Hey There!
My name is Samantha Stine, but almost everyone calls me Samm. I was born and raised on the West Side of Cincinnati, Ohio. In Delhi Hills to be exact. Growing up I was never really concerned about my weight or strength. At a young age I was involved in gymnastics. It was my dream I felt so in control. I was always put with the older kids because I was a little asian and I could do all of the flips and tricks they could do. Unfortunately, I dislocated my shoulders on numerous occasions so I took up other sports - soccer, golf, volleyball, softball you name it I did it.
Then High School rolled around. I ate what I wanted and didn't give a care in the world. At the beginning of my senior year I went through a rough break up. That's when I started second guessing everything. I became obsessed with my weight and comparing myself to others. I wanted to be skinnier, prettier, have a smaller forehead, a more rectangular face, and whiter teeth. Haha it was ridiculous. That's when I started to spiral down. I stopped eating and my mood changed. I was no longer the bubbly outgoing person I was the first 3 years of high school. I stopped hanging out with my friends (sorry loves), stopped playing softball, stopped going to school all together and I stopped being me. This happened for a little over a year from Aug 2011-Dec 2012. However, halfway through I found my passion. I wasn't back to myself but I knew I found something I loved and that was the weight room. I met a new college guy (hoooow fancy, no just kidding) when I was visiting Ohio State and we instantly became very close. The problem was he lived in Cleveland - 5 hours away from me. Well, in March oh 2012 my mom was offered a job in Cleveland and we moved into a house 10 minutes away from him. Funny how some things workout? Well he introduced me to the gym in June 2012. I fell in love. I finally felt strong and empowered. It was amazing. Unfortunately, I was still eating like a bird. I woke up at 6:30 went straight into work until 5 went straight to the gym then fell asleep as soon as I got home. I barely had time to eat - that was my excuse.
My name is Samantha Stine, but almost everyone calls me Samm. I was born and raised on the West Side of Cincinnati, Ohio. In Delhi Hills to be exact. Growing up I was never really concerned about my weight or strength. At a young age I was involved in gymnastics. It was my dream I felt so in control. I was always put with the older kids because I was a little asian and I could do all of the flips and tricks they could do. Unfortunately, I dislocated my shoulders on numerous occasions so I took up other sports - soccer, golf, volleyball, softball you name it I did it.
Then High School rolled around. I ate what I wanted and didn't give a care in the world. At the beginning of my senior year I went through a rough break up. That's when I started second guessing everything. I became obsessed with my weight and comparing myself to others. I wanted to be skinnier, prettier, have a smaller forehead, a more rectangular face, and whiter teeth. Haha it was ridiculous. That's when I started to spiral down. I stopped eating and my mood changed. I was no longer the bubbly outgoing person I was the first 3 years of high school. I stopped hanging out with my friends (sorry loves), stopped playing softball, stopped going to school all together and I stopped being me. This happened for a little over a year from Aug 2011-Dec 2012. However, halfway through I found my passion. I wasn't back to myself but I knew I found something I loved and that was the weight room. I met a new college guy (hoooow fancy, no just kidding) when I was visiting Ohio State and we instantly became very close. The problem was he lived in Cleveland - 5 hours away from me. Well, in March oh 2012 my mom was offered a job in Cleveland and we moved into a house 10 minutes away from him. Funny how some things workout? Well he introduced me to the gym in June 2012. I fell in love. I finally felt strong and empowered. It was amazing. Unfortunately, I was still eating like a bird. I woke up at 6:30 went straight into work until 5 went straight to the gym then fell asleep as soon as I got home. I barely had time to eat - that was my excuse.
The picture on the left was Halloween 2012. No you can't see my face and you don't want to. My cheeks were hollow and I was as pale as a ghost. So I guess Halloween came at a good time :).
December 26, 2012 < the day I snapped out of it. I was at my dads house telling him how sick I felt and I had no energy. He told me to eat more. I got so pissed telling him I eat enough. That night I had really bad insomnia (which was happening very frequently) and I took a step out of my door and collapsed. I was too weak to walk. I couldn't even carry myself and at the time I only weighed 107 pounds... way underweight. The next day we went to Frisch's and I got a stack of pancakes. PANCAKES. CARBS. WHAT! I hadn't eaten those in a year! Yup, I was basically eating veggies, chicken, and egg whites. I downed them! Honestly, I credit Frisch's for saving my life. I was about 2 pounds away from being hospitalized.
The picture on the right is from this summer. I eat - a lot. And I am growing stronger every day! I thought I was strong in the left picture? The weights I was using then aren't even my warm up because they are too light. I kill it in the gym 5 times a week and my only competition? MYSELF! I have come so far and I still have so far to go. Yes, I still get those thoughts wishing I was "skinny" but they quickly go away because I KNOW I am doing great things. Will I be the skinniest? No. Will I be the strongest? No. Will I work every day to be the best version of myself? HELL YES.
December 26, 2012 < the day I snapped out of it. I was at my dads house telling him how sick I felt and I had no energy. He told me to eat more. I got so pissed telling him I eat enough. That night I had really bad insomnia (which was happening very frequently) and I took a step out of my door and collapsed. I was too weak to walk. I couldn't even carry myself and at the time I only weighed 107 pounds... way underweight. The next day we went to Frisch's and I got a stack of pancakes. PANCAKES. CARBS. WHAT! I hadn't eaten those in a year! Yup, I was basically eating veggies, chicken, and egg whites. I downed them! Honestly, I credit Frisch's for saving my life. I was about 2 pounds away from being hospitalized.
The picture on the right is from this summer. I eat - a lot. And I am growing stronger every day! I thought I was strong in the left picture? The weights I was using then aren't even my warm up because they are too light. I kill it in the gym 5 times a week and my only competition? MYSELF! I have come so far and I still have so far to go. Yes, I still get those thoughts wishing I was "skinny" but they quickly go away because I KNOW I am doing great things. Will I be the skinniest? No. Will I be the strongest? No. Will I work every day to be the best version of myself? HELL YES.
So why am I writing this blog? To share with you my story hoping it will help at least 1 person. I want you to know there is more to life than counting calories, freezing all of the time, sleepless nights, and mood swings. You deserve to be happy and confident. I hope by posting my workout routines I can introduce more young women to the weight room. I hope when you see a healthy recipe you want to try that instead of ordering fast food. I know I can't change the world but helping 1 person realize they ARE enough and beautiful no matter what they think, is really all that matters.
Thank you for reading this, have an amazing day!
Love Always, Samantha