After a life-long battle with depression, Justine McCabe's husband committed suicide last year. The 31-year-old single mom was distraught: She felt like she failed because she couldn't help him, but she needed to stay strong for her family. Binge-eating became one of her coping mechanisms.
Eventually Justine, who had been overweight since age 18 according to Caters News, realized she had to make a change. She began to go to the gym and found a supportive community of fitness pros on Instagram, she explained on her blog. Previously, Justine had put off working out as something she couldn't do due to a crippling back injury and lack of motivation.
"I wanted to find out if natural feel good endorphins really could help get me through my worst grieving days," Justine wrote on her blog. "I was desperate to do anything to help fill the gaping hole in my heart. I started it slowly, but that was quick to change when I realized I wasn't just taking my body to the gym. I was taking my mind out for exercise." To hold herself accountable, she posted a selfie every day to her Instagram account.
Just one year later, Justine has lost 124 pounds. She recently posted the above timelapse video, featuring a selfie from every day of her first year going to the gym, and it quickly went viral. After all that she's been through, Justine is an inspiration to others who are looking to change their minds and bodies.
"I've been asked over and over how I have accomplished a major weight loss feat while in the midst of grieving personal tragedies," wrote Justine. "It doesn't all happen at once. I am almost scared to say…it happens by accident. I didn't set out to be some magical, weight loss warrior. I never realized what I was doing would end up having such an impact on others. I just knew if I laid another day in my bed, grieving in darkness, that I would soon be dead myself. I wanted to breathe new life into me. There was no prayer or magic wand that did it for me. I did it. I had to do the work and make the changes."
Learn more about Justine by visiting her blog.
(h/t Greatist)
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