Do it your way...

Q: What made you decide it was time to take your health seriously? Was there a specific moment or was it gradual?
A: It was definitely a specific moment. I was walking one day and I could no longer walk,  my legs had swelled up. I was 363 pounds and in really bad shape, not just physically but mentally, emotionally, and spiritually broken. I had to sit on the ground in front of a store, pull out my phone, and call 911. During my hospital stay, testing revealed I had high blood pressure, was pre-diabetic, and had acute heart failure. I was told that if I didn't get myself together, it could lead to death. Lying in that hospital bed alone was my wakeup call.

Q: What did your journey actually look like from start to now?
A: After leaving the hospital, I researched every specialist and wellness opportunity I could find. I took advantage of every wellness perk my insurance offered and engaged a nutritionist. My doctor ran detailed testing and showed me I was borderline for almost everything. I took that as a crossroad moment. The decision I made that day would determine which direction I went. I strapped on my boots and did whatever it took to get healthy again.

Q: What path did you personally take and why did it work for you?
A: I took several paths. I had previous success with Weight Watchers, so that was my foundation. For this journey, I also tried GLP-1 medication, which I was approved for through insurance. It helped significantly with my food noise and my IBS-D. However, I discontinued it after losing about 50 pounds because I had no energy to move or work out and I felt like I was losing muscle. I decided to study the science of weight loss…  learning about BMR and NEAT, and returned to what I knew: tracking and weighing my food, cooking heartier meals, and making it a true lifestyle change. I rejoined Weight Watchers and maintained my Lifetime status.

Q: What were some things you chose NOT to do that made your journey more sustainable?
A: I chose not to starve. And I chose not to stay still. Not starving meant eating filling, healthy foods. I eat potatoes almost every day, both sweet and white. Not staying still meant understanding that movement doesn't require a gym. Walking while on the phone, walking while food cooks;  those small movements increase your NEAT and are actually more advantageous than sitting all day after one hour at the gym.

Q: What changed mentally during the process; not just physically, but in how you see yourself?
A: Every day I get up and do a little kick and dance in the mirror because I love what I see. I stopped fixating on small imperfections. I realized my body right now is someone else's dream body. I fell in love with who I am, not just physically, and I feel like I can accomplish anything. This journey taught me to deal with my problems directly instead of turning to food for comfort. It made me more confident, more direct, and more of an advocate for myself.

Q: What was the hardest part of the journey that people don't talk about enough?
A: The addiction to food and the unhealthy habits you've formed for so long. Food noise is real. For people who have 70 or more pounds to lose, it's usually not about being greedy or lazy, it's a deeper relationship with food where it becomes a crutch, a comfort, an addiction. We need to treat food addiction the way we treat drug addiction. The hardest thing is being honest with yourself about it. I've seen people blame PCOS or other conditions, and while those can contribute, they are not the reason someone is 363 pounds. Healing begins with honesty.

Q: What did your day-to-day consistency look like;  the unglamorous parts that mattered most?
A: I took six to seven months off and stayed at a friend Kristian’s home as a sanctuary. I talked to a nutritionist and a therapist every week, journaled, set non-negotiables for myself, and planned not just for the present but for the future. I was already thinking about how I would help others once I got there. It was deep work…  not surface level. This wasn't "I won't eat pizza today." This was healing.

Q: Did you have support or did you have to create it?
A: I had support as much as I allowed myself to receive it. My friends Ayesha and Miss Janie were my core,  they saw me at my lowest, my ugliest mentally and emotionally, and they were fiercely honest with me. They told me I had to lose weight and asked what they could do to support me. We have a group chat called "GOD Sent" and we check in with each other daily. God sent the right people at the right time.

Q: For someone feeling overwhelmed by all the health options right now, what would you tell them?
A: Two things: seek professional help; a nutritionist, dietitian, and especially mental health support, and be radically honest with yourself. Don't be a guinea pig for every trend. Know what is right for you. If you're not honest about your relationship with food, nothing will work long-term.

Q: What does "do it your way" look like when it comes to health and wellness?
A: It means crafting a plan that is completely sustainable for your life, not someone else's. Everyone will tell you what to do, but is it sustainable for a lifetime for YOU? For those with serious food addiction, chasing fads and trends will bring you right back to where you started, sometimes with more weight. Do it your way means knowing yourself, being honest, and building something that lasts.

Q: What are you most proud of beyond the number on the scale?
A: Finding joy and being grateful for the small things. I had to overcome a sense of entitlement… the feeling that I "should" have things because I worked hard. Now I understand that being tested has a purpose. It gives me stories to share that help others. And that gratitude? It's also what keeps the food addiction at bay. I deal with what's bothering me directly instead of running to food.

Q: What are you focused on in this next phase of your journey?
A: I’m building a community. Through MassiveShift.fit(coming soon), I’m helping women 35+ navigate their own wellness journeys with coaching and recipes. I’m also finishing my cookbook, "Don't Starve: Eat to Live," and I’m always directing people back to my book entitled: "1981: Letters, thoughts and poetry" for the poetic, raw side of this transformation. I want people to know that if I can go from a 911 call to a "kick and dance" in the mirror, they can too.