Ever since I was a kid, I've dealt with being overweight, which made it tough to fit in, both on the playground and in social settings. Constantly moving and being a bit of an introvert, I didn’t really have a tight-knit group of friends and was far from athletic.

My family would tell me I'd eventually shed my "baby fat," but that day never came. My weight became my identity, and despite trying everything from countless diets and workout plans to personal trainers and even bariatric surgery, I was trapped in a relentless cycle of losing weight and gaining it right back.

The game changer for me came in the form of two incredible coaches. One helped me significantly cut down my alcohol consumption, while the other completely revamped how I saw myself, turning me from a self-conscious, back of the pack runner to a confident, empowered athlete.

But even with these breakthroughs, I found myself gravitating back to sugary, processed foods during stressful times. Traditional methods of willpower just didn’t cut it, and I kept yo-yoing with the same 15 pounds.