Episode 8: From Surviving to Thriving in 9 Months – Britany’s Inspiring Story

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Britany

I was a fairly new mom and my whole life I’ve never really been one to put myself first. But I didn’t have a choice anymore. My health and my body, were telling me if you don’t put yourself first, it’s going to start snowballing. Fast forward till now, nutrition and exercise have become my life, something I crave doing, and something that I really struggle if it’s not a part of my life. So I’ve gotten into running, CrossFit, which has been a huge not only source of exercise, but a coping mechanism. Whereas in the past, eating was a coping mechanism. So I’ve kind of replaced old bad habits with some new good habits.

Leah

Welcome to the Reclaim podcast, I’m your host, Leah Van Dolder, and I’m a weight loss dietitian and mindset coach and this program is for you if you’re a busy working woman or female entrepreneur, and you’re ready to take charge of your health, you’re ready to lose weight and make lasting positive change in your life. The only kicker is that you’re on the brink of burnout, you’re exhausted, you are frustrated, you’re feeling discouraged and uncomfortable. And this is how I help my clients, giving you simple, practical and savvy strategies to help you achieve your goals while reducing your stress boosting your mood, your energy and your self confidence. To learn more about working with me, check out my website at leahvandolder.com Welcome to the show. Welcome everybody to this episode of the Reclaim podcast. I’m your host, Leah Van Dolder, and I am so excited to connect with you today. And this is actually my first interview with a amazing woman, near and dear to my heart. Brittany Stevenson is here with us today she’s going to be sharing her story. And I was just saying to her, before we hopped on I’m like Brittany, we’re gonna go with the flow here. And the objective of this podcast today or the episode is to inspire other women out there to you know, step up, take charge, and really create change in their life because you so deserve it. So welcome, Brittany.

Britany

Thank you. Thank you for having me. This is exciting.

Leah

It is exciting. I’m super excited to have you here. You know what, why don’t you tell our listeners a little bit about yourself?

Britany

Okay, well, my name is Brittany, I am 34 I have a four year old son. And I’ve always struggled with my weight, and my view of myself and my body. Um, so this has kind of been a fairly recent journey of mine. But an amazing one. Yeah, that’s me in a nutshell. I’m not there. There’s a lot more to me than that. But me in a nutshell.

Leah

Yeah, that’s a good nutshell. That’s a good natural. And so many women can relate to that too, right. And a lot of listeners here, you know, in your late 20s 30s 40s, I don’t know about you, but you start to think more about your health, how you feel in your body, and just perspectives change from 20s, your 30s. And then from your 30s into your 40s. Right, we started thinking about stuff like keeping up with our kids, our strength, our stamina, our energy, our mood, all these things that make a big difference and how we show up in a day. Do you find this happening?

Britany

Absolutely. I was, you know, facing some health issues. I’m having struggles keeping up with my son having a really difficult relationship with myself. And everything kind of just culminated to the right time. And yeah, kind of just made the decision that it was time to prioritize me for months.

Leah

I love love, love that. Yeah. Because it’s a tough decision to make. Right? And I think so many of us can relate to wanting that for ourselves. But then it almost happens. It’s like this tipping point where that want suddenly turns into a need. Did you feel that great before you said yes to this journey?

Britany

Absolutely. It was a hard decision for me because again, I you know, I was a fairly new mom and my whole life I’ve never really been one to put myself first but I didn’t have choice anymore. My health and my body, were telling me if you don’t put yourself first, it’s gonna start snowballing. And like, it’s time, it’s now or, you know, things are not going to be good.

Leah

Yeah, you know, I really applaud you. And I know I said this to you like, right when we’ve served working together, but it’s like, this is prime time, because we hear it all. We hear it all the time. It’s like, Oh, I wish I did this years ago, or, you know, it’s like, you don’t even realize how good it can be. And I want to jump ahead to where you’re at now, just to give all of our listeners just a glimpse. And of course, we’ll get more into this. But did you have any idea that you could feel this amazing in your skin? Like, tell me about that?

Britany

No, no, I guess it will be a year ago, in June. So coming up on a year, which is crazy, but honestly, a year ago, I was in survival mode. Yeah, I was struggling to get through every day, I was exhausted all the time, no energy. And again, I really didn’t like myself. Fast forward till now. Nutrition and Exercise have become my life, something I crave doing, and something that I really struggle if it’s not a part of my life. So I’ve gotten into running CrossFit, which has been a huge, not only source of exercise, but a coping mechanism. Whereas in the past, eating was a coping mechanisms. So I’ve kind of replaced old bad habits with some new good habits. So it’s still a work in progress. I am definitely, you know, still have my struggles. But yeah, I’m in a much better place than I was before I started this program. Wow. Yeah.

Leah

It really is amazing to see how much can change in less than a year. It’s been what, 10 months?

Britany

Yeah. Yeah, it’s, it’s crazy. And like, obviously, I’ve lost a rat, like around 40 pounds. But I’ve gained, like, so much more than the weight and like, people are always asking me, like, you’re, you’ve changed so much like what the you must be still losing weight. And like I, I’ve been at the same weight for probably within five pounds for probably the past two and a half months. But I’ve changed my focus on weight, because my, my body’s changing in other ways. And you know, building muscle, losing body fat. So it’s just kind of become a new relationship with the scale, which has also been a struggle, because I’ve been trying to reach a milestone that I just can’t seem to hit. But again, my body is changing. And that itself is, you know, an incredible thing to see.

Leah

I love what you said there, Brittany, because there’s so many ways to it’s kind of like redefining success.

Britany

Yeah. Yeah. Even just like my clothing alone, like I went from wearing a size 3x. And only being able to shop in plus size stores to yesterday, going to the city and going shopping, and I’m buying extra largest and they’re fighting well, and I’m going on a vacation and I bought three bikinis to go.

Leah

Yeah the bikinis.

Britany

That’s, that’s not me at all, like in recent life, but I am just excited to be comfortable in my own skin and show off the work that I’ve done.

Leah

Right. It’s a major sense of accomplishment.

Britany

Yeah, it’s, it’s, it’s huge. It’s not going to be easy for me, but I figure that that’s the best place to start. Where I don’t know anybody. And it really like it’s just, it’s for me, it’s not for anybody else.

Leah

Bingo. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, yeah. I love that. You just said that. Right? It’s doing the scary thing like yeah, putting on a bathing, putting on a bikiki and haven’t done it in so long, and doing the uncomfortable thing and I think you know what, you’re like the perfect person that I want to talk to this. Because, man, when it comes to change, we have to get comfortable with the uncomfortable right? And that’s something that I observed in you honestly, like every single week, but you were constantly being okay, with getting uncomfortable, and what do you have to share with our listeners around, you know, doing those uncomfortable things? Because and I’ve learned this too, even with doing uncomfortable things in business, right. It’s part of the process. Tell me your experience about getting out there and doing the uncomfortable thing, even though you don’t want to in the moment.

Britany

I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t do something that I was uncomfortable doing. Even initially saying yes to the program. Was I uncomfortable saying yes, absolutely. Did I second guess it a million times. But again, nothing changes if you don’t make that leap. Again, like, I don’t know, I signed up for a 5k last year, and I was No, were close to it. Yeah, we’re close. And I did. And I did I look like the other runners there now. Not at all. But I did it. And I met my son at the finish line. And we like everybody was in tears because it like they could see that. You know, this was more than just a run. Like it had a lot behind it. And it’s the same thing when I signed up with CrossFit. Do I look like the other girls that are there? No. But do I deserve to be there? Absolutely. Absolutely. So it’s yes, it’s uncomfortable, but you don’t grow in comfort. And that’s kind of been like a huge thing for me, is again, like, you have to step outside of what is comfortable, because comfortable is what got me to where it was.

Leah

Yeah, it’s so true. Comfort is what brought you to where you were, but also it can hold us in place. Right? Yeah. So and I love what you said to like, Great before saying yes to this, not just the program, but saying yes to yourself, really, because that’s what it was right. You were making a commitment to yourself. You know, you invested your time, your energy, some money, right. You had some skin in the game? Yeah. And I really love what you said Brittany around and just being honest here. Like, did you have some doubts? Yeah, like we all would, right? Yeah.

Britany

I had huge doubts. I’ve failed in the past. And it’s hard to believe in yourself when you let yourself down in the past, but again, you think you’re not gonna get anywhere if you don’t try. And it’s all about finding the right approach that works for you. And this was the first time that I could work towards losing weight, while still having a healthy relationship with food. And feeling like I wasn’t restricting myself. Yeah. Which is a huge thing for me, because food restriction. Yeah, is like a triggering thing. For me. I don’t like feeling like I can’t have something. And in self sabotage is, you know, my, my best friend. So it was a meant to be kind of thing. I’m pretty sure.

Leah

Yeah, you know, you just answer my question. I was just gonna say, um, so what was what was different with this, right, what was different this time around?

Britany

Different this time around, again, was avoiding the all or nothing? mentality, you know, I could have the things that I wanted, within reason, I didn’t, I didn’t, like I didn’t have to cut anything out. It was just figuring out what my body needed the right portions, and, you know, not treating the things that I, you know, the bad things as things that I couldn’t have, which was huge, because, again, I in the past, I would have those things, and then it would be blaming myself feeling guilty, and then it just kind of spiraled. And then I would self sabotage. And it wouldn’t ever be successful. So again, just feeling like I could have everything that I wanted, within reason. And not beating myself up for maybe making a poor decision one day, or two days. And just figuring out how everything just worked for me individually. It’s not the same. A lot of people reached out to me and they’re like, how are you doing this? Well, I’m just like, again, the way I’m doing it isn’t gonna work for everybody. So it’s kind of just like I worked with you and we figured out what works for me. Yeah. But again, the all or nothing thing, huge.

Leah

Huge for so many people, right? Like that is the number one mindset shift, you know, to her that I help women get out of and it’s so beneficial like It’s like this massive weight has been released off your shoulders right there’s less blame less frustration, less beating yourself up a better less judgment and so much resilience and what you said Brittany around individual approach like it has to be right everybody has triggers are a little bit different. And you know coping strategies are a little bit different. But yeah, allowing yourself your favorite foods within reason and having that pep talk of this fits. You know, it’s not like I’m blowing my progress. And I remember I remember it was like a couple months into the program and like it was a really big win. Just getting right back into the swing of things on Monday morning. Like you had a weekend away at the cottage or like, I don’t know, I can’t even remember you went some you went away somewhere. Yeah. And it was like Monday came around. I’m like, What’s your Monday when my break back into the swing of things?

Britany

Yeah. And again, that like that happens all the time. You know, life happens, everything doesn’t always go according to you know, the plan, or weekends or chaos. You know, it’s it’s much harder to plan for the weekend that it is to plan for the week. But again, it’s about not beating yourself up for not always sticking to the plan.

Leah

Yeah, that’s also a part of consistency in redefining consistency. Because, you know, consistency doesn’t mean being perfect. Every single day. Consistency includes the self compassion, meeting yourself where you’re at saying, hey, life happens sometimes. Yeah. And that’s also a big shift, right? Getting out of that all or nothing. I gotta be like, banging on follow exactly the plan. It’s like, No, this is real life. Practicing that self grace. And getting back into the swing of things like that is part of being consistent.

Britany

Yeah, it’s been a whole new relationship of being kind to myself. When I do you know, slip up. It’s not beating myself up. Yeah. Work in Progress. Always right. But again, like, perfection is only going to make things harder for you. If you try and do it perfectly, it’s it’s far from that.

Leah

Yeah. Yeah. Life is far from perfect, right? Yeah, absolutely. Yeah. And I’m even remembering to, again, I think it was a few months into the program. But just thinking of some big aha moments or big mindset shifts, or perspective shifts, I remember the day, you’re like, This is the like, I’m really realizing how much of a lifestyle change this is. Can you tell our listeners a little bit more about that?

Britany

Yeah, I realized pretty quickly that this was something that I could maintain. It wasn’t an all or nothing thing. There wasn’t things I couldn’t have, which made it I immediately feel like, Hey, I could do this long term. And then as the changes, you know, started happening with my body, my energy, my feelings towards myself, my relationship with my family. I just said to myself, I never want to go back to where I was. Yeah. And that this is a lifestyle thing for me. And again, as you start making the changes and find things that you love, you crave it. And, you know, it becomes the craving as opposed to craving food for self comfort, which was what I really feel led me to where I was at the beginning, I was using food as a coping mechanism for all emotions, whereas now, when I’m struggling with my mental health, or I’ve had a bad day, I just I use the gym to let out that stress and feed my body instead of food.

Leah

Yeah, yeah. A different type of feed. Yes, yeah. And a different type of release and a different type of replacement.

Britany

Yes, and something that’s, you know, going to get me to where I want to be as opposed to fighting it. against where I want to be. Yeah. Again, we were talking before we started the podcast that I was at a basketball game last night, we took a picture of myself and my husband, and I’m looking at pictures of myself now. And I’m like, Oh, that’s a really good picture. Whereas before I was seeing pictures of myself, and hating them. As a person I saw in the pictures wasn’t the person. I felt I was. But it made it real that on the outside, I was not who I wanted to be. So yeah, it’s again, it’s become a whole new relationship with myself.

Leah

Yeah, yeah, super powerful. It is such a transformation. And I think too, it’s almost like that. There’s these times in our lives, there’s like an inflection point where, at a fork in the road, there’s a decision to be made, and it can literally just shift the entire trajectory of your life. Right. And I’m just thinking too, I mean, you shared a bit about your, the weight that you’ve lost, but, uh, so many other things that you’ve gained? And is there anything else that you’d love to like, this is a time to toot your own horn, I may inspire other women like what are some of the most amazing things that you have experienced along the way, whether it’s like your house, whether it’s changes in mental health, or like anything that you really want to celebrate today.

Britany

I’ve made a lot of big goals. And I’ve met them, I made a goal to run a 5k. I did that I ran three. Actually, I signed up for CrossFit thought it was a crazy goal that way faster than I planned. And I competed in my first open. And I didn’t come last, which is incredible. I gained a new self confidence that led me to job opportunities and a new job that I’m starting that I wouldn’t have applied for, you know, a year ago, because I didn’t have any confidence in myself, nor did I have the energy to take on a change in employment. I’m happier. My I’m sure my family could attest to, you know, my energy levels, I can keep up. I’m not, you know, huffing and puffing, doing simple tasks, I can run around with my son. I don’t I just I feel like me again. Yeah. And that’s huge. I have lost myself for a long time. Now. So yeah, I don’t I feel, I’m 34. But I feel like I’m you know, 2014. Again, like I feel like I have, you know, the world at my fingertips. Another big thing, I went from having really high blood pressure to not my blood pressure is in normal range. And has been consistently, which is huge, huge. Probably one of the biggest things to be honest, because it was really high, not only in pregnancy, but outside of that as well. And you know, I have family connections to stroke, high blood pressure, heart disease, so I was staring some big health problems right in the eye. And not so much anymore.

Leah

Yeah. Totally changed the trajectory. Yeah.

Britany

Yeah. And it totally changed the trajectory for not only me, but for my family. Yeah. Now my son sees a completely different role model and his mom asked me about my Mommy, are you going to exercise tonight? Are you going to do the bowls which are like, wall balls? Because he came to CrossFit with me one day and yeah, I saw your picture. Did burpees with me and everything but he sees a mom that is learning to love herself. Which is way better than what he was seeing before.

Leah

Yeah, yeah. My arm hairs like standing up on it. And I got a lot arm hear this, you know, it is so amazing to hear this. People need to hear this message, right? People need to hear this message. And I mean, I am so proud of you. And I applaud you on doing this for yourself but for your family and you’re right it’s you know, it’s it’s not just your own personal health, but it’s generational health that you’ve created, which is some They like it that is priceless. Like that is priceless. Absolutely, yeah. So just want to thank you for your openness, your vulnerability, sharing all of this amazing stuff with our listeners too. And I really hope that it inspires other women that are feeling stuck, frustrated to take that leap of faith, because that’s that’s what you did. Right? Yeah, you took that leap of faith stepped into your fear versus allowing it to hold you back from achieving this life that you’re living like 10 months has completely transformed your life and your relationship with yourself.

Britany

Yeah, yeah. Yeah. And it’s all it’s only just yeah.

Leah

Yes. Yeah. That’s the most amazing part. Like holy smokes, it’s only been 10 minds like, yeah, just amazing. It’s so so inspiring. So exciting. And, you know, I can see, like I even said before we started this podcast episode, but that picture from last night with the UN heavy at the ballgame, like if you just look so happy, so happy.

Britany

And everybody in my life sees it. Yeah. So it’s, it’s not, you know, it’s not just a picture. It’s a change in mentality that those around me can see. And that that’s worth everything.

Leah

Yeah, yeah. And I think that’s such a great way to tie everything together here. I mean, I know we’re all in the pursuit of health and happiness. And what I’m hearing through this story, Brittany, is that happiness isn’t just because of the number on the scale going down.

Britany

Absolutely not. If that was the only thing that mattered, I would have been stopped in my tracks two and a half months ago, because nothing’s changed on this scale. But again, I have committed to this lifestyle, the scale moving or not, my body still changing. My relationship with myself is still changing. And I’ve got goals. I’ve got a 10k coming up at the start of June. And I think I would ever do that. No. So again, it’s it’s not the scale. It’s everything else that came with this experience.

Leah

Yeah.Yeah. Yeah. It sounds like happiness is in the actions that you’re taking, building that confidence. It’s that sense of power.

Britany

Happiness is learning how to love my body, and what it has done for me and not work against it. Yeah.

Leah

Beautiful.

Britany

Yeah. Women are pretty powerful beings. We need to love ourselves. We’re pretty amazing. Not hate ourselves, because the world has shown us that, you know, different bodies aren’t ideal. Yeah, all bodies are ideal. You just have to learn to love them, and work with them, not against them.

Leah

Couldn’t have said it better myself. So good. I’m like tearing up over here. This has just been such a honor to talk to you, Brittany. And thank you so much for sharing your story. I know that there are women listening, and they can relate so much. And just you know, you’ve shown them that amazing things are possible.

Britany

Absolutely. Thank you so much for having me, Leah.

Leah

You’re so welcome. All right. Thanks, everybody for tuning in to this week’s episode, and we will talk to you soon. Thanks for tuning in to this episode of the Reclaim podcast. If you enjoy this episode, I encourage you to follow rate and review. To learn more about working with me check out my website at leahvandolder.com Thank you again for being here. It means the world to be able to connect with you, girl keep doing amazing things. You have everything that it takes to achieve your goals and be successful at anything that you want.