Once Upon A Time...

[Ciansmom 3]

...there was a young woman plagued by her obesity. It encased her physically and emotionally. She was a walking sarcophogas and hated every minute of her awake time. She had always had a love/hate relationship with her weight, though. She hated the judgement, the inability to move, the unhealthy habits she was passing on to her son, the depressions, anxieites, but at the same time, her weight protected her. She had been wounded and found that her weight gave her an excuse to avoid those who had hurt her. BUT, one day she knew she needed to change. She went and saw Dr. James Foote at Grand Health Partners in Grand Rapids, MI and he gave some options. She prayed and knew her loving Father did not want her to suffer another day...

She began her journey at over 310 (not sure how much more she stopped weighing herself). On December 23, 2008 she weighed in at 287 and teh weight kept coming off post surgery! By April of 2010 she was down to 163 and loving life!! She met a wonderful man (she no longer was afraid and hiding behind her weight) and they married August 2010. In OCtober of that year she became pregnant with her second son, born June 29, 2011. Her current, 3 year post-op, post baby, weight is 175 and she is working to get it back down to 163, hoping to hit her goal of 155 and keep it there by year's end!!

This story has a happy and healthy ending and I couldn't be more happy with all that has improved now that I am healthier and more mobile. I don't have to have my knee replaced, my hip arthritis is GREATLY improved and I am much more confident (although I still am shocked when I don't see the heavy me in the mirror, even today).

I can't say that my journey was easy mentally, as this was much more than I ever anticipated, but phsyically I would do it a hunred times more to get where I am today!!! Thank you, Jesus for the wonderful people at GHP who helped change my life here on Earth!!

[Ms skinniness 3,003]

CONGRATS! This is an awesome journey with so many life changing events in our lives. Keep it up....

[DDFinn 118]

So happy for you! I am only at the begining of my journey (7wks post op) so I loooove the happily ever afters

[mnbsleeve 87]

Congratulations Ciansmom! May you have many, many more happily ever afters!!! Enjoy the new you!!!!

[irishmama2004 34]

Tears of joy for you!

[VJSlim 156]

I'm so happy for you!! Congrats on all the beautiful victories that have come your way! I wish you all success in your life and this journey!

[Artsy 48]

Thank you for sharing your journey.

[Sleeved&Hopeful 182]

Congrats! You're a success! I bet you feel like a million bucks!