From Injury to Identity Shift · Breakthrough Body Blueprint

From Injury to Identity Shift

My shin stress reaction story and why it ended up being a blessing 🌟

Around October of last year, right when I was stepping into the Breakthrough Body Blueprint program, life threw me a curveball I didn’t see coming: a shin stress reaction injury. The timing felt almost cruel. I was finally fired up, ready to go all in, and then suddenly I was told to stop the thing I loved most at the time: pickleball. 🏓🥒

If you’ve ever had an injury that forces you to slow down, you know how loud that moment can feel. Pickleball wasn’t just a workout for me it was my stress relief, my community, my fun, my “me time.” So hearing my doctor’s restrictions ❌ and realizing I had to press pause felt astronomical. I had to face a hard truth: wanting something badly doesn’t change what your body needs. I had to listen, follow the plan, and respect the recovery process even when my mind wanted to rush it.

But here’s where things came full circle. ⭕️

As frustrating as it was, I realize now that the injury became a turning point in the best way. Because I wasn’t doing it alone. I had Coach

@Kevin Teachanarong

Coach

@Darren Liu

, and the BBB community right there with me. Instead of spiraling or giving up, I used that season to build the foundation I didn’t even know I was missing. I leaned into what I could do: strength training 🏋, mobility 🧘‍♀️, smarter movement with lesser impact like hip hop and edm cycling 🚴 , and dialing in nutrition 🍽️. I started focusing on recovery like it was part of training, not a break from training. And, my health started improving in ways that had nothing to do with playing more pickleball games.

The biggest shift wasn’t physical it was mental. That injury helped me move from a pickleball obsession to something more balanced and sustainable. I began to see fitness differently. It wasn’t just “how hard can I go” or “how many leagues and tourneys can I medal 🥇.” It became “how strong can I get,” “how well can I move,” “how can I support my body long-term,” and “how can I stay consistent even when life gets messy.” What felt like a setback turned out to be a blessing 🙏 in disguise, because it forced me to expand my definition of health.

So this is my reflection 📝 and my reminder to myself and anyone reading:

sometimes the thing you think is taking something away from you is actually protecting you and building you. 🙌

I’m grateful for the growth that came from that season, grateful for the support I had while I was figuring it out, and grateful to be here side-by-side with all of you as we build stronger and healthier lives together.

My priorities have shifted.

What I thought mattered most then was getting back to the sport.

What matters most now is becoming someone who can stay strong, consistent, and resilient for the long haul. 💪✨

P.S. My doctor cleared me today! Shin stress reaction is completely healed. 🥳🥳🥳

DJ play “Stronger” by Brittany Spears!

🎶 Now I'm stronger than yesterday. Now it's nothing but my way..My loneliness ain't killing me no more…..I, I'm stronger! 🎶

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