Barbara Valente, Rebecca (12) and Jonathan (10)
Barabara participate in the movement previously, in 2014. You can view her previous photograph and narrative here {http://www.4thtrimesterbodiesproject.com/gallery-1/2016/3/2/barbara-valente}
Barbara was blessed with two healthy pregnancies and two unmedicated hospital births. When her son was born she had gestational diabetes which thankfully cleared up after a years time, but was subsequently diagnosed in fall of 2016 with Type II Diabetes. After a painful breakup of a 5 year relationship she let her health and over all self care take a back seat. "I gained a great deal of weight, stopped exercising, and sank into a deep depression that felt bottomless. Our breakup destroyed me but in that destruction I found myself, and I will forever be grateful".
Once Barbara made peace with the past and the failed relationship, she was able to let real healing begin. She has since discovered many truths about herself that she never would have had it not been for her heartbreak. She has a new plan for self care that includes weekly acupuncture, radical life coaching, a set plan of movement/exercise, and a commitment to eating healthier and taking her medical situations seriously. She's signed up to participate in her third 1.2 mile swim portion of a half Ironman relay in August, GA in September as well a few small running events. "Over all I have let go of hating my body and accept that if I am to be the size I am now forever I would be pretty damn content. My weight and my size do not define me, my heart does. My actions speak louder than the smallest number on a scale. For the first time in my entire life I am deliriously happy in my own skin, which is a feeling I never dreamed possible. If 2016 was the year of finding my voice and discovering my true self, 2017 will be the year of finding the best way to use that voice and living an fully authentic and truthful life".
"As it is one of the last stops, I could not pass up the chance to have my picture re-taken by Ashlee. When we went the first time we were stuck in traffic and late so I was super stressed. My boyfriend and I had quarreled over the directions and in the end it was not a very happy day for me. But this time I stand on my own, I am not dependent on someone else to make me happy or feel special or take care of me. I see now that I am more than capable of doing all that for myself thank you very much. I stand proudly in my truth and embrace all the new adventures placed before me. I am excited and terrified and ready to really start living... and it begins with this photo shoot".