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My husband
and I often sit back and ask “how did we survive the craze
of raising six active kids?” We can only conclude, our
strength came from a higher power. My husband and I were
brought together for a reason, and that reason keeps our
marriage strong to this day.
We not only
love each other, we actually like each other, we go on
dates, we vacation together, we laugh a lot, and we often
sit in our quiet moments: he in one room on his ipad, and me
in another room on my ipad and smile.
He knows
me! He knows my strengths and most of my weaknesses. He
understands my feelings, my mood swings, and my tireless
energy. He also knows FabFit…and understands the difference
between Angie the person and Angie the business owner, and
that means everything to me.
Now, let me
introduce you to my business: Fabulously Fit LLC a/k/a
FabFit began as a result of my weight gain. Because of our
kids’ active sports schedules, my family ate on the run. If
it wasn’t fast food or prepackaged meals – we didn’t have
time for it – eating on the run was our lifestyle. Those
quick, easy, take out meals caused me to gain almost 100
pounds. Yes, by gaining and retaining two to three pounds
per year, I weighed at my heaviest over 240 pounds.
I knew I
wasn’t destined to live unhappy and unhealthy for the rest
of my life and asked God for his help and guidance. He
answered quickly!
His first
blessing came to me while vacationing in Florida! While
walking through Disney World Epcot, I had to rest at almost
every bench we passed, I was out of breath, my feet were
swollen, and sweat was pouring from my body - all because of
the 100 additional pounds I had gained from our hectic,
fast-food-eating lifestyle.
My patient
and caring husband would sit with me while I rested, and
then we’d grab another on-the-go snack until we reached my
next bench. By the end of our vacation, I realized I had to
do something about my weight. I didn’t know what I was going
to do, but I had to do something. This bench-sitting lesson
was one of the many lessons or stepping stones God placed at
my feet. I could choose to continue on MY self-destructive
path, or I could choose to follow the path he laid before my
feet – I chose his!
Thereafter,
my lessons/stepping stones came rapidly, and were powerful.
I could feel myself stepping outside of myself or comfort
zone, as some call it, because I knew the direction I was
heading wasn’t anything I chose for myself!
Many
lessons were sent my way, many were hurtful - my
brutally-honest doctor telling me that I was fat; my bff
telling me that I needed to do something about my weight;
seeing pictures of myself and hating what I saw (to this day
I still don’t like to take pictures…lol)!
My emotions
were out of control, my mood swings were plentiful, and I
was angry at everyone that felt or expressed an opinion as
to how I looked compared to how I used to look. But my true
ah ha moment was trying on a dress that was too tight
to button, looking in a dressing room mirror and crumbling
to the floor - crying at my reflection. Beauty is skin
deep, but self-hate hurts to the bone! I hated who and what
I had become: unhealthy, unhappy and unfulfilled!
That night in the privacy of my
bedroom, I cried and prayed. I prayed harder than I had ever
prayed before. I prayed myself to sleep. I didn’t pray for a
change in my finances or life situation, I prayed for
clarity.
How was I going to change my
life? What was my purpose? How could I be so happy, but yet
so unhappy? I asked Him to give me the strength and faith to
do not what I wanted (because clearly I didn’t know what I
wanted), but to do what He wanted me to do! What was His
purpose for me?
Shortly, out of character for me
- because I’m a bit introverted, he directed me to step
outside of myself - I joined a ladies-only fitness gym. He
placed the right people in my life - people who would keep
me fighting for my life: fitness instructors, my doctor, my
husband, my co-workers, my friends…some supporters and some
haters of what I was doing…they all served a purpose…to get
me to a healthier and happier me!
As I relinquished control and
followed the path God laid before me - my life slowly
changed and I began to lose weight – I felt happier. At that
time I thought I was happier because of my weight loss, but
slowly God revealed to me – My Purpose in Life was to Serve
Others!
And that is how FabFit began, my
self disgust turned into self-love, which in turn, turned
into love for others, which turned into a business led by
passion reflective of my love of health, fitness and a
happy, fulfilled life!
To make a very long story short,
God gave me the tools I needed to share the love he blessed
me with. Sharing love, requires self-love. I still struggle
with self-love occasionally because it seems selfish to feel
so blessed. But when I get in those “selfish” thinking
moments, He always sends me an Angel to replace doubt with
compassion and worry with appreciation for life!
I wrote this article to say to
you:
I didn’t set out to become a
fitness instructor/motivator or business owner. I never
dreamed of owning my own fitness business. I didn’t go to
any prestigious college or institute to study how to do what
I do. Although I hold many fitness certifications, I teach
and lead from the passion in my heart – passion can’t be
taught in a classroom, it’s a fire buried deep within our
souls, waiting to be set free!
Even the name of my company,
Fabulously Fit LLC aka FabFit was a blessing. I never
thought of a business name because I never expected to own
my own fitness gem. He whispered Fabulously Fit in my ear
one night. Everything - every blessing, every failure, every
triumph, every person in my life is a result of – Me
Releasing Control and Letting God Be The Center of My Life!
So whether you know me as FabFit
or Angie, just know that Angie who after gaining 100 pounds
- asked God for clarity! FabFit is God’s gift to me, and I
share my blessing with countless others. I’m blessed, oh yes
I am! See, you’re reading this article…the blessings
continue! Be inspired - we all have a purpose. God put you
in my heart today for a reason!
Be blessed, my Sistas!!
Angela R. Steward
Creator and Head Instructor,
Fabulously Fittm
Certified Group Fitness Trainer
& Healthy Living Motivator
Facebook: Fabulously Fit GEM
Email:
FabFitu@yahoo.com
Fabulously Fit GEM, 1855 S.
Reynolds Rd. (In Olive Garden Plaza)
Classes: Mon 9a, Tues 6p, Wed
6p, Thurs 6p, Sat 9a,
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