#lift100 Lift 7 #walk100 walk day 26 in progress #testimony This portrait is incredibly difficult for me to want to share, but it’s important. There’s a two year difference between the left photo and the right photo of me….January 2021 vs. January 2023. I started 2021 feeling good, knowing I needed to work on myself, but overall “healthy” considering all that was going on in the world. September of 2021 our oldest son came home sick with covid. I was soon to follow along with my husband. It was mild and tolerable for both of us until it suddenly took a turn after a week. Both myself and my husband developed pneumonia and my condition went south very quickly. He was really rough as well. I awoke to my O2 sats in the 70s after being on top of treatment and medication for the pneumonia. I spent eleven days hospitalized and in the fight of my life though at the time I didn’t fully know it. It was literally a day-by-day battle. The dreams I had while hospitalized were pretty vivid and wild. I know who was looking out for me and battling for me and I’m so grateful. 👊🏼🙏🏼 I’ve spent my time ever since that battle making strides to not only heal, but to get healthier and stronger. In the beginning, I’d get our boys off to school and sleep from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm. That lasted for the remainder of their school year and into summer break. I had a long road ahead of me past coming home. I committed to myself on December 21, 2021 with the encouragement of one of my dear friends by my side. It was SO HARD at the beginning. I couldn’t tolerate five minutes on an elliptical machine. We’d meet at the gym two to three times weekly. We only missed a few weeks that year. I lost sixteen pounds, gained stamina, continued to heal and listen to my body, gained confidence and perspective, and I continued to be filled with gratitude. This year, I am pushing myself more. I’ve set some new goals (mostly geared towards being even more consistent with my efforts). I’m less inflamed, have more mental clarity and energy, and I’m pleased with my progress so far. I’m not down two sizes in my workout leggings which made me giddy this morning as I prepped for my weekly walk with a friend. I still have a long way to go on my journey. I’m just thankful to be here to celebrate it. 🙏🏼🙌🏼🥰 Cheers to y’all for your journeys and for the encouragement in this group.

Posted by Kristen G at 2023-01-26 16:40:24 UTC