Words By Mara

Chronic illness is exactly that… chronic. Consistent. A vicious cycle. Every day. All day.

Living with a chronic illness is not an excuse – it’s a reality.

Many of us struggle to move beyond the every day aches, pains and flares out of fear that our body will trigger another vicious cycle of illness.

A few months ago – I dedicated myself to finding a healthier, happier Mara! And I did.

Last year at this time, I was recovering from a c-section and learning how to be a new mom. A couple months later, post-partum depression hit me and I was sent into a spiral of frustrating sadness. You may have noticed that my blog and Facebook posts slowed down around that time.

Once I was able to see light at the end of the dark depression tunnel, it became clear that chronic pain and Endo was eating away at my spirit. I decided to have surgery… yet again.

After my surgery, I enrolled in a health challenge (check out the site if you’re interested). The challenge was to lose 6% of your body fat in 3 months. Knowing that it was time to get healthy again and to lose the baby and Endo weight… I signed up with great enthusiasm.

Little did I know where this new journey would lead me.

When we pull ourselves from the depths of darkness and into the light, we are finally able to reveal our true selves.

Losing weight isn’t always about the number on the scale. It’s about you FEEL.

At the beginning, I could hardly walk a mile without wanting to quit. And I am happy to report at the end, I can comfortably walk up to 4 miles – no problem.

I have also been doing yoga and exercises that I learned from my physical therapist. I can now do up to 20 minutes of yoga without much discomfort.

Of course, exercise is only one part of the commitment toward wellness. I’ve also made several changes to my diet. In May, I cut out cheese until I could gain control over my cravings. I also cut out sweets, which isn’t too hard for me. Snacks are typically now vegetables. And I also added supplements to my daily regimen to support my crippled immune system (thanks to Endo).

The transformation in my self-esteem, confidence and motivation is more valuable to me than any number on a scale. But, I have lost a total of 10 pounds and still going.

Starting the journey is often the hardest part. You need to be willing to transform and make changes for yourself. No one else can make that choice for you. Are you ready to start?

I am not a health or medical expert, but if you’re looking for some tips to get started… please contact me by email. I am happy to help.

IN OTHER NEWS: I have set a goal for myself to finish the eBook by end of the year. This might be an ambitious goal, but I’ve been working on this thing for years. It’s time to go forward. I will have more to share about this at a later date. Your support is always appreciated.

Take care friends. Be well.

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