Helping children and adults conquer obesity
“All things work together for the good of those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28
I believe each one of us is born with God given potential. God has gifted us with talents and strengths and has given us a passion for something if we’ll stay focused long enough to find it. That passion merged with our talents will bring us towards our potential of affecting people and inspiring positive change in ourselves and those around us. Many times it is the very thing that has been toughest for us to overcome that becomes the passion that drives us to help others get free from the same. God has a way of bringing us all together in ways we could never imagine.
My biggest life challenge has been my weight. I can’t remember one time in my life that my excess weight was not an issue. My battle began literally at birth. When I was eight weeks old the pediatrician told my mother I was gaining weight too rapidly and suggested she cut my formula with milk. I was an overweight child larger than all my classmates and friends. By 5th grade I weighed 128 pounds. I couldn’t trade clothes with girlfriends the way all teens do, and most of my clothes had to be custom made. My wedding dress was a size 18 with altered sleeves just to fit my arms. No matter what I did I couldn’t seem to lose weight. As I gained weight I lost self confidence. My mother helped me find every imaginable diet and exercise program and despite making lots of weight loss goals I failed at them all.
My family was loving, positive and nurturing. But inside, I knew I was different because I didn’t look like the other girls.
I don’t think anyone knows the degree to which my body ruled my life in a negative way. My earliest memories are of looking different, not fitting into clothes or being able to do what my friends could do because of my size. I can remember at age 5 already being ashamed of my size in a kindergarten activity even though I had unconditional love from my family. A lifetime weight battle became an obsession to look ‘normal’. Many humiliating situations caused me to hate my obese body and the way I felt it had betrayed me. Everything from being chosen on the playground to being chosen on the dance floor was affected by my size. Sure I had lots of friends and I always seemed to have fun. My life was full of happy times and accomplishments. My family was loving, positive and nurturing. But inside, I knew I was different because I didn’t look like the other girls. I was too large and clunky to be a cheerleader. No one was looking for a fat homecoming queen. Many things I shied away from because I knew my size limited me. At the same time I remember not eating dessert with the family, going to Weight Watcher meetings from the time I was 11, and dreaming about waking up one day ‘normal’.
Life went on and the only time I remember being successful at losing weight was when I was close to 30 years old. I lost 75 pounds, went to work for the diet center that helped me successfully lose weight only to gain it back and feel more ashamed than ever. It was later in life that I realized what triggered my relapse and I worked to deal with it so that one day, some how I would find a way to lose weight and this time I would keep it off.
The truth was I was only existing, no longer living.
Years passed. Every diet and weight loss or exercise program known to man I tried. Rather than lose weight I gained more each year. I felt out of control. With severe sleep apnea, insulin resistance, high cholesterol and high triglycerides, symptoms of heart disease, intense back and knee pain, and unable to walk up a flight of stairs without stopping to gasp for air; the truth was I was only existing, no longer living. I couldn’t participate in most activities with family and friends, couldn’t reach my potential in my career, was ashamed of how I looked and knew my days were numbered. Eventually I realized that many of my behaviors had to be addressed emotionally. As I began to delve into those I found the source could really only be dealt with spiritually. And so I was on a personal journey to identify my issues, allow God to help me unravel the past and reweave my life in a way that would produce good results and get me free from the bondage of weight and unhealthy food behaviors forever.
After losing 135 pounds and ridding myself of co-morbidities I can finally say I’ve reached my goal of being ‘normal’ size.
After losing 135 pounds and ridding myself of co-morbidities I can finally say I’ve reached my goal of being ‘normal’ size. I am healthier now inside and out than ever before. I’m having the best time exploring new activities and I love the clothing selection I have now! I’ve maintained my weight loss since 2006 and know I’ve made permanent changes. God has been so faithful to be by my side every step of the way and bring me through this journey with lessons learned, love shared, and promises realized. Now I’m giving back by using my gifts and talents along with what I’ve been taught to help others who are where I once was. Nothing is as good as freedom from bondage!
That being said, remember it still takes work. I’ve taken this journey – my recovery - very seriously and made life changes. I’m still not crazy about exercise but I know I have to do it to maintain my health and my weight. When the weather is nice I do enjoy fun, active exercise like kayaking, bicycling and hiking which I would have never enjoyed at my previous weight. I have not reintroduced sugar (more than single digit grams per serving) and don’t plan to ever allow that in my diet. I know I was addicted to sugar and it can happen again if I lose focus and allow it to. For an addict there is no moderation – only abstinence.
I will never forget my experiences as a morbidly obese person. I identify with those who face discrimination because I’ve faced it first hand myself. Lessons like those I will always keep close at heart so I don’t judge others and so that I maintain compassion and reassurance for those struggling with a difference. I want to share that God’s perfect love is available for every one of us and is the healer of all hurts. God never gives up on us; it’s never too late. After a lifetime of failing at losing weight I was thrilled to find hope for the metabolic mess I was. I followed God’s lead and finally experienced success. My background is in Christian psychology so with years of counseling and ministry experience nothing makes me happier than encouraging someone in a similar situation with their obesity. If I can make a difference for someone else and offer them hope where all they find is shame – then all I have been through is worth it.
Let me help you find your path to freedom, wholeness and healing.
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