03/17/2026
Last year, I stopped obsessing over weight loss.
Of course I still care about my health, but my priorities shifted in a way I never expected.
There was a moment when my son was in a full rage episode in public and I couldn’t control it. I couldn’t protect the people around him. I could barely move him.
A friend of mine who lifts stepped in and helped. And in that moment, everything clicked. I needed that kind of strength.
I didn’t need to be smaller. I needed to be stronger.
Since then, I’ve been weight training three days a week to build strength. I also took up taekwondo to build endurance, flexibility, and speed.
Some days I hate it. Some days I am completely exhausted. But the truth is, I don’t really have a choice. I show up for my son - not for me.
It’s no longer for aesthetics.
It’s not about a number on the scale.
It’s about being able to protect my son and the people around him.
I also take super aminos every single day. It helps me build lean muscle faster and gives me the energy I need to keep showing up, even on the days I don’t want to.
Tonight, he had another episode. He always wants to break something. Anything or anyone he can reach.
But this time, nothing broke. Nobody was hurt.
I wrapped my legs around him and held him safely until he worked through it. And for the first time, it was manageable. My legs were strong enough that he had no choice but to settle.
Earlier today, I leg pressed more than his body weight.
Tonight, that strength mattered.
I looked down and saw his shirt say “Health is Wealth,” and it hit me even deeper. This is what real strength is for.
When you raise a special needs child, your body isn’t just yours anymore. Your goals shift. But your health becomes essential.
I may not be training for the physique I once wanted, but I am building the body I need.
And it’s doing exactly what I set out for it to do.
For that, I am grateful.
Grateful for progress.
Grateful for strength.
Grateful that tonight, everyone was safe.