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Meet Jordan Petty

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Today we’d like to introduce you to Jordan Petty.

Thanks for sharing your story with us Jordan. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
I’m a wellness advocate + fitness instructor. But I never thought I would be here, given my story. Just a few years ago, I wouldn’t have been passionate about the things I am now- the things I want to share with others. I had to go through a lot to discover my passions and I’m ok with that. Had I not walked through any of it, we wouldn’t be here. I love all things natural + wellness as a whole- mental, spiritual, physical, emotional. It’s all connected.

My story begins in college. After years of dealing with stomach issues and doctor’s visits, I started navigating the world of nutrition and eating foods that wouldn’t affect my stomach. This took me down a wormhole and after months of starting to live a healthier lifestyle, I started creating an image in my head of what my body should look like rather than what my body should feel like. Once I saw my body changing, it was like a drug to me. I started restricting my calories, burning more calories than consumed that day and would act like everything was fine. I was living with an eating disorder and had a very unhealthy mental mindset towards food and fitness- really, my entire lifestyle as a whole. My overall wellness was not even a thought, just as long as I looked good on the outside.

After years of struggling, my body started to shut down. I didn’t realize the effects my disorder would have on my body in the future. I just wanted to be ‘skinny.’ Multiple friends and family members were concerned for me- I took their concerns as compliments. That’s how messed up my thinking was. I would tell myself, “they obviously notice my weight loss if they are commenting on it. That must mean I look good.” I would justify everything as long as I looked good. I began dating my now-husband around this time and my disorder had then morphed into this ‘how would Bryce want me to look’ issue. My life had become consumed around looking a certain way for him. My entire identity had become focused around changing myself to try and fit this imaginary mold that I had made up in my own mind.

Bryce was actually the one to straight-up tell me I was too skinny. I vividly remember this day. I took his words as a compliment at first but they really resonated with me. I was shocked and honestly so confused. My identity had become so wrapped up in my imaginary mold I had created for myself that he had never even spoken or wanted. It was all completely made up by me. Fast forward to marriage- Bryce now knew about my eating disorder and we were trying to tackle it together. The turning point happened at my annual exam when my doctor quickly put things into perspective for me: gain weight. I had been avoiding doctors solely for this reason. I left his office with what felt like a massive hole in my chest. It took months to even come around to the idea of gaining weight, but I knew I had to start. I took it one day at a time. It was one of the harder things I’ve gone through in my life- you don’t realize how strong of a hold your mentality has on you until you try to break it.

I finally started to put weight back on. It took some time, but I was getting there. The mental factor was the hardest part: I didn’t recognize myself. I had been so wrapped up in my outward appearance that when I started gaining weight back, I just felt disgusting. I knew I needed a shift in my mentality towards myself and my body. I started speaking life and positivity over myself and my body. I was not defined by my weight or by what I thought I needed to look like. Easier said than done, but this is truly what helped me tackle the mental side of things. It was a daily choice to believe that I was more than. I was enough.

Through my experience, I found my true self. I learned self-love. I learned how to defeat personal lies and change my mentality. I learned proper nutrition and how to fuel my body rather than harm it. I learned patience and grace. Because of these things, I discovered what I am passionate about wellness. My wellness journey was not easy. I still have days where I’ll resort back to my old mindset. But I am not her anymore. I have evolved. I want others to know that they are not alone. You can overcome your disorder. You can live a life of freedom with no restrictions and you can enjoy food and fitness. Food was put on the Earth to nourish us, not destroy us. You are worthy, you have purpose and you are loved. You are more than what you are battling and once you overcome the lies you’ve been believing, an entire exciting journey of new self-discovery lies before you. I cannot wait for you to experience it.

Overall, has it been relatively smooth? If not, what were some of the struggles along the way?
Not at all. It has taken years to overcome the lies I set in stone in my mind. Breaking my mentality I had towards myself and food was the hardest part. Believing to fuel myself rather than destroy myself was key. Every day is a new day and there are still some days that I struggle, even years later. You have to choose to change. You have to continue to take the steps necessary to change. There will not be a day that you wake up and things are just different: you must create the difference. You owe it to yourself. Fight for your life. You can overcome anything- your mind is a beautiful and powerful thing.

We’d love to hear more about your work.
I have a blog, Jordan Petty, where I love advocating for wellness. I talk about wellness as a whole + natural living. I share a lot of the information I’ve learned along my personal journey and encourage others to approach life with a healthy mindset. I love being open and vulnerable with people- sharing my journey through life in hopes of encouraging and helping someone else, possibly going through what I did. How are we supposed to pour into others if we only share the good?

I am also a Lagree Pilates Instructor at Studio 6 Fitness. This has been such a fun part-time job for me! Being able to pour into others through fitness, something that had such a hold on me for so long has been so healing. I love being able to help change others’ lives through working out.

What is “success” or “successful” for you?
Success to me is evolving. Growing into something you never saw for yourself and helping others through that growth. Success is not a number, not a certain point you reach in life or even a social status. Success is the little wins. Overcoming lies and refueling them with truth. I don’t think you ever fully reach a point of success- I mean, what even is success really? There is no certain point. It’s endless. We are constantly changing and evolving as humans. That’s the way it is supposed to be. Discovering new interests and passions and learning new things along the way. That is success to me.

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Image Credit:
Professional photos by: Ashton Steele

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