“Mindful, Resilient, Strategic.”
These are the words that Katie identifies herself with. She was not always confident in herself like she is today. Through self-discovery, Katie started to ask herself some hard questions and looked deep down inside. It is then that she understood that she was living a life to please others and needed to make some adjustments and changes.
Katie was raised in a successful family where her mother was the breadwinner, because of this, she had always felt the extra pressure to succeed, or at the very least, keep up with the success of her older brother in order to earn her parents approval. Or so she thought. At a very young age, Katie had fell in love with the world of dance. She spent many hours practicing and dance quickly started to consume her. She had finally found a way of prove to close family and friends that she was worthy because she was such beautiful dancer.
Like any normal girl going through puberty, Katie started to hear comments that she was finally “filling out”. The tall thin girl was getting curves! These comments didn’t sit well with Katie. Unfortunately, this led to an obsession for her. She quickly became obsessed with working out and constantly monitoring what food she ate.
Fast forward to her college years and Katie was running more than ever. The voice in her head was telling her that she needed to run more and more. “I just wanted to be that thin girl again that everyone identified me with.” She ran 5-6 miles a day but “that voice” kept telling her that it wasn’t enough and she needed to do more. Katie struggled with body image issues for most of her college career. She isolated herself from family and friends.
When she wanted to be a sponsor in her sorority, she was hit with a ton of bricks. Katie was told, “You are not the image we want to represent us.” At the time, Katie was 5″9″ and weighed only 94 pounds. She was devastated with the news and in denial of her own reality. Katie’s mother was concerned that her daughter was not healthy and she set up appointments for her when she came home to visit. It was the reality check she needed. She was told at the age of 20 that if she didn’t gain weight and start eating properly, she would need a pace maker as her heart was shutting down due to the lack of nutrition is needed.
“I had an eating disorder. I realized that I needed to make changes, I was exhausted of the life I was living. I wanted to be normal but I didn’t know what normal was. I kept telling myself, “Figure it out, Katie, you can do this. You need to get better for everyone else and yourself….this was not the life that God designed for you to live.”
In order to heal and overcome her disorder, Katie needed to explore her feelings and emotions and figure out what exactly she wanted out of life. What was it like to live life on your own terms? Who was Katie? Who did God call her to be? “I was more than my disorder and I realized that through a long road of self-discovery and it was not easy.”
After college, Katie was on her way to climbing the corporate ladder as she thought she was supposed to follow in her mom’s footsteps. But she kept thinking that she didn’t fit the mold. She enjoyed what she was doing and the people she worked with but kept wrestling with the idea that there was something else out there for her — a different career path. Did everyone need to follow the status quo she thought? The answer was no. “Success is not in titles.”
Katie quit her job, moved cross country to live with her fiancé and is currently pursuing her passion of helping others through the world of fitness and nutrition. She is currently going to school getting her certification to be a holistic health and life coach while working as a Marketing Manager for an up and coming company. When asked what motivates her, she said her fiancé. “He has the vulnerability that I want in myself and that I strive to show every day. He wants Katie to flourish. When I’m off course, he helps.” Podcasts from Mel Robbins are also part of her motivation rituals.
What are you most proud of in your life?
For the person that I have become this last year and a half. I have learned to accept challenge and change. The road ahead is uncertain but I am aware and grateful for me including my imperfections.
What does the world need right now?
People need to be accepting {of others}. People are afraid to be themselves because of what society will think of them. You are worthy and you are enough. People need to be rewarded for effort not always for results.
What are some things that knowing what you know now, you would share with a younger Katie?
You are perfect the way that you are. You are loved. Be consistent and be yourself- it will pay off. Find people that make you feel happy. Block out any negativity that doesn’t serve you. Fear is uncomfortable for everyone but you action anyway.
How to you find balance and keep your mind healthy?
Your inner voice is a real thing. It takes practice to be mindful and you need to be authentic to yourself first before you can show others that. My daily routine consists of waking up and not looking at my phone right away. I give myself 30 minutes to reflect upon the day ahead, read my bible and write down 3 things I am grateful for, and 3 big tasks I want to complete today. I have found having a morning routine is essential in order to set me up for the day ahead and to fully enjoy and embrace each and every moment.
How can you connect with Katie?
Check out her blog link below! She shares fitness tips along with delicious guilt free recipes.
https://www.therealrawyou.com/
