school age years I battled weight issues, yet I always seemed to have great friends who didn’t really care. Looking back, God blessed me with special people in my life so that I didn’t have to experience the bullying that is prevalent in todays world. In some ways, I think I was sheltered by my parents and my friends because I never felt as though I was limited. If I am honest though, I limited myself. I allowed my weight to hinder me from doing so many things that my friends were doing. I never had the confidence to try anything…not softball, not dance, not cheerleading, purely because I felt self conscious and limited by my weight. Why would I put myself out there to be judged on how I looked? I let it control me.
While I had great friends, there are defining moments from my childhood. A middle school friend called me Pillsbury dough girl; it is etched forever in my mind. During my teenage years, I went on a weight loss plan and had lost a significant amount of weight. I felt great and thought I looked good, my self confidence sky rocketed. Later I learned that an Aunt of mine said, “She will gain it all back,” talk about a confidence killer. To bad she was right…
I met Geoff my senior year of high school, during my “thin” stage. I never actually pictured myself as “skinny.” We dated all through college where I gained the typical Freshman 15, but for me it was more like the Freshman 150. You read that right, add a zero to the end. Oh the emotions that come with putting that down on paper.
Geoff was my rock through it all…his love never wavered and he always thought I was beautiful. After we got married and bought a house, the time came to purchase life insurance. Well, that is when my world was rocked. I received a Letter of Denial due to Obesity. Nothing like a slap in the face…but I think that was God’s plan. He knew that it would take something so huge to make me see the reality of where my life was headed, my AH-HA! moment. It was that day that I took my official weight, 278 lbs, and made it my motivator. I went on my very first walk of two miles that day. A new journey had begun and there was no stopping me. I remember thinking, will I really have to still be exercising in 20+ years? That's a long time! LOL
The process was slow…daily exercise and change in eating habits over time became my new normal. It took close to 7 years and two pregnancies to lose the 130 lbs, so obviously it wasn’t fast. I continuously told myself that it wouldn’t happen overnight and to remain focused. Jazzercise and walking were my life savers, along with the friendships I forged along the way.
Over time walking progressed to running. Who would have thought the girl who couldn’t make it around the school track one time would EVER choose to run? It was hard, painful and exhilarating at the same time. I found that the more challenging something was, the more I loved doing it. I actually had a competitive streak…never knew that before!
I love getting outside, I love to move, I love the feeling of exercise. Thing is, it doesn’t seem like exercise when you love what your doing! Who knew? I have discovered that while being outside and moving, the endorphins kick in and I can’t say no to a challenge. A girlfriend asked me to run a half marathon with her; what? seriously?…sure, why not?! Little did I know that saying yes to that one question would set the stage for what the future held. Several 10k’s and half marathons followed. Then there was a new challenge…lets run a marathon! So, Geoff and I trained together and ran our first marathon, the Disney Marathon. How was I going to run 26.2 miles? Upon crossing the finishing line the tears flowed…the one time fat girl ran a marathon! Talk about life changing.
As my running evolved, I met some very special people along the way. We formed a running group and met at 4:30am to get our run on. What crazies do that? One person threw out another challenge…lets do a 50k! Really? Lets run 30+ miles at one time, on a trail? Have you lost your mind? Well, I guess we did, because we’ve done several at this point. Each one seems to get more difficult and more challenging to the core. It tests not just the physical endurance, but the mental endurance as well.
In order to take on the rigors of all the running, I added strength training. It is amazing how much better you feel when you feel strong! Alex Wilson of Alex Wilson Fitness has been a blessing. Her specialized training and food coaching has prepared me for all the rock climbing, trail running and falling that I could ask for! The core strength, leg strength, and upper body strength that she builds in conjunction with food coaching is what allows me to do what I love to do and to feel the way I love to feel…STRONG! She has helped me understand that food is not to be feared and that I must eat to train. Our bodies were designed to take in fuel.
I traded a food addiction for an exercise addiction; but one has to be better than the other. I struggle everyday with the negative chatter going on in my head; I don’t think it ever goes away. I remind myself it isn’t about a number on the scale anymore, in fact I have not weighed myself in over a year. It is about feeling STRONG and BEAUTIFUL in your own skin. It is about appreciating how God designed you and taking care of it.
Seek out what makes you happy and amazing things will happen. For me, it is being an athlete at 42 years old.
