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.