🌿 Progress Over Perfect: My Wellness Journey

When I look back at my wellness journey, it’s not a straight line. It’s a winding, sometimes messy path full of lessons, experiments, and the occasional detour. But more than anything, it’s proof that progress is better than perfection.

I’ve learned that wellness isn’t just about the number on the scale—it’s about the adventures you say “yes” to, the habits you build, and the way you celebrate yourself along the way.

💉 My Journey with GLP-1s

Another big piece of my story is that I said yes to help when I needed it. For a year, I used semaglutide (GLP-1) to reset my health and lost 60 pounds. It gave me breathing room—a way to step off the cycle of restriction and rebound.

When I moved back to Dallas, I switched to tirzepatide. But this time, my focus shifted. Instead of chasing weight loss alone, I used it as a tool while prioritizing muscle, strength, and shape. I wanted to feel powerful in my body—not just smaller.

For me, medication wasn’t the whole answer—it was a bridge. It created space for me to focus on building sustainable habits: strength training, structured movement, nourishing food, and adventures that make me feel alive.

After a year and a half and nearly 70 pounds shed, I am no longer on a GLP-1. Although I have not reached my intended goal weight I have tapered off GLP-1s to continue my health journey with nutrition, exercise and cognitive therapy.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m not a doctor or health care professional. This is just my personal experience with GLP-1 medications. Everyone’s body and health needs are different—please consult with a licensed healthcare provider before considering any medical treatment.

Goals + Rewards: Making Milestones Fun

I’ve always been motivated by little wins, so I built my goals with rewards attached. Every milestone wasn’t just a number—it was a reason to treat myself.

Under 235 lbs → Seek Help of Nutritionist
- Vanessa Vargas, MDS, RDN, LD | San Antonio Coach
  - wellnessanutrition.com
- Kazzie Brown, M.S. | Dallas Coach
Under 230 lbs → Seek Help of Medically Assisted Weight Loss
- Hailey S. Leach | San Antonio Nurse Practitioner
- Loreta Pytka | Dallas Nurse Practioner
Under 225 lbs → A $225 shopping spree
Under 220 lbs → A Shark dryer 🦈
Under 215 lbs → A sleek new straightener
Under 210 lbs → Dream boots from Lucchese 🤠
Under 205 lbs → A beautiful new dress 💃 for an upcoming family function
Under 200 lbs → Running shoes 👟 to keep moving
Under 195 lbs → A facial or massage for self-care ✨
Under 190 lbs → Miron Crosby boots 💚
Under 185 lbs → More dresses 👗 to celebrate confidence

The list continues downward, but the real magic is this: it’s not about punishing myself into smaller numbers—it’s about celebrating milestones with joy.

🌸 Adventures That Made Wellness Fun

Wellness doesn’t live only in the gym. I realized I’m more likely to stick with things when I turn them into adventures. Over the past year, I’ve tried:

Boxing 🥊
Rowing 🚣 (now a regular favorite!)
Cooking + mixology classes 🧑‍🍳🍸
Visiting a lavender farm 💜
Float therapy + sound baths 🧘‍♀️
Rug making + calligraphy classes 🎨
Dance + Pilates 💃🧦
Perfume + candle making 💐🕯️
Photography, glass blowing, silk painting 📸🔥🎨
Even pickleball 🥒🎾 (don’t knock it ‘til you try it!)

These little experiments reminded me that movement and creativity can go hand in hand—wellness is about curiosity as much as discipline.

🔁 Challenges That Became Habits

Some experiments stuck. Some became anchors in my week:

Monthly sound baths
- EMD sound therapy whenever panic arises
Reading two books a month 📚
Bi-weekly check-ins with a nutritionist
Weekly yoga, Pilates, and rowing classes
Saving alcohol for social settings only 🍷
Quarterly facials + massages
Weekly therapy / counseling sessions

The repetition didn’t feel restrictive—it felt grounding. These habits gave me structure without making me feel trapped.

💡 Reframing Healthy

Like so many women, I’ve battled with unhealthy extremes. I wrote down the versions of myself I never want to return to:

❌ Under 140 lbs → Panic attacks, obsessive workouts, hair loss, exhaustion.
❌ Under 120 lbs → Chasing size 0, competing with my younger sister, hiding from food, fainting episodes.

And then I documented the versions of me that felt vibrant:

✅ 145–155 lbs → Toned, eating regularly, strong curves, stable energy.
✅ 150–160 lbs → Muscular, curvy, better sleep, steady mental health.

The takeaway? Weight is just data. Wellness is how you feel.

⚠️ Disclaimer: I’m 32 years old, 5′ 9″ and up until layoff led an extremely stressful yet mostly sedentary lifestyle. Luckily I had no major health concerns or ailments aside from an unhealthy relationship with food. Initially, my height and frame was able to hide the weight I had put on over the years but it was not able to disguise my self disgust and emotional instability.