Hello my new friends!

djkrug6156

Hi…my name is DJ and in my profile picture is me and my 18 year old son Jason, who has Down syndrome and deaf-blindness.
I am a caregiver and a mom, but as some of you know, we take care of others before take care of ourselves.
At my heaviest, I was over 230+. I’m not sure how heavy I actually became since I avoided every scale and mirror, but size 18 was so tight that I opted for men’s sweats. By the time I was 45, my health had deteriorated to the point of having my first stroke. I suppose it was the “wake up call” I needed to change.
The next 8 years was a journey of successes and failures while my weight and self esteem yo-yo’d. Three strokes and seven seizures later, I had hit rock bottom. I gave my life to Jesus and began a healing journey (both physically and spiritually) that has eventually brought me here.
I’m now 53 and weigh 165lbs and have 20 more pounds to go to reach my new goal of 140. I say “new” because I used to be 5’ 7” but after losing one inch from bone loss (due to years of neglecting myself), and lost another inch caused by an L1 fracture of my spine during a tonic clonic seizure, my ideal BMI and weight changed for my new height of 5’ 5”. Crazy… I haven’t considered 140lbs since Army bootcamp. 🤯
As I write this all out, I realize how much I have been through, how faithful God is, and how grateful I am to be alive.

With my son having Down syndrome means that he has a higher risk for obesity and other health issues in the future. I don’t want that for him, so what I now do for myself, I do for him too. We prioritize eating micronutrients, limit the sweets, make the carbs count and eat clean protein if possible. Spending time in the kitchen is far better than spending time in the hospital, so we turn up the worship music and have fun prepping and eating our meals.
My wonderful husband, who has been here for me through it all, is also making lifestyle changes and we are all hopeful for a better future.

If you’ve read all of this, I thank you for your time and encourage you not to ever give up. Keep trying and you will get there. We all have disappointments and sorrows in life, but you don’t have to carry the grief and regrets alone. Jesus is only one prayer away 🙏.

Thanks my friend and God bless you!

DJ