My name is Rachel Huebner and my journey began at the bright young age of 18. I had just started college and discovered the gym and a brand new life outside of childhood. I enjoyed physical exercise and staying fit and healthy enough to keep up with the pace of my theatre degree. Unfortunately, at the same time I entered into a relationship that was my downfall. While I made it through my degree (and was very successful) my personal life quickly deteriorated. I found that I was never “good enough” and that wore me down over time. I tried for years to be something I wasn’t, someone I thought I should be. I thought that, maybe, if I was skinnier I would be loveable. I eventually lost everything that made me, well, me. I lost my cheerfulness. I lost my positivity. I lost my zest for life. Saddest of all, I lost my childlike wonder and my laughter. It was a very dark place I ended up in and I honestly didn’t know what to do to pull myself out of it. All I knew was that I was unhappy and I didn’t like who I was. Unhappiness did not suit me at all so I started the long climb out of the darkness. I NEEDED to regain the joy I once got out of life.
I tried every new workout program and diet I could find. I think I bought every workout series BeachBody came out with. I put my body and my mind through hell. I cut my calories down to the bare minimum and I would work out twice a day for hours on end. I would lose weight, thinking it would make me happy but, it never worked. It was never enough. The extreme nature of my fitness was completely unsustainable. I would crash viciously and gain all the weight back plus some and would tear myself down for being worthless and not dedicated enough to stick with my plan. I repeated this cycle over and over and over again. I didn’t know what I was doing wrong. I eventually ended up in therapy. It was too much to handle and something had to give. Even though therapy got me out of the pit I still hadn’t figured out my way past the pendulum. I didn’t know what I was missing. I still felt like I wasn’t good enough and I still had MAJOR self-image issues. I still had moments where I hated myself and my reflection in the mirror.
Then something happened that changed my life. A friend introduced me to Breakthrough Personal Coaching & Wellness. I came out to a Saturday open workout and IMMEDIATELY fell in love!! The energy, the acceptance, the support, the fun, the joy, and the freedom to be my goofy, glorious self, completely drew me in!! I found a safe place, emotionally and physically. Through Chris, the Breakthrough Members, and a lot of soul searching (usually accompanied with tears) I found myself again. I discovered a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. But that wasn’t the most important thing. I discovered me, not just the old me, I found a new and improved version! I completely changed my mindset and my view of the world. I learned to love me. I found a new strength that I never knew I was capable of. Out of that strength came my purpose. I know what I am meant to do with my life. I am here to help as many people as I can discover that same strength and self-love! I want to be a light they can follow out of their own darkness or even help them to never enter the pit at all. It has definitely not been an easy road but, nothing worthwhile ever is. I have fallen off track and landed in the squiggle more times than I can count. However, I have come out on the other side stronger, wiser, and happier. I am enthusiastically looking forward to this life long journey of discovery, love, and health!
To all of the Breakthrough fami
ly: Thank you for giving me my life and my laughter back. Thank you for believing in me and accepting me, especially, when I couldn’t do those things for myself.
To all of the brand new members of our family: There is hope and a way through the struggles. You will find those things here, surrounded by people who love you and want you to succeed.
I am not going back to that dark place and I will continue to improve and make the world a better place because, you know what?!
I AM STRONG FIRST!
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