ReWorking the Pattern: How I’m Balancing Motherhood, Entrepreneurship, and Self-Care — For Real This Time
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ReWorking the Pattern: How I’m Balancing Motherhood, Entrepreneurship, and Self-Care — For Real This Time
Tag: ReWorking the Pattern (Lifestyle + Wellness Series)
Published: October 2025
Two months in, 20 lbs down, and finally feeling like myself again.
I’ve always been the kind of woman who gets things done — for my family, my business, and my community. But when it came to taking care of myself, I’ve got to be real: I wasn’t showing up like I should.
For years, I told myself I was fine. I walked dogs every day, took “urban explorer” strolls just to clear my head, and marched parades with Marley’s drumline. I was active — but I wasn’t balanced.
The Doctor’s Office Wake-Up Call
In January 2025, I made a quiet promise to myself: go to the doctor. Not just when something’s wrong, but because I deserve to stay well.
It had been years since I’d gone regularly, but when I finally did, I was surprised — my numbers were okay, but my weight had crept up more than I realized. Even though I felt the difference in my clothes, I was confused. How could someone this active be gaining weight?
That visit changed a lot. I left with prescriptions for migraines, hormonal hair loss, and depression — all things I’d been living with silently. And for the first time in a long time, I started to feel like myself again.
My doctor also suggested I talk to my insurance about GLP-1 medications, like Zepbound.
What’s a GLP-1?
GLP-1s are medications that help regulate appetite, blood sugar, and digestion. They mimic a natural hormone in your body that helps you feel full faster and slows how quickly food leaves your stomach. Originally used for diabetes, they’ve been found to safely support weight loss when combined with healthy habits.
It took me months to make that phone call — classic procrastination — but once I did, I got the message I’d been hoping for: I was covered.
That’s when my journey officially began.
The First 30 Days
I bought a smart scale and a fancy water bottle, but otherwise, I didn’t change a thing.
And still, something shifted. I started losing “food noise” — that constant background craving for snacks and sugar. I lost a few pounds without trying. The next week, I focused on hydration. Then, stretching. By the end of the month, my energy was back.
When I saw my doctor again, she raised my dosage and reminded me to add strength training so I don’t lose muscle. So, I ordered resistance bands, dusted off my kettlebell, and started moving again — for me.
Rediscovering Joy in Motion
These days, I take long walks that feed my soul as much as my body. Sometimes I listen to podcasts that keep me laughing. Sometimes it’s just silence — breathing, thinking, being. The fresh air and sunshine feel like medicine too.
I’ll share my favorite playlists and “walk vs. work” listens in another post soon, but for now, I’m learning to love the rhythm of my own pace.
Lifestyle Shifts That Stuck
A few unexpected changes surprised me along the way:
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My taste for alcohol has dropped way down. I might have a splash of something socially, but I don’t crave it.
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My snacking habits disappeared too — those peanut butter crackers in the pantry are untouched.
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My ganja habit? Still here and accounted for. It’s a blessing from the earth, and I’m keeping that joy on the list.
The Emotional Side of Change
If I’m honest, this journey isn’t just physical. My weight has affected how I show up in business. There were times I avoided posting videos, skipped photo ops, or felt like I wasn’t presenting my best self.
But I’m working through that. I’m learning that taking care of myself is part of building my business — because I am the brand.
Where I’m At Now
Two months in, I’m 20 pounds down, feeling more energized, focused, and confident than I’ve been in years.
I even caught myself smiling at the camera at my Common Market Oakwold pop-up — hamming it up behind my Halloween table, surrounded by my embroidered patches, bandanas, and towels.
That’s me, two months into the journey — and I’m proud of her.
This is what “ReWorking the Pattern” looks like.
It’s not a crash diet.
It’s not perfection.
It’s the daily decision to show up for myself — in motherhood, in entrepreneurship, and in joy.
Here’s to new patterns, old lessons, and real balance — for real this time.
Next Up on ReWorking the Pattern
🎧 My Favorite Listens: What I Play While I Walk vs. While I Work
💭 How Weight Affects the Way I Show Up in Business
Written by: Devin McDaniel
Founder, West & Remount Custom Apparel | Mom | Entrepreneur | Forever ReWorking the Pattern