My Personal Testimony

Do yall mind if I testify? Well if you do, oh well, its my page. Last month, I went to the Doctor for my regular check up, and everything was really good! I'd been working out, eating even healthier, I was doing good! My BP was down to normal, my cholesterol was normal, I was GOOD! Then my Doctor began to look puzzled, she was like OMG! This can't be! Now I'm like oh Lawd... she started researching my past records, I say, "what is it?" She says, "your blood platelets are really high". I asked how high? She look at me and said, "725" I asked, what did that mean? She, politely said, Ms. Taylor, I'm gonna need you to see the Oncologist (blood cancer doctor), I took a deep breath and asked, "are you saying I may have cancer? Of coarse she was like tryna sooth me and stuff. But it didn't help. She said to me, you are not making enough red blood cells, and so this has caused your blood platelets to increase, meaning you are more prone to a blood clot, and we don't want this, so I'm like, huh, you telling me! So for three days or so, I'm back and fourth to the doctors for testing for Leukemia and two other cancers I can't even pronounce. The now have me on more meds than I was on before, and I'm sick as a dog, can't sleep, or eat much, and to top it off the word cancer and my name was in the same sentenced. But I thank God for Godly friends and family who pray for real and not just when they get in trouble, lol. But see my miracle wasn't gonna come from just their prayers, but it was gonna be based up on my faith, and my prayer. This is what I prayed, "Lord I need you to touch my body, and heal me of all these crazy ailments, cause, I got better things to do with my time, than fight cancer, I'm sure you have another assignment for me to do, another soul for me to reach out to, a song to sing, and encouragement to give to somebody!! Lord, I need you to heal me, and not let me have leukemia". So later in the week, I see the Oncologist, and they look at what my primary doctor sent over, and run more test, she leaves the room, and when she comes back in, she has this look on her face, she hugs me, and says GOD BLESS YOU, but you do not have Leukemia, (pause) Now, I could have, just went in right there, but she was hugging me and I didn't want to scare her, lol. I do how ever have Anemia and its pretty bad, but it aint cancer, the meds I take to help build my blood, thin it out, and all the other counter acting crap I take, took me 21 days to get use to, but it aint chemo, I feel sick, a little lethargic at times, and tired, but I'm gonna yet live. So as I was cleaning my room just now, I couldn't help but thank God. I said all of that to say this, all my other blood work was GREAT! so why would God not complete the work he started concerning my health. He is an awesome and might God, in which I love with my all. And I keep my self grounded by reminding myself that somebody, didn't get the news that I got that day, somebody right now is fighting cancer or something else, but he saw fit to spare me..... So you see, there's really a story behind my praise, I've been partially blind, high blood pressure, congested heart failure,edema, but to look at me, you would never know, because I don't look like what I been through, and only a fool wouldn't wanna rejoice over how good God is, and has been. The word of God tells me that I can over come by the words of my testimony, and I hope this has encouraged somebody, to keep the faith, to hold on, no matter what the situation may be, trust God. he said he would never leave us, nor for sake us, and that all things were possible if we just believe, casting all of our cares up on him, and our path for our life he was going to make. An it is in times like these, he will give you a new song, so that your own personal praises can go forth. if you've noticed I've been pretty low key, I haven't been posting a whole lot of inspiration, cause I needed it myself. You see me, you see blessed, not my health or my issues, just the blessings of the Lord, cause as his child, a representative of him, thats all I'm allowed let you see, because you need to see his Glory, and not my story. Yall be encouraged, and be blessed. Love you guys, and thanks for your prayers, please, continue for God's not through with me yet.

This Is My Story...

285lbs 

This was me in 2004, I was 285lbs. Unknowingly I was developing high blood pressure, and a developing heart condition. After I had my 3rd child in 1997, within a year I had gained 80 to 100lbs. And this is my story....

I was BIG 272lbs

I never would have thought that I would ever have a weight problem, I was always skinny, but somewhere along the way, I started gaining weight, I think all of those cookies caught up with me which I ate by the package BIG packages.

265lbs

   I didn't realize at first that I had gained the  weight until I took a good look at these pictures one day. You see, I always ate what I wanted, I never put a whole lot of thought into it, I just ate. One day I was getting dressed and I noticed that I looked OLD and I felt what I thought OLD must have felt like. I was tired, my body ached and my knees were always stiff. My energy level had diminished; all I wanted to do was sleep, little did I know a storm within was brewing.

In the mist the Struggle 258lbs
July 2011

Before & After in the mist of my journey....

Me Today 245lbs
October 2011

At 32 I was told I was borderline for hypertension. I just thought my body was just going through the changes a body goes through as a person starts to get older, so I quietly dismissed the diagnosis. Within a year I developed high blood pressure, then I was diagnosed with congestive heart failure a few months later. So whats a girl to do when she feels she's at the point of no return. I was miserable. I was raising 3 boys on my own, working two jobs and going to school, my Dad was dying of cancer and I was struggling to hold on to my then boyfriend. I never felt so helpless and overwhelmed.

253lbs

Me today 245lbs but the battle ain't over yet

Somewhere along way I decided I had to attempt to do something or I was going to die really young, I had to get a grip on my life. My journey hasn't been easy, I've been up and I've been down, but I kept getting back up to fight this thing they called obesity.

 I started working out, got me a good little momentum going, then I lost it, then I would start it up again, and loose it again, this was not helping the matter at all. In 2009 I had an optical stroke and temporarily lost my eye sight due to high blood pressure which caused my heart to show signs of failure.... This was the last draw, I had to fight harder, no matter what, I knew that if I lost this battle I was gonna die. So I changed the way I looked at food, I stopped eating just to eat, I stopped eating just to eat, and only ate when I was hungry and instead of setting unrealistic weight loss goals, I didn't set any, my goals became me developing a healthier life style. Six years later I was down to 248lbs, my weight fluctuates because of my body retaining fluid, in which I take meds for. Being over weight really messed my body up, it over worked my heart, causing it to become enlarged, I'm telling you I was just a mess. 

It was time to put in some real work...

Lady Deon

After

and then... I saw something

Before 

Labor Day 2011

My journey isn't over but the victory is MINE!

Strawberry & Spinach Salad w/ Feta Cheese Glazed Pecans Strawberry Wine Vinaigrette 

Since 2004 up until today.... I've lost a total of 40lbs. which may not be much, but the quality of life I've gained is PRICELESS! I eat differently, I see food as food and not my friend or my comforter, but as a source of energy and nourishment. I exercise regularly and my new favorite comfort food is a Strawberry Spinach Salad. I take all my meds from the doctor and I eat healthy... and its paying off, slowly, but how many of you know good things come to those who wait.