I would like to consider myself a seasoned military spouse by now.  After eight years of Marine Corps life, more than eight moves, two babies born in two different states and re-establishing myself over and over again (you get the drill), I feel pretty confident in navigating around this crazy military life (not that I need to list it all out, we all know what its like!).

It was a few days into this deployment, and I was feeling pretty good.

We were tired, for sure.  A 3 a.m. drop-off on a dark boat dock isn’t exactly refreshing.

And my kids were sad that Daddy was gone, as was I.

But we were all fed and clothed and dressed.  We even made soccer practice on time that week.

And then, late on a Friday afternoon, I opened my garage door to throw in another load of laundry and found myself standing in several inches of water.

There’s a lot about military life that makes it hard to be happy.

We move. Our friends move. Our friends die. Our husbands (or wives) are gone, a lot. Our new house on base is too small. Our new house on base is too far. Our old base had a better commissary. It was closer to our family.

The list can go on and on.

And for many of us, while we’re wallowing in that moment of self-pity, tend to loathe the happy military spouse who breezes by, without seemingly a care in the world. What’s she have to be so happy about that you didn’t get?

Editor’s Note: Today we want to introduce you to Heidi Holloway, a Navy wife with an inspiring story of determination and success. Enjoy!

I have lost over 50 pounds. I went from being an exhausted, overweight mom who was tired just chasing toddlers, to being a personal trainer. Over the past year, since sharing some progress pictures, and becoming a personal trainer, I have had many people ask me how I did it. And, could I please help them do the same.