Back on Track

bobbie_hughes

I am a 52-year-old Wife, Mom, and Mawmaw to two beautiful grandbabies!! For several years now, I have not exercised and have chosen to eat anything and everything I wanted. I realized that if I wanted to play on the floor with my g-babies, I would be worrying about how I was going to get back up. So on March 1, 2025, I decided to take back control of my health!!!

A little back story…From childhood, I have always struggled with my weight. I played sports in high school, but after I got out of school and quit being active, my weight gain started. With the birth of my two children, I gained even more weight. Through the years, I would try different fad diets and would half-heartedly exercise. When I gave up, I would gain it all back, along with additional weight. Fast forward to early 2017, I went on a field trip with a group of children from church. Someone took a picture of me, and I was horrified to see myself. A whopping 283 lbs! It was with this picture, I determined that I needed to do something.

April 2017, I had a Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG). The day of surgery, I weighted 235 lbs. I lost down to 140 lbs, but felt more comfortable at 150-155 lbs. I was weighing my food, had control of my portions, and was walking daily. And then when COVID hit in 2020, I completely lost my mind! I quit exercising and ate anything and everything. I take full responsibility for all my actions. No one forced me to eat all the unhealthy food. No one tied me to a chair and said, "No, you can't exercise". I made those choices. And by making those choices, I found myself back at 238 lbs.

So on March 9, 2025, I joined a free program through my health insurance that offers a Health Coach, weekly lessons, and access to all other kinds of information to empower me to become healthy again. I also use the program as an accountability tool. I will say that I am not using any weight loss medications to assist with my weight loss. Nothing against the medication or anyone who chooses to use medication. Truth be told, if my insurance covered the medication, I would be using it. Because let's face it, this is hard!!!

Since March 9, 2025, I have lost 13 lbs! My office is located on the 2nd floor of my building. Before March 9th, I was so out of breath when I got to my desk that I had to sit down and catch my breath. I started walking for 15 minutes a day. I'm now walking for at least an hour each day. I went shopping and bought fresh fruit and veggies. I increased my water to over 96 ozs a day, some days more. I'm consistently measuring/weighing my food to help with portion control. I'm reading the nutrition labels on everything. I have been consistently tracking everything with MyFitnessPal. Boy, do I have a lot to learn. Side note: I am now choosing to take the stairs every time I need to use the restroom. That means I am up and down those stairs A LOT!!

Do I do all things, make the right choices, and exercise every.single.day? NO, because I'm not perfect. I can say that I am way better off today than I was on March 1, 2025.

Like I have seen others do, I want to use this platform as an accountability tool as well. Who knows, maybe there are others out there who have been struggling. Maybe by sharing my journey, someone else may receive encouragement.

MichelinaDiSibio

congrats!!! Amazing journey !

totameafox

The important thing is that you have started looking after your health again. I am sure this time you will make it permanent. You know how to lose weight, though it is a continual learning process. I'm sure you have things you can teach other people too.