I can honestly say that for many years I looked for myself…Why? Because the unhappy, unhealthy person I saw was not who I was supposed to be! I had gotten to the point where I didn’t know who that person staring back at me was.

So, after a 21-year battle with my weight, well to be honest a 29-year battle (if you count those few years, I convinced myself I had big bones or a little leftover “pregnancy weight”) I made the conscious decision to take control of my health. Now I didn’t always have to make this choice. As an adolescent and young adult, I could eat whatever I wanted, as much of what I wanted, as often as I wanted. It wasn’t until shortly after college I started to realize the consequences of developing such unhealthy habits. Unknowingly those habits would lead me toward a path of destruction. I developed hyper- tension, type II diabetes, hyperthyroidism and to assist a boatload of medications. Not to mention the lower back pain, the knee pain, the lack of energy and the decreased mobility. And shall we add the low self-esteem, feelings of failure, insecurity and inferior complex. I tried several weight loss methods over the years, jumping from one diet to the next oftentimes with a very small amount of success but nothing sustainable or maintainable. I would just drift back into my old habits and the weight that I had lost plus an increase would return.

                   “At 326 LBs and a statuesque 4’11”, I could no longer deny how unhealthy I was and decided to I had enough!”

I started seeing a bariatric surgeon and in September of 2015, I had Gastric Bypass surgery. This tool set me on my path to wellness. I learned quickly it was no magic bullet, while surgery started me on my journey it was up to me to stay on

the path. Success! Within one year I lost 135lbs. I was there…. I had arrived 13 LBs to goal weight and project me was complete. I began checking off the boxes to complete project me. I was off all but one of my medications I no longer suffered from hypertension or any of the other co-morbidities that followed my weight gain, and I was feeling great. Not realizing the reality that lies ahead for me…

Overconfidence and cockiness and not having established true healthy habits left me at a one-year plateau. I slowly stopped paying as much attention to my diet and regime and my weight came to a screeching halt. No accountability and unprepared for the stall mentally and reverting to old habits in panic, by the third-year post-op I had at a 40 LBs regain.

I took a true interest in Health and Wellness and wanting to absorb all I could to set myself up for success I began seeking more knowledge. Developing a true passion, I enrolled in a Health and Wellness program and received what was to be my first of many certifications.

“Yeah, but how did that help you?” …. I’m glad you asked!

it was time to practice what I preached. The desire to be a shining example to those I have the opportunity to help provided the motivation I needed. It was through health and wellness coaching training that I learned the secret to creating a healthy lifestyle…. behavior change. I went back to basics, using what worked in the past was able to set a new plan in motion. Realizing for weight loss is just as physical as it is mental. This was no longer a project but a deliberated intention to create a healthy sustainable lifestyle. I dialed back into my support system and was able

to take advantage of not only the educational information but the relationships and accountability it provided. Often- times it requires the assistance of someone who can help you connect the dots between where you are and

where you are trying to go.