What Losing 170 Pounds Taught Me About Resilience

I remember the excitement. The electric feeling in my chest that told me, “This is it. This time, I’ve got it.” I mean, I’d said it countless times before.

It was July 2, 2022 and at the end of the month, I was stepping away from my 30+ year corporate career and finally stepping into my future. Completing certification and building a business I could be proud of and living life on my terms was a dream realized. The momentum was building, and my vision was clear.

And then, life happened.

On September 22, 2022, a Category 5 hurricane named Ian, hit my city. For a couple of days, we didn’t know if we still had a home to return to. We remained grateful that we were alive and knew no matter what, we would be okay. Our home survived and we were displaced for a couple of weeks, living in a hotel 150 miles away. Also, paying for everything out of pocket, fighting with insurance only to find out nothing would be covered.

My husband’s job took a massive hit due to the devastation in our area and to his territory. For three months, we lived with little to no income while pouring money into repairs and survival. To date, those expenditures have not been recovered fully.

I had to deal with the stress somehow, and I did what I always did and fell back into my old patterns. I turned to my faithful friend food, for comfort, for relief, for survival. I lost all momentum and felt completely defeated. I went from a goal of shedding weight and restarting my health journey for the last time to questioning everything, including whether I had made a bad decision and if I was truly aligned with the path I had chosen.

The truth? I didn’t learn some grand spiritual lesson during that time. I got knocked down, and knocked down hard.

But here’s what I do know: I didn’t quit. I kept going.

When it felt like everything was working against me, I got back up. Again and again and again and again. Sure, there were times I let myself down and strayed from my goal…strayed? More like completely sabotaged myself. But I chose to keep showing up, learning how to deal with what I couldn’t control, how to navigate new waters, and how to trust that starting over didn’t mean I failed.

I’ve learned that what we track we can improve upon, and what we don’t usually stays the same or goes the wrong way. That’s why I share progress pictures and track my weight. Not to be boastful or to seek perfection, but to hold myself accountable to my goals. It’s one of the ways I keep myself honest about who I am, where I am, and where I want to go.

This health journey isn’t just about weight loss or a midlife transformation. It’s about resilience. It’s about what it looks like to keep showing up for yourself, no matter how many times you have to start over. It’s about choosing yourself, over and over, even on the days you want to hide. Ultimately, it’s about being the healthiest and happiest person I can possibly be.

Since December 26, 2014, I’ve lost 170 pounds, and in this most recent chapter, I’ve shed 97 pounds. It hasn’t been quick, easy, or linear, but it’s proof that consistent, imperfect action adds up to great results.

This is not about perfection. It’s about continuing to show up for yourself and your goals every single day, no matter how many times life shows up and throws you off course.

Because the journey never ends. Even when we hit a goal, there’s another level waiting for us to conquer.

If I can, you can.

I’m rooting for you, because I believe in YOU.

🩷 Thanks for reading. I share these reflections to remind you it’s never too late to grow, choose yourself, and keep going.

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📲 For daily encouragement and real-life stories, you can find me on Instagram @melissatori and LinkedIn Melissa Tori.