Monday, July 13, 2015

Letting Go and Moving On

I made it official a week ago Saturday that I was no longer with my boyfriend of almost 4 years. I became an object that he saw as a possession and it took a realistic dream to wake me up. It was time to get out before I would get used even more than I already was. I didn't even tell him all the things I wanted for my life in fear he would tear me down or tell me no. I shouldn't have to fear someone I had once loved enough to want to marry them. Now, i see that he had caused me so much added stress and grief. I'm free now and working on new things for my life. Singing has been something I've loved for years but kept to myself. My friend Nicole has been very supportive of me as well as everyone who  has listened to my recordings. Nicole gave me the idea of trying sound cloud instead of just YouTube to get my voice out there. I have had nothing but a good response from everyone who clicks play. It gives me the confidence to keep working on my shyness, keep challenging my voice with harder genres and makes me want to never give up on anything I try. I have no reason to. God has given me several gifts, and since the fire, I've only discovered more and found myself. I was so lost and stuck in my relationship with my ex. 
I was suffocating. Now I can breathe and am set free. 
Enjoy everyone and thank you so much!! Many more to come soon!

www.smule.com 
Username: MeltMyHeart 
Email: myprogressisyour1proof@gmail.com

Monday, June 22, 2015

My Biggest Secret but It's Time to Share...

Some of us go our whole lives asking, "What if?" Well, since my family's house fire, I've been braver and letting myself be seen as I am, for who I am. I'm so done with hiding behind a shell or a wall. It hasn't done me any good and, just maybe, this will open doors for so many other people. That's all I want. I want to be respected and I want others to see that it is ok to be different.  I always knew I was different, but not as much as I've come to realize.  

People at work know me as the nerdy, goofy, math tutor. Few people have come to see all that god has blessed me with. I honestly wouldn't have found any of it if I wasn't such a lonely child. I had no friends and lived a very sheltered life. I'm just now fully coming out of my shell and the world better watch out because I'm not slowing down.  

A lot of people even know me as an artist or the crazy gym rat who goes intense every gym workout she does. Some even know I write and have been published. There are also a select few that know I love photography as well. Not many, though, know what my favorite thing to do truly is. This blog may have the world see me in a whole new light, but, it's time.....it is time for me to just lay it all on the line.  

I know the judgement will be harsh and the opinions high, but, this is my life and you can either support me or take a hike. I don't need the negativity anymore. I want to be known as Kristen, the girl who survived live and triumphed.

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC33Vbm4JiEYxCRWsF92H6eg

...and yes this is me. Please do not even think that I would post someone else's link. Believe it or not, I am scared of what people will say, but I'm also excited to put myself out there. Welcome to the world, Kristen. 

Thursday, May 21, 2015

My Creative Vision

I've tried to figure out exactly who I am and what I'm supposed to do with my life for years now. Yeah I'm only 24 and I have time, but, I want to have a general idea. I want to know so I can build on it and find out more about myself. 

My latest endeavor has been illustrating pieces of literature that I have written. Most are lyrical ballads and the art that goes with them mainly one subject. That is my choice and my reasoning right now. I want my art to convey a message and my writing to form an image in your mind. I want my creativity to be felt, not just seen. Here are examples of what I'm working towards:




I'm Listening 

Speak to me,
Telepathically,
So I can feel,
How you feel...
I'm ready to be,
The other half of who you are,
The other half of what you need,
What's missing to make you happy...
Answer my pleas,
I'm not trying,
To bother you,
But get your attention...
Asking my questions,
Trying to keep it simple...

I'm listening,
To see what I'm missing,
I've overlooked,
Something you've said...
My heart hears yours,
Calling it from its safe place,
Making it beat faster,
Inside of me...
The excitement,
You're causing,
Keeps me guessing,
What's coming next...
I'm listening,
So speak up baby...

Stepping into the shade,
Keeping my silence,
Waiting for you to proclaim,
Your presence...
I look around,
Waiting for a sound,
A sign telling me,
That you're close...
No one needs to understand,
Nothing has to make sense,
Only you and I get it,
And that's how it's supposed to be...
Open your mind willingly...
Connect with me...

I'm listening,
To see what I'm missing,
I've overlooked,
Something you've said...
My heart hears yours,
Calling it from its safe place,
Making it beat faster,
Inside of me...
The excitement,
You're causing,
Keeps me guessing,
What's coming next...
I'm listening,
So speak up baby...

Speak up so it's clear,
Let me know that you're certain,
That you're here,
Here for me...
Here to grow,
And join together,
Become one,
With me spiritually...
I can't wait,
To feel your energy,
Work with mine,
In perfect harmony...
This feels so right,
But what are you thinking?

What's your idea,
About this whole situation,
This whole experience,
Of finally meeting....
What do you see,
As the next move,
We need to make,
To keep this going strong...
Did I have you all wrong...
And truly what I'm needing ,
To progress forward...
I'm hearing everything,
I'm listening and it's all become clear....

I'm listening,
To see what I'm missing,
I've overlooked,
Something you've said...
My heart hears yours,
Calling it from its safe place,
Making it beat faster,
Inside of me...
The excitement,
You're causing,
Keeps me guessing,
What's coming next...
I'm listening,
So speak up baby...

Kristen LeBlanc




Day Dream


Rattle the cage,
Screaming,
But no one,
Can ever hear me...
The harder I try,
The lower my voice,
The lower the echo,
Seems to be...
Am I alone?
Am I seeing things?
Am I the only one,
Who can't be seen?
All this outside noise,
Keeps me hidden behind the scene...

Wake me,
From this nightmare,
I can't be living,
This way...
None of this,
Can be real,
And I'm sick,
Of fighting...
My hopes,
Become simply,
Day dreams,
That are so far from my reach...
I'm not happy,
Watching this same movie play...

Rattling the cage,
As I belt out,
A high note,
Stronger than my scream...
The bars shake,
They break,
And I stand weak,
Not knowing what's next..
I never thought,
I'd break free,
From that cage,
Or day dream...
Now I can change,
The ending...

Shake me,
From this imaginary,
Happiness,
Before I get too involved...
I'm so engaged,
From feeling this free,
Feeling so happy,
From my day dreaming...
Dreaming while I'm awake,
Not able to dream as I sleep,
So my mind projects,
These dreams onto my reality...
I'd ask again,
To be awakened,
But I'm too excited,
For things to go my way...

For things to be right,
For my hard life,
To finally,
Become easy...
I want things set right,
For the wrongs,
To come to light,
Instead of them staying lies...
That's why this feeling,
Of being my own friend,
My own hero,
Has to stay...
I'm too good for the world,
Too good to be heard...

I love this...
I love this...
Don't hate me,
For me never wanting to wake...
This feeling...
This feeling...
This day dream,
Needs to be my every day...
I don't want it to change,
Want it to remain,
I'm living on replay,
And that's fine...
I wish you could see what I'm seeing...
But this is my day dream...

Kristen LeBlanc



It may not make perfect sense to the world but it is what I want to do and continue to do. 





Sunday, May 3, 2015

Kristen, the Writer

This side of me VERY few people know about because I like keeping it to myself. 
The first ever piece that I wrote was about my mother. 
It eventually was published in a book. Here it is:






Weirdly enough though, poetry isn't my favorite type of writing. 
I enjoy lyrical ballads and writing song lyrics. 
Below is the latest one I have been working on:


 The Real Me

 Come on the scene, 
Like a fashion queen, 
Just trying to be, 
Originally different...
Glitter and glam, 
Dedicated and adoring fans, 
While I walk around, 
Searching for friendship..
Thought I found love, 
Thought I had it all, 
But I ended up,
 Lying to everyone..
There's only one thing,
Left for the world to see..

Chorus:
It's time to be seen,
For what I truly am,
Not for who I was trying to be...
I want you all,
To believe in being happy,
To believe in reality,
To finally meet,
The real me...
I'm far from perfect,
And nothing is worth it,
If you don't work hard,
To earn it..
I built up my own reputation,
Leaving the real me only to your imagination...

Mid Journey,
I had my troubles,
But something,
Got me through those struggles...
It sure wasn't the fame,
Or Hollywood buzz,
Not money,
Or even love...
I had my voice,
My talent of communication,
Singing was my method of choice,
Writing the pain away...
Money and fame can be fleeting,
But my God given talent will remain...

-Repeat Chorus-
It's time to be seen,
For what I truly am,
Not for who I was trying to be...
I want you all,
To believe in being happy,
To believe in reality,
To finally meet,
The real me...
I'm far from perfect,
And nothing is worth it,
If you don't work hard,
To earn it..
I built up my own reputation,
Leaving the real me only to your imagination...

With finding myself,
I've discovered,
More than just an empty shelf,
But a lot missing,
From my life as well...
I want more than to be known,
I want my words to be felt,
Chill you right to the bone...
Make it hurt,
But in the best way,
Make you think,
And make you want to sing...
Love isn't all about sex,
Isn't all about looks,
Isn't all about attraction...
Love is but what,
We all chase in our dreams...
We want to be accepted,
We want to be happy...

-Repeat Chorus-

It's time to be seen,
For what I truly am,
Not for who I was trying to be...
I want you all,
To believe in being happy,
To believe in reality,
To finally meet,
The real me...
I'm far from perfect,
And nothing is worth it,
If you don't work hard,
To earn it..
I built up my own reputation,
Leaving the real me only to your imagination...

Kristen LeBlanc (KML)

This is just me being myself and I can have the critics go wild on me. That's fine. No one is perfect but I work hard to do my best in all of my endeavors. Deal with it. An artist is an artist. His/her methods of communicating her message across are but his/her choice. Peace.

Saturday, April 11, 2015

Kristen: The Math Tutor

So, few of anyone who may read this realize that my job, and only job ever, has been a math tutor for Delgado Community college in New Orleans, La. I didn't start tutoring here, though, until I asked my first college professor if they needed help in the college's lab. She said, not yet, but, they could use volunteers. I then spoke with the current manager at the time and she saw that I was a good tutor. She told me that if they ever had an opening that she would let me know. A year later, I was hired and have been working there 5 years come August 2015.

I wasn't always good in math. I used to struggle but I worked through it. I was inducted into the Beta Club in 6th grade. They would meet and set us up with a student who needed help in a subject that we chose. My strong point was math, so that was my selection. I tutored in elementary school up until graduating from there. I even took Algebra I, which counted as a high school credit. Algebra really stumped me at first, but, the principal was our teacher. I was one of only four people chosen to take the advanced course. At first, we had to teach each other and when it came to test time, I did make Fs. Once we were able to have the principal there daily for meeting time and we actually learned, I started making As and Bs. I even graduated as the Salutatorian of my class, tied with another girl.

When it came to me looking at my life and choosing a career, my first choice was becoming a veterinarian. I loved animals and I just felt like it was what I should do. Things changed when my dog broke her leg and had puppies. I couldn't stand seeing her and pain. My mind had changed. I wasn't sure what I wanted and then my mom passes away. Right after her death, I took to writing and sketching. Both of which, were pretty good. I was published in a book and my art was in several auctions for different organizations, local and nation wide. I wasn't tutoring at the time until the high school I was going to closed down and we moved campuses. As soon as I heard that the guidance counselors were in need of tutors, I signed up. I did that my junior and senior years of high school. I focused more on my art than anything and eventually graduated. I pursued Graphic Design in college. Halfway through my last semester, I realized that it wasn't for me. I didn't like being trapped behind a computer to be creative. I do small side jobs but not as a career.

The more and more I tutored, the more and more I wondered if my meaning in life was to teach. I am a patient person and can help a student stop fearing something and show them how it can be fun. I also have seen several students come to me feeling and end up with an A or B as a final grade. The best thing, though, that comes with tutoring, is learning from each and every student I help. One student that I tutor on the side has made a total 360. He hasn't only done it with his studies, but also as a whole. He is more confident and open. Just because I took the time to listen and help him to see that it isn't all that bad. Three students that I've tutored have actually opened up to me about their struggles with either dyslexia or autism. They learn differently and need the one on one tutoring to ensure that they get the attention they need. All students deserve to know that they can do anything they put their minds to. So many have just been pushed aside or pushed through their classes when they truly need more time and more help. I understand that their is a time restraint with semesters or quarters, depending on the school level, but, what is more important: a student's overall development or them becoming just another statistic? If more tutoring services were offered to children even as young as Pre-K, it would benefit them and everyone. If you have a strong foundation, the building will be easier to build upon it.

So, I enjoy my job and love tutoring others. Math is just something that I understand and am able to reiterate to another person. It is a strength of mine and I love helping others who struggle with it. The most rewarding thing to hear is, "Thank you so much for your time. I appreciate it."  


Tuesday, March 24, 2015

How I Cope: My Writing

With having very few friends before actually taking control of my life, I looked to food as my friend. Once I alleviated that from my life, and after losing my mother, I began to sketch and write almost daily. I just had something in me to get out. Years after my mom's passing, I have found artwork she had done and even poetry she wrote for my father, the first written exactly, to the date, 3 years before I was born. Odd? Not really? I write and sketch to keep her spirit alive. I also feel that I am like her a lot in the fact that I care a lot for others and put others before myself just like she had done.  In this post, I will share some of my favorite literary pieces that have kept me going. once again, no judgement. I just want to share. Not many people even know how much I have written or how much I enjoy the process.


The Only Way to Burn: 
Written After Our House Fire on November 15, 2014

Slowly climbing,
Shelf to shelf,
Flame by flame,
Clothes engulf.
Water can’t stop it,
There is no way,
It’s caught the wall,
Now to the attic it strays.
It engulfs the room,
And grows above the house,
Smoke filled,
Power’s out.
Father’s screaming,
Sister running,
Dogs are stuck,
Cat is hiding.
The family escapes,
With minor burns,
One dog makes it,
As they watch it burn.
Flames higher than the tallest tree,
Almost spreading to the next house,
Running and yelling,
To try and get them out.
Fire fighters arrive,
Check the surroundings,
Start breaking in,
To check the scene.
Electrically started,
The house is gone,
Burned, back roof,
With a whole side being gone.
The hose and water,
Start filling the frame,
Dripping through the sides,
Like it’s crying with pain.
The youngest daughter heard a crack,
The others didn’t hear it,
But that’s what happened.
The father’s face had secondary burns,
From trying to stop the fire,
Before it got worse.
The oldest daughter,
Got first degree going back in,
To make sure they got out safely.
This family lost their home,
But they have each other,
And that’s enough,
To start all over
How do I know of this tragedy?
This happened to me and my family,
At 2:30 in the morning.

Kristen LeBlanc




Someone I Never Got to Know: 
Written for My Grandfather, Basile Macera

You met me,
When you were 62.
Now I’m 23,
Saying good bye to you.
I regret,
Not getting to know,
The man,
Whose story became my own.
He married a woman,
Who loved him dearly,
Who gave birth to three children,
Katherine, Tony, and Cindy.
Katherine was my mom,
Someone else I didn’t get to know,
Who died with me by her side,
And was only 44 years old.
With life,
Comes death,
And by dying,
There is new life.
My only reason now,
For crying,
Is not getting to know my loved ones,
Before they said good bye.
Spending time with family,
Just isn’t the same,
As listening to tall tales,
Or something they say.
We meet up,
We talk and eat,
We hug and kiss,
Then leave.
We are wasting time,
Trying to get life to go by faster,
Missing out on what is right in front of us,
Instead of what’s long after.
I regret,
Never experiencing,
The knowledge he had,
Or the lessons she could give.
We have,
But one life to live,
Think before you decide to act,
Because this is it.

Kristen LeBlanc


More Than You: 
Written for My Boyfriend on Our 1 Year Anniversary 

To find someone,
Who doesn't care,
How you look,
Or what you wear.
They love you,
Every flaw,
You're the most beautiful,
Girl they've ever saw.
You may not think,
You're perfect,
But to them,
You're more than worth it.

A year has gone by,
And it seems like,
That just yesterday,
We said hi.
The connection between us,
Has done nothing,
But evolve,
Into a love so strong,
That others can't help,
But just watch.
They say we're a cute couple,
Even adorable,
But I say,
We're just inseparable.
We hate to stay,
Too far away,
From each other,
For too long,
But with every day,
We learn more.
A year seems like a while,
But to me,
It's just time,
Because we're happy as can be,
As you'll find.
Love has no favorites,
It doesn't know black or white,
So for my Boosky and I,
It's just right.

Kristen LeBlanc


Time Will Tell: 
Written After My Grandfather, Walter LeBlanc, Passed Away

There's only one who knows,
What will happen,
When a new day has begun,
And our eyes see the sun,
As it rises in the morning,
And sets at days end...
It's warmth lets us all know,
We're never,
Alone...
We don't need to travel,
To find a place,
To call home...

I reach up,
Towards the sky,
Waiting for a reply,
But realize you're busy,
Taking care of the world,
And I can only imagine, 
All you've seen and heard...
I'm patiently waiting,
To get my time with you,
Time to ask my questions...
I always ask but you answer,
One thing is always clear,
Time will tell...
Will tell me what to do...

Days seem to linger on,
When I sit waiting,
To feel you around,
Your presence welcomed,
Anytime and anywhere...
I'm never fearing,
What you have to say,
Just afraid of how to explain,
Everything I think,
And feel to be true...
There is but one thing,
That will never change,
And that is,
My faith in you...

I gaze up,
And just wonder what it's like,
To stand by your side,
Holding your hand,
As I try not to cry...
I can only imagine,
All you've thought and done...
I'm taking my turn,
To ask away,
To feel complete and free...
You comfort me,
Quietly saying,
Time will tell,
Time will make it all easy...

I let it all go,
And not hold back,
Anything I feel,
But just show,
The world that,
Nothing is hopeless,
But there is always,
A place in heaven,
To call our own...
A place that will one day be,
Our final home...

I raise up my heart,
In honor of all you've done,
For all of us and slowly see,
A rainbow run across the shy,
As the sun shines brightly,
Showing all its colors,
In full force...
Smiling from ear to ear,
I sing my soul's song,
Then collapse in prayer,
Still listening to your words...
Time will tell,
Me what is next on my journey,
Of getting closer to you.

Kristen LeBlanc


My first ever poetic piece was written right after my mom passed away back in 2006. I do not have it typed out but it was published in a book. Once I find the book that is among some of the items that made it through the fire, I will add it under the last piece above. God bless you all for taking the time to read my work. It means so much to me. 


Tuesday, March 10, 2015

How I Cope: Artistically

Most people do not know me as much more than an old high school friend or a math tutor from where I work. Some even know me as the crazy gym rat. There are other things that I enjoy doing besides what people expect from me.  Artwork being one of them.

After my mom passed away, drawing was the first thing that I did to cope with missing her.  I spent a lot of my time trying to keep myself occupied to forget about losing her.  

The picture of the angel on the right was done graphically in one of my Graphic design classes that I took in college while earning my Associates. We were only given the face to work with, which was half of a metal mask.  This is what I saw from it and how I decided to render it. 





The painting above is actually a water color piece that I rendered using a photo I had taken as a reference.  It was a step by step process as seen from photo to photo. I did my lights and slowly got to my darker shades.  




I do not have just one medium that I do but I do have a favorite that I enjoy. Stippling, or as some call it, pointilism, is the use of dots to create a picture.  The picture above of my bf's and I's hands are done totally in ink dots.  It may take a while to complete but it truly is worth it. 


These are but a few of my pieces.  I sadly lost all of these in the house fire my family had, even the graphic piece.  The flash drive it was on melted.  I am currently trying to redo some pieces and make some new ones as well. Years and years of work is gone.  Yeah you can say it is material items, but, it was hard work and items that meant a lot to me. I will eventually have more, better pieces but I do miss the older ones..

Thursday, March 5, 2015

Venturing From The Expected Norm

When people think about exercise, most just think about women on cardio machines and men hanging by the weights.  The stereotype gets placed on the two different genders to be a certain way.  When someone ventures from the norm, people tend to judge. They also tend to question why someone would do something besides what society seems to have placed on their sex.  You have female weight lifters, female body builders and men who are competitive when it comes to triathlons or marathons.  So, to say that something is meant only for one person is just absurd. You have no idea what the other person's goals are or what they hope to accomplish.  You only know what you are working towards and place your opinions on how others should be.  That's where the world is wrong....

If someone were to look at me, just as an example, and you had never met me before, you might consider me crazy.  I'm not a woman to like or enjoy cardio.  I even find it rather boring but we all need to do cardio to help our heart stay strong.  I enjoy strength training much more and consider myself a weight lifter.  I do not wish to compete or challenge anyone besides myself. After losing over 200 pounds then gaining about 40 back due to weight training, I now have been working even harder to tighten up the loose skin I have.  

I have made several friends just from working hard on my goals.  People approach me, asking me, how much weight have I lost since joining Planet Fitness. When I say no, i sometimes even have people fighting me until I explain my overall situation and then I flex for them.  They are amazed and congratulate me all the time. I do not need to be congratulated.  I need to be understood and supported.  I'd do the same for anyone who'd want me to help them out.  I can't make someone understand why I do what I do or what I choose to do because I am the only one who knows what I want for myself out of life.  

I have had some weird experiences at the gyms I've gone to but the ones at Planet Fitness have topped my list. I think I will continue that with another post: Getting Past the "Compliments" and Opinionated "Comments".

Friday, January 30, 2015

Rethinking If A Number Was Better Than Being Happy

In 2013, I had gotten close to my overall "weight" goal but, in the process, I had become obsessed with the scale and even passed out twice from overworking out and under eating.  I had to decide if being a number was what was better for me or if I needed to look at my wants again.  Did I want to be all bones and skin? Did I want to just be "thin" or "skinny" or did I want to be fit and healthy? Once I decided that I couldn't take being all saggy from the loose skin with losing the weight so fast, I started weight training.  Yes I gained weight and my clothes didn't fit or didn't fit the same.  I was feeling better in my own skin though.  I was putting on muscle and the skin was slowly tightening up.  I was also losing fat that lies underneath the layer of skin.  I hadn't  been to the gym since I graduated from college the December before and was just working out at home.  That wasn't working for me though.  I didn't have the same sociable aspect that the gym had given me.  My family didn't exercise at all or eat well.  I was alone and it was like a living hell.  Several friends and people I tutored mentioned to me about Planet Fitness.  I was like, I don't know...I had my "good thing" going at home and I was running around my neighborhood.  I then thought long and hard...I was getting nowhere fast and I knew I needed to talk to the gym's staff or trainer for advice.  I joined in June 2013 and met with the trainer.  I told him my story and he told me that the skin will not just automatically snap back.  It will tighten up after a while but you will fill it with muscle first before you will be able to truly lessen the amount of skin on you.....that meant more weight gain before any true loss. Of course my mind was racing but I knew I needed to do this.  I started going there 6 days a week and decided to do more weights than cardio at the gym.  I would do cardio at home because I had a treadmill, a bike/elliptical and several workout dvds.  I'd just do lifting sessions at the gym.  Yeah my weight might say I'm obese on the scale right now but that is just a number and doesn't mean that I'm all fat or all muscle.  I am a collection of fat, muscle, and loose skin.  I still have the scale in the back of my mind but I use pictures to keep my mind straight when it comes to progress.  If I were to get on a scale and make that my focus, I'd have to lose a ton of lean muscle and the skin would have to removed.  I'm sorry but, I'd rather take the hard way and work hard to tighten myself up.  My boyfriend said it best, "Your body is like clay.  You can sculpt it any way you want to.  It just takes patience, hard work, and time. You will get your art piece the way you want it in no time." That has stuck with me through every workout.  I'm Kristen LeBlanc and I am changing myself for me and for no one else. What I do is for my benefit alone. If you don't understand my thinking, that's fine.  That's your opinion.  I want to be strong through and through.  God has yet to hand me something that I can't overcome. He knows that I'm capable of great things so He enjoys testing me. We all are meant to do amazing things. We just have to listen.

God Isn't Done Just Yet

Two months after losing my grandfather unexpectedly, we have yet another tragedy to face.  My mom's brother was pinned inside up his car nose up on a metal pole.  My father and I were heading to work and we actually saw the accident.  It happened near our house.  We even told each other that whoever is in there is lucky if they are alive. About three hours later, I had just started work when I receive a call.  It was my uncle in that car.  It was about 6 am and he was on his way to work.  A woman ran a red light, was speeding, drunk and high on marijuana.  She was uninsured and was a home health care nurse.  My uncle had to be cut out of his car.  He was rushed to the hospital and was barely alive.  He had a fractured pelvis, several broken bones, blood in his stomach, etc.  He was in the hospital for 2 plus months.  He couldn't keep food down and they also couldn't stabilize his vitals.  My grandmother was at her wit's end.  She had lost her daughter a few years beforehand and now was facing the chance of losing another child.  My uncle recovered but still suffers with massive pain and can barely walk.  It was a miracle that he survived but at what cost? His life will never be the same.  No one's will be.

(Brain Fart)

For some reason my chronology is off and I just wrote down everything in order.....yes life isn't planned out and, for me, it truly was one random occurrence after another.  After having my gall bladder removed in 2007, the doctor's told me that I should be checked for diabetes.  They had tested my blood sugar, after finally eating after not eating for a week, and it was high.  Crazy doctors....well anyways, I had to watch what I ate and, at first, I wasn't.  In August 2011, I was having the same types of pains and was freaking out because there was no gall bladder to cause it.  A cat scan at the ER revealed an ovarian cyst on one of my ovaries.  They monitored it for a while and it wasn't going away.  It was growing.  They called for ultrasounds and found a possible problem.  They saw an area that might be cancerous.  I was scared for my life.  I had avoided being diagnosed with diabetes and now their was a possibility that I had cancer.  Once they noticed the area in the ultrasound, a surgery was scheduled.  That was the worst week of my life.....they did the procedure where they pumped air into your stomach and did two small incisions...I was out of school a weak from the pain. Come to find out, it wasn't cancerous.  They first told me that if I had one on each ovary, I wouldn't be able to have children.  The procedure removed part of one of them.  What I never understood though was the idea that the pain may come back from time to time, and weirdly enough, I get that pain right before my period.  I still get it even today and it is 4 years later. 

Now back to 2012, in September, I was working at the college in their math lab.  We were packed and weren't paying attention.  Once it died down, I noticed my purse was gone.  A student had come in, halfway logged into the sign in book, pretended to do homework, then stole my purse once she had the chance.  The school even caught her on camera with my big, pink bag hanging off her shoulder.  The thought of someone I had helped that day taking my stuff really upset me.  It was my job to help them and you're going to steal from me? Really? There was a bench warrant out for her arrest when she failed to appear in court for the first time.  It is 2015 now and I haven't seen her or my belongings since. This taught me to never leave my stuff unattended.  I can't afford for anyone to steal my things again.  It was hard to start over...I've had to learn to trust people all over after that incident.  I had just lost my grandfather, dealt with my uncle's accident, and then was handling a student stealing from me.  I had hoped 2013 would be better. I found out that I had to reevaluate my goals for myself though.

College Life

With all this going on, I was still taking college classes to get my Associates in Visual Communication for Graphic Design.  I had befriended several people who had watched me change physically and open up like a cocooned larva becoming a butterfly.  I was starting my third year and finishing up with what few classes I still had to take.  Without the friends I made through college, I'm pretty sure I wouldn't have stayed sane.  I then had something life-altering happen in September of 2011.  I had never had a significant other or been in a single relationship.  I was super involved with keeping my grades up and working to halfway support myself.  I was 20 at the time and still not driving due to financial problems.  Life is life.

Well, in one of my design classes, a quiet guy who always sat by me asked if he could text or call me to help him study for a test.  He saw I knew the material and wanted to make sure he could pass his tests if I didn't mind helping him.  I had no problem with it at all.  I love helping others. Little did I know, but, he was interested in me.  He cared less about the test.  He had liked me for a while but thought I was taken because of how friendly I had become with some of my friends.  I was just becoming very outgoing with the weight loss. I had regained my life and my youth.  He and I started dating 9/10/11 and have been together ever since.  We have had out fair share of fights, arguments, disagreements, and cries but we love each other and keep each other going.  We complete each other and always make sure that the other stays as happy as possible.  It was just meant for him to come into my life at that time.

After my friend had opened me up to the glorious world of a gym, I had joined my college's gym and went every day after class.  My bf would walk me there before he rode his back home.  He is beyond supportive of my work to become healthy.  He had found me attractive even when I was over 200 pounds.  He didn't care what size I was or what I weighed.  He loves me for me.  That was more than enough for me. 

Amongst going to college, my grandfather on my dad's side would bring me to and from class.  He had gotten sick in March of 2012 and his health was slowly declining.  In May of that same year, we got a call from my dad's sister that he may not make it through the day.  We were all in shock.  I was kind of feeling as if he was fine and he'd make it out fine since he had several close calls.  When I heard what had happened, I knew he wasn't going to pull through.  A lacerated bowel had cut through one of his intestine.  His waste had backed up into his body and killed all of his organs.  They were all black.  They took him off life support and he passed away 3 hours later that day.  We had lost my mom a little less than 6 years before this and his wife, our grandmother 11 years earlier.  My family was losing loved ones and losing pieces that were holding our little web together.  I felt like there was added pressure to my father and I to keep us all going.  We still had more things to come that none of us would have ever expected.

A New Environment: The Gym

Now, up to that point, I was just exercising at home with the bike and walking.  I had done no weight training of any kind or even gone to a gym.  By the time a friend of mine gave me two month pass to the one he went to, I had already lost 130 pounds on my own naturally.  He told me that he wanted to give me something for coming so far on my own.  I owe him a lot because I'd have never known how nice the atmosphere at a gym could be.  I had found a new place where I could exercise and learn new ways to workout.  Who could have asked for a better gift?

Through all this time, my family was not supportive at all.  Ever since my mom had passed away, I kind of felt I was ambushed at time.  I had no one to speak up for me except me.  The name calling was not helpful either.  They'd also do things to me that still haunts me.  I was emotionally, mentally and physically tortured for doing something to better my well being.  It wasn't right but it did happen.  They may deny it but I've got the scars on my mind and heart from it. 


That Moment When The World Notices

Once I got over the stomach flu, I got back to exercising and eating the best I could.  I also started my first job at this time.  I had volunteered a year before at my local Community College's math lab.  They weren't hiring but liked how I tutored.  They told me that as soon as a position opened up, they'd let me know.  With making my own money, it became a lot easier to make better food choices since I was buying what I was going to be putting into my body.  Of course I  was only making minimum wage, 7.25 an hour, so it was a struggle to eat well.  I made do and by October 2010 I had already lost about 60 pounds.  I was on a roll and was confident that I could do this. 

At this same time, a local heritage festival was going on that my family always volunteered at.  When family friends who hadn't seen me in a while had seen me, questions were raised.  Was I starving myself? Did I have a surgery done? Was I sick?  These questions were quickly shot down because I knew better then to listen to them.  I had made a healthy change and my body was reflecting that.  By Christmas of that same year, I had lost about 85 total.  I hadn't been taking or posting photos anywhere so when people saw me at a holiday gathering, I was bombarded with looks and compliments.  I was glad people were noticing and happy for me because they knew my health was at stake.  I was only 19 at the time.  That's too young to be sick or ill.  I needed to make the change.  No one had to make me do it. It was a CHOICE.

Introducing My Body To Exercise

With falling at the wedding, I had to go to the ER and a cast was put on my leg.  I had sprained it badly.  i was sent to a specialist and told that it'd truly help me out if I'd lose wait...DUH....So he showed me some exercises that would help me with building muscle around my knee.  We had an old exercise bike and I decided that it would be a good way to help my knee out.

Adding exercise to me already eating healthier aided in my weight loss.  It was a slow process.  I started walking as well once my knee wasn't hurting as bad.  I began with going just 10 minutes at a time because I got winded.  I worked my way up to 15 minutes and then 20.  Before I knew it, I could go a half hour.  By this point, I was 5 months into my lifestyle change and down 30 plus pounds.  I was excited because I was losing and then gaining for a while.  My body was in shock from the introduction of exercise.  right before my third semester of college started, I was feeling horrible.  i went to the ER and found out that I had the stomach flu.  Once again, my dad blamed my weight and how I ate.....I had enough.  I let the cat out of the bag and told them everything.  They kind of knew that I was working on it because of me on the bike and they had noticed my food choices changing.  They didn't say much at first.  they just took it as a like, "Whatever".  I didn't care.  I was in it for the long haul and it was my choice. NOT THEIRS.

An Absent Minded Thought Of Something I Forgot

I failed to mention in an earlier blog that I had also had my gall bladder removed in early 2007.  This was right after my mom had passed away.  With that surgery, they had found that I actually had a blood disorder. It's called Factor 7 and my blood clots way faster than it should.  So when I went for the liver biopsy, they waited too long to get my blood to the testing center and they had to have another nurse retake my blood.  This woman didn't know what she was doing and had my arm turning black.  She said she couldn't find a vein and that I had to wait for a doctor to come back after lunch.  That was just an experience and a half.  Once the procedure eventually occurred, it was 2 pm and they didn't get enough of a sample of my liver.  They had to go back in a second time.  They numbed my body but I was awake.....it sounded like a plunger unclogging a toilet....it was an experience I'd rather not relive again.  My choice to eat as healthy as possible will make sure that it won't.

A Whole New Outlook On Life

Making this change on my own was a real new adventure.  My family does not eat healthy. So, for me to make changes without anyone truly noticing was going to be difficult.  I slowly cut out things.  Instead of drinking 3 cokes a day, i reduced it to one a day and eventually down to one a week until I was not drinking soda anymore.  I did the same with processed foods and the same with sweets as well.  I drank tons of water and ate as well as I could.

I was at first curious to see if the changes were happening.  I located my mom's old tape measure and took starting measurements about a week in.  They were anything but pretty.  i tried weighing myself on my grandmother's scale but the dreaded "EE" kept showing up for two months.  I kept at it and worked hard at eating better.  In early June 2010, I stepped on the scale and didn't see the "EE"! Yeah I was overjoyed.  I was down exactly 16 pounds since i started.  Of course seeing this progress made me want to keep going.  Well, that night, we had a wedding to go to and I was excited that the dress I bought still fit.  The bad thing, I slipped and fell that night.  I was unable to get up on my own. It was embarrassing and my father instantly blamed my weight.  He didn't know how hard I was trying to better myself and how much his words truly hurt me. He just spoke what he thought and that was that.

Thursday, January 29, 2015

My Wake Up Call

Most people ignore when things start getting rough, but I'm not one to play around when it comes to my well being.  With losing my mom, I saw life as a gift and treated it as such.  I started living day by day and focusing on myself more.

The results of my blood work showed that I had enzyme levels that were way too high in my liver.  My doctor thought I had fatty liver disease because of my weight.  They started tests and decided that doing a liver biopsy was the best choice to make sure that the elevated levels weren't the start of something more.

Two things came from that biopsy:

1. My liver was fine but just a little fatty
2. If I didn't change my lifestyle, I'd lose my liver

Now, for a 18 year old to hear these words, it is shocking.  I had just become an adult and now I could die? They told me that I either had to lose weight or lose my life.  Which do you think I chose to do?

Now, my family knew nothing of my decision to work on getting myself healthy.  My heaviest "known" weight was 346.4 but I am sure i was heavier than that at some point.  I was already depressed and didn't realize how bad my weight affected my health.  Once I made the choice to lose weight to make sure I was around to see what life had to offer me, my new journey had begun.


This is a picture of my sister and I from late 2009. 
 I am the girl on the right.