05/02/2025 - We're Back and We're Better

We back and we better!

It’s been a hot lil minute, okay more like a year, since I’ve actually written anything let alone posted anything.

2024 was a BITCH yall, and in the WORST of ways. I started off so good with the habits, and the weight loss and I was READY to hit all of those goals and habits. And then things went downhill faster than I could even realize was happening.

In late April, early May, I started getting these beastly migraines and random spells of dizziness. The doctor couldn’t figure out what it was and an MRI showed bone spurs, but nothing too critical. The spells would last for hours or days and the ONLY way I could get them to stop was to lay down and make myself sleep it off. This went on for MONTHS. I would push myself to take Zabrina to school and to make it to my work visits, but I stopped picking up new cases in fear of the spells getting worse.

From May to July I spent more time asleep than I did awake and it was starting to take it’s toll. On my mental health and more so on my physical health. I got to the point that I could barely walk downstairs without my back screaming at me and the dizzy spells hitting.

Through this time I had also started applying for other jobs, knowing that driving made the dizzy spells worse and my job then required SO much driving.

I ended up seeing a referal opportunity from a friend for a credit union work from home job, and applied with the mindset I probably wouldn’t get it, so when I was invited back for multiple interviews and then offered the position I was in disbelief.

Arond the same time I was offered the position at the credit union the therapist at PT had discovered there was some bunched up nerves in my neck that seemed to be causing the dizzy spells, which would make since considering the nerves aren’t shown on an MRI. They started doing PT on my neck and doing exercises and manuevers that stretched out the nerves and it seemed to be working.

When I started the new job I struggled with the dizzy spells and staying awake for the 8 hour training shifts, I would lay down every break and would take naps every lunch. It was a battle but I kept on it.

Physically I was devastated because all of the down time had set my back pretty much to where it was in 2021 when everything went downhill, and the mental side effects of not being able to take care of basic daily tasks let alone do anything extra with Zabrina. I HATED myself.

Fast forward to the end of the year.. I was starting to get back to making goals, even though I was still needing naps daily and had NO energy I was able to at the very least force myself to haul the laundry down 2 floors once every couple of weeks (but needed help bringing it back up and it would take the rest of the week to put away, if we didn’t just pick clothes out of the basket everyday).

I was still struggling mentally but was LOVING my new job and the company I worked for. I had NEVER worked for a company that emphasized caring about their employees but then also SHOWED it. It paid well and the benefits were uncomparable to everything I’ve ever been blessed with. The job itself was hard, with multiple different systems and being in a field I knew NOTHING about, but I was learning more and more every day and the support the company gave really helped to boost my financial knowledge as well as my skills within the company. This made all the difference.

While going through the process of getting familiar with the new job and starting to do a little bit more in way of physically I also discovered the concept of faceless IG accounts and decided to make my own in an attempt to spread positivity and motivation, hence the birth of Glow Up Vibery. But found very early on in the year that trying to get back on track while focusing on my career and being a mother didn’t leave me the time I needed to hit the goals that I had set for the IG, especially since I was still sleeping most of the time I wasn’t working and daily lunch break naps were necessary. So I paused the IG and focused on the simplest things… logging into work on time (sometimes still in my sleep clothes because I would get out of bed 10 minutes before I needed to leave to take Zabrina to school) but I made it to work and THAT was a flex for me that I choose to be proud of.

In December my doctor tried to get me on Weygovy to help with weight loss, but my insurance denied it because I wasn’t pre-diabetic so after the grueling 4 weeks of samples that journey ended. He tried to help me apply for a program to help with the cost (because who can really manage $650 a month, especially as a single mother?!) but I never heard back from that.

In February I made an appointment with my new doctor because mine had moved on to bigger and better opportunities (CONGRATS Zach, you will forever be missed but I’m SO excited for you!) and while there I mentioned to her the weight loss attempt and the insurance denial. I also mentioned to her that I had started a weight loss program at my new job (Virta) that had me track my blood sugar everyday and had been consistently at a fasting blood sugar level of 180. She checked my A1C at the appointment and it had JUST barely moved to 6.6 which was techhically high enough to be considered type 2 diabetic. At first there was a pang of shame that ran through my body but then it dawned on me…. that would mean that my insurance would help! And that’s when my journey with Ozempic started. It took a few more weeks and a small battle with my insurance but on 02/21/2025 I took my first .25 dose of ozempic.

I weighed in at the highest weight I’d EVER been, 350 lbs even, and was less capable of any type of physical activity then ever, but I was hopeful. And SO ready to either give it my all and be successful or die trying.

Now as I type this it’s April (I know you’re not reading this until much later as I’m not planning to soft-launch FGRB until May and who knows when people will actually read this) but I’m 14 lbs down (336 on Friday) and I’m 3 weeks into the .5 dosages. My doctor has also added metformin to the menu and I’ve begun to make minor altercations to the way I eat (skipping bread, buns and cutting carbs wherever possible and making sure to drink a protein shake every morning with some sort of fruit, AND not drinking soda… only water), and I’ve started pushing myself to do more every day and really pushing myself on the weekends. I’ve also saved enough PTO to go back to PT twice a week and am back in recovery for my back and now a torn meniscus from a fall last September (Fat ass moment I’m super embarrassed of… my work chair broke and I fell out of it). And I’ve started to prioritize my habits which are set to align with my long term goals, which makes me even more productive.

And now I’m ready to start making the time to share my story with the world (or more realistically with my future self LOL) because this time… The Glow Up is REAL, and I’m about to hit levels that I’ve NEVER been on in my life… so I’m praying that my story from my Fat Girl Rock Bottom to Healthy Girl Success motivates brings comfort to at least one other human who may be struggling with their own Rock Bottom.

Brace yourself, I’m about to give you the raw and uncut insight to a journey I’ve been preparing for my whole life… and I’m coming with truths and topics that are normally only heard within minds or behind closed doors…

Until Next Time…

~Stay Humble, Stay Hydrated~