When I was 23, after having my son, I gained about 74 pounds. I used to joke that my son made me fat, until someone looked me straight in the eye and said, “So… when are you going to stop blaming your son for your weight? He’s an adult now.” That comment stung. LOL

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The truth was, my biggest struggle was my sugar addiction. I carried a lot of shame about how much I was eating. It wasn’t unusual for me to secretly buy three or four candy bars, a bag of chips, and a soda, and eat it on the way home from the store. I would hide the wrappers in my purse like they were evidence at a crime scene. A couple of times a week, I’d bake a batch of cookies and eat every single one before my husband got home.

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When I turned 50, my “check engine” light came on, literally. The right side of my face went numb, my tongue tingled, my arms ached, and my right arm and leg kept falling asleep. 

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For a while, doctors thought I might have MS or lupus. After every test known to man (I’m convinced I glow in the dark now.)  The good news is that I didn’t have either. But the scare made me realize I needed to take my health seriously. ​

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That’s when I began learning the tools to manage stress. This was huge for me. Managing stress not only helped me stop emotional eating, but it also completely changed my overall quality of life. The cravings that once ruled my life began to lose their grip.

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Through lifestyle changes, mindful eating, and stress management, I lost all 74 pounds in ten months. I went from a size 18 to a size 4. My cholesterol is now 135. My bad cholesterol went down 103 points.
My blood pressure is normal, and I feel healthier and more alive than I ever imagined possible.

 

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