About Tonya :: Before & After Photos

I believe renewal is the foundation of wellness, but this hasn't always been my philosophy. I spent the majority of my young adult years with thighs that rubbed together like sandpaper, a pantry filled with sweet and salty snacks, and a closet of oversized clothes to hide my out of shape body. Yet, every aspect of my life still centered around food and inactivity. I had tuned out the voice of my inner wisdom telling me that my mind, body and spirit were in need of renewal.

Fourteen years ago, I met someone who showed me the possibilities for a different way of living. Being a high school athlete and former military man, physical fitness was core to my future husband's lifestyle when we met. As we continued to date, I began to get involved in many of the activities he enjoyed such as biking, running, and weight training. Fortunately, I had the good sense to know that I wanted to adopt his lifestyle instead of him adopting mine! I had long known that I needed to abandon my poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle, but until now had lacked the motivation to do it. Now I was ready!

Expanding my awareness of opportunities for greater personal wellness empowered me to set goals to strengthen my body, lose weight and take responsibility for my own well-being. I made a conscious effort to learn how to prepare and eat more wholesome foods - fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. I admit that adapting to healthier food was a challenge at first. I was raised in a traditional Southern family so I was accustomed to eating fried foods, starchy side dishes, and rich (although delicious!) desserts. So when the time came for me to change my eating habits, I had to start from scratch. I had to learn how to prepare nutritious meals at home and how to request healthier food preparations when dining out. I read as many books, magazines and websites as I could find that provided information on healthy cooking. I also attended several cooking classes and wellness seminars.

Renewal is all around us, but we must own it and continuously pursue it.

Renew and Be Well!

Tonya

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Before	After
Member of National Weight Control Registry

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