Melissa Thackeray - 2024 WNBF New YOU Athlete

       It is with pleasure to introduce you to Melissa Thackeray. I had the privilege to meet Melissa at the WNBF Calgary PRO/AM Show. Melissa' journey is one of not giving up, when you hit a low moment in your life,  believe that you could climb out of it, and get back on top of the mountain.  Enjoy her story!

Author Barry Finlay says “Every mountain top is within reach if you just keep climbing.”  

My health journey is much like climbing a mountain.  The beginning of my journey and the base of my mountain starts with choices.  Choices that I was making that made me feel stressed, depressed and anxious.  Simple tasks became mountains that seemed impossible to climb.  My food and exercise habits were not something I was focused on in my life but then Covid hit, I was laid off from my job and all of a sudden lost the purpose to my days.  

As a early childhood educational assistant, I had also lost connection to the tiny humans who brought me so much joy.  With no job, routine, and purpose I was lost.  I couldn’t control what was happening to me so I let myself go.  I was gaining a lot of weight and became the heaviest I had ever been.  

None of my clothes fit and I was wearing the same pair of leggings every day.  I was choosing to get take out instead of cooking at home.  Eating a whole bag of chips in one sitting. 

 I was feeling like a failure because things I loved doing became mountains full of anxiety that I couldn’t get past.  I was in pain all of the time and I couldn’t go for short walks without my calves burning and my feet hurting so badly.  My skin was a constant rash that never healed.  My gut health was terrible and I was constantly uncomfortable which made me even more depressed. 

 Looking in the mirror and not recognizing the person who was staring back.  I was making choices that made me unhappy and I had become a version of myself that I felt was not who I am meant to be.  I wanted to be a person that I would be proud to be.  I was ready to stop staring up the mountain, wishing I could see the view from the top, but I needed help, so I asked for it.

When I started the climb it was hard so I made the decision to stop thinking, and just did it.  I made choices to take back control of my life.  I hired a fitness coach who got to know me and made a plan for me to start from where I was at.  I started small with increasing my daily steps to get moving. My coach encouraged me to start going to the gym three times per week and it was very intimidating.  It took me a long time to get comfortable going to the gym because I didn't know how the machines worked and I didn't feel like I belonged in this space.  I went to the gym but chose to workout in a corner using dumbbells and body weight to avoid using the machines.

 It took about 6 months of consistently going to the gym before I felt like I was able to  ask for help and learn how to use the machines.  For food, I was learning to count calories and hit a protein goal each day while in a calorie deficit.  Because of a dairy allergy, I had to learn how to find protein sources that I enjoyed eating and would help keep me full.

Following this plan while increasing my steps, upping my strength training and making consistent nutrition choices over the course of a year I was able to lose 71 pounds.

 I was able to fit into my clothes again and experienced joy when shopping for new clothes.  From the strength training, my legs and feet no longer hurt when I walk or work out and I have been able to hike mountains with much more stamina and endurance than ever before.  I have learned how to enjoy food without a prescriptive diet.  The mountains that seemed impossible to climb have now become hills that I can jump over.  Except for the occasional stress rash, my skin has never been more clear.

 The gym has become a safe place to leave my anxiety and stress behind.  I have learned how to change my mindset and the depression went away.  I learned how to let go of what I can't control.  I learned how to become stronger, mentally and physically.  When I learned that I have orthostatic hypotension that requires medication, I choose not to let it be an obstacle I can't overcome.  I choose to be consistent and trust the process with my fitness coach.

After maintaining my weight loss for the past year and a half, I am at the top of this mountain.  But my journey is not over. I  can see there are many mountains in the distance for me to climb.  I choose to move my body and fuel it with nutritious foods while still enjoying the occasional treat with no guilt.  I choose to live my life the way it is meant to be lived.  I still have stress and anxiety.  I am human.   But I choose for it to no longer have control over my life.  

I am proud of who I have become and when I look in the mirror I no longer see someone I don't recognize.  I only see a stronger, beautiful woman who is worth it.  It is said that it takes a village to raise a child, but I also believe that it takes a village to raise a person up and to make them believe that it is possible for them to do hard things.  I have my village and I couldn't have gotten to where I am without them.  

The day I chose myself was the day that I got myself back.  If you are looking to find yourself, find your village, don't think, just do it!