Meagan's story - ''I no longer binge in my car.''

Today we read about Meagan Jones' journey as she shares some history and what is no longer part of her life.

Read along...

Growing up, I was not considered overweight, or big but somehow food and my body were always on my mind. I feel like my beginning story reminds me of Alicia’s that why I think I connect with her journey.

In public school, I was always self conscious of my body, always trying to cover up. Now I have to think where did this self doubt come from? No one never said anything to me about my weight/size/body. I realize where... It was from watching my mother dislike her own body and doing every diet in the 90's. My mother is amazing and we are so close but let’s face it, back then, parents didn’t know better about this, and they didn’t know we were watching and picking up on these things. Let’s also add the fact of celebrities in the 90's/00's were always so skinny! Guaranteed, ask any millennial and we can name a celebrity “setting” some ridiculous skinny standards (Spice Girls, Paris Hilton & Nicole Richie, Britney Spears). Also I was always a person that fully finished my plate, and to me I was not done eating until I was STUFFED. Anyway that was some back story, even though I never did diets in public school or high school “food and body noise” were always in my head.

Now off to college….. living on my own, the drinking, the parties. Weight is starting to go up and it’s making me feel even worse about myself.

This is when I started doing diets like shake replacements, cabbage soup, no carb, low carb, no sugar, 1200 calories, weight watchers etc. I even did a few diets with my mom. 

To fit into my wedding dress, I did Herbalife shake replacements and I was miserable, I did not do well as I would end up binging on food in my car or when I was alone that I actually wanted (but I did get into my dress, then all the weight back right after.) 

During pregnancy, I gained about 60 pounds, probably because before this I was so use to these restrictive diets that I just ate everything when I was pregnant.

 1.5 years after birth I was 15-20 pounds over my pre-pregnancy weight. I was unhappy, and very hard on myself mentally and in a very sad place. I found YWWL June 2022. At this point I creeped, taking in all the free options. Things were getting better, I was learning a lot and lost a couple pounds. Since I was enjoying J&A so much I joined January 2023 signed up for the full year!

I have lost 15 pounds without diets!! I never thought I’d say that! But I lost a lot more than that. I lost so much of my mental noise, I no longer label food good or bad, no longer binge in my car, I no longer finish my plate if I don’t want too, I now stop when I’m satisfied, I’ve been working on hungry cues and fullness cues, no more feeling STUFFED all the time. I have way better language around food and (getting better everyday) around my body. Most importantly I’m a good role model for my son.

I am still on a journey, still learning and growing and working on a few things. But I am a better mom and a happier person, YWWL helped me work on ME and helped me get out of the dark while I was in post new mom phase. Now I make sure to do things for myself on the regular that bring me joy.

Thank you, Meagan 

What an amazing message!  We adore that you were able to work on YOU. Thank you so much for sharing your journey with us. WE are inspired!

TEAM YWWL