By: Nicole Swingle
“The difference between the impossible and the possible lies in a person’s determination.” —Tommy Lasorda
Many of us struggle with several things in our life. However, it’s up to us to make the best out of every situation. If you go into every situation with the negative mentality, what are you going to gain from it? How does that affect the rest of your day or life? You are more likely to learn and gain something from an experience if you go into it with a positive mindset. One of our strongest obstacles is the mind game we play with ourselves.
It’s also up to us to make choices that matter and ones that will benefit us in the long run. No one is going to do it for you. This applies to just about everything in our life, whether that be your job, the relationships in your life, your health, etc. One of the best decisions I made in my life was changing my lifestyle around. I used to eat your stereotypical American diet filled with energy-dense foods, with little nutritional value. I also dreaded P.E. class back in grade school so you can tell just how much I loved exercising at the time. However, I hated the sluggish feeling I always had and how I told myself how unworthy I was. I knew my mental obstacle was going to be difficult to overcome. However, I decided to change myself for the better and for ME.
I dropped 7 lbs. in two weeks. I got excited and felt proud! I wanted to learn more about nutrition and fitness. I read a lot of nutrition books and looked up a ton of information online. I applied more of those principles to my life. After my whole lifestyle change, I lost a total of 75 lbs. To be honest, at first it was about my weight, but I soon realized I wanted to have more energy, to fuel my body right, and feel better. So, I started eating healthier and exercising. I accomplished what I did not because someone showed me the way or pushed me to do it. I accomplished my 180° lifestyle change because I wanted to be healthier. I made my pursuit of health possible because of my determination. Throughout my journey, I found health to me was not about a number or size, but rather taking care of my body with exercising and fueling it.
So what am I doing now years after my lifestyle change? I am majoring in Dietetics to become a Registered Dietitian Nutritionist (RDN). I hope to become an RDN specializing in sports nutrition or functional nutrition. I am going hiking exploring the wilderness and seeing the beautiful views from the top of a mountain. I am fueling my body with nutritious food. I am lifting in the gym because I actually love it now and am dedicated to fitness and health. I am standing behind WholeMe as an ambassador because I believe in the company and what it stands for. I am influencing others and helping them to adopt health habits. I am laughing and enjoying my life with my loved ones. I am what I longed to be years ago before my health journey and passion for nutrition and fitness.
If you gain nothing else from this post, I hope you walk away knowing how important it is to believe in yourself, surround yourself around those who support you, and that I believe in your ability to overcome your mental obstacle (whatever it may be) to turn the impossible into the possible.
Nicole Swingle is a WholeMe ambassador. With a passion for nutrition and fitness, you can find her lifting in the gym, making a new recipe, or checking something off her bucket list.
