Josie Varela’s journey from weighing 319 pounds to weight loss never amazes people. It was years ago, back in 2018, when she decided to embark on the new journey of weight loss. Her unexpected breakup with her boyfriend greatly influenced the decision, and at that time, she could not get a better push to put everything in action.
Although the breakup did give her the push she needed, she was left devastated emotionally, physically, and mentally, which just added up to all the stress she constantly went through because of her financial struggles. The weeks that followed her breakup were all about rotting in bed, starving herself, and overcoming insomnia. However, soon she knew she was tired of it all and wanted to make a change that would make her feel better after all that had happened.
At first, all she could think of was a transformation that was a revenge on the person who left her, as she felt that losing weight would make him regret everything he did. However, soon, she realized that it was just pain and anger taking over, and so, with great motivation and a firm idea of staying consistent, she decided to step into the world of the gym. She recalls how she was reminded of all the insults and ways she was humiliated by people around her because of being overweight.
One by one, she changed her habits and way of living, and slowly experienced good self-acceptance and self-love. It felt like it was something she had never experienced before, but enjoying eating alone with confidence, travelling, and watching her favourite seasons on repeat, without needing to be surrounded by people, felt like reviving the version of herself that was lost previously. Things went well until her father had a severe cardiac arrest. The way she saw her father struggle was enough to push her further to take care of herself while living to the fullest.
Josie knew it would not be about taking revenge or the number on the scale, but about how she wanted to look and live. The idea of getting skinny had never been something that she loved, so she opted to become healthier, stronger, and happier!
What can’t be doubted is that the push she got when Josie saw her father struggling was stronger, and since then, Josie has lost more than half of what she weighed before. What mattered even more was how happy she felt internally, and the realisation that she was worth experiencing every happiness and love was what she looked forward to the most. The restored confidence also made her join school to become a personal trainer. She did not just want her journey to be about an individual, but also looked forward to specializing in women’s health, which she did!
Each woman Josie surrounds is constantly reminded of how capable and strong she can be, no matter the hurdles and problems in life. After the heartbreak, it did seem like things would not be fine, and disappointment and heartbreak took over Josie’s life. However, over the problems, she chose herself, and in that moment, it was all she needed: to blossom and empower people around her.
She is a beautiful reminder for people struggling with identifying self-worth and on a quest to explore or rediscover themselves. You will see people around you being judged and may often hear words of discouragement, but know that a person who knows how worthy he is is the most powerful. Prioritizing your health and boosting your confidence is the best thing you can do for yourself. The journey might seem difficult at first, but there is no better journey you can start with!
