When I was 23, after having my son, I gained about 74 pounds. I used to joke that my son made me fat—until one day, 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.” (Ouch! And LOL.)

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The truth was, my biggest struggle wasn’t just weight—it was my sugar addiction. I carried much shame about how much I was eating. It wasn’t unusual for me to swing by the store, secretly buy three or four candy bars, a bag of chips, and a soda, and eat it all during the 15-minute drive home. I’d 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 they kept falling asleep. I thought I might be having a stroke. 

​I also began experiencing about 11 strange symptoms that disrupted my daily life. 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—LOL), the good news was that I didn’t have either. But the scare made me realize I needed to take my health seriously—body and mind. I went to a few specialists, they couldn’t explain those symptoms, so I am still looking for answers.

My doctor did find my cholesterol was 252, with the bad cholesterol at 201. I didn’t want medication, but my doctor bluntly told me she didn’t believe I’d make any changes on my own—because I hadn’t in the past. She basically dared me, and that lit a fire in me.

That’s when I began learning how to manage stress daily—not just during a crisis. This was huge for me. Managing stress not only helped me stop emotional eating, but it also completely changed my overall quality of life. I became calmer, more present, and more peaceful. The cravings that once ruled my life started losing their grip.

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Through lifestyle changes, mindful eating, and stress management, I lost all 74 pounds in ten months—going from a size 18 to a size 4. My cholesterol is now 150 (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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