When I was a teenager I always struggled with my weight. I stayed pretty active biking 22 miles on the weekends. When I was 17 I became pregnant, started gaining weight through my pregnancy. He was born by emergency c-section. At 18, baby #2 came along and then I got married at 18. Through each child I gained weight and had to have c-sections with all 4. Comfortable in my marriage, juggling working and raising children. I stopped focusing on myself and focused on my family. As years went on I got to be 355lbs by the age of 25 which was right after my 4th child was born. I became unhappy with myself and so knowing that I was done having children I started looking into ways to become active and to start losing weight. At this point it’s the weight I wanted to take off. In 2000 I lost my sister in law to breast cancer it was a tragic event for me as I was really close to her. She was 32yrs old and our youngest children were only 2. So I looked at my life and my kids and I knew something needed to be done. Their dad wasn’t very healthy and I needed to raise 4 children, knew that I needed to live for my kids. I joined a gym for the first time. I was scared and intimidated as gyms are not for fat people, or so I thought. We all start somewhere and I needed to start Now. I focused on myself to become healthier and happier for my family. In 2003 my marriage started to fall apart, alcoholism, lack of support in raising the kids and verbal/emotional abuse. I took on a 2nd job working for a fitness center and that’s where a lot of my focus and encouragement came from. Being in an industry where people help people. Overtime I heard stories from members that had gastric bypass and that they gained their weight back plus. That truly scared me. I spent 6-7 days in the gym, working 2 jobs, raising my children, later on going through a divorce and battling 4yr suicide attempts with my 3rd son. As a parent your children are the fore front of your life and making sure they know they are loved everyday. They are worth it and they have a great life. My health and fitness journey has been going 22yrs strong with a 203lbs all natural weight loss through physical activity & good nutrition. I am in the best physical shape of my life at 48. I am happy, have a positive outlook on life and I have adopted a motto to Inspire and Impact Lives in a Positive Way. I have more confidence in myself and a bigger purpose in life. My Why to live in life is to reach out to others through my story. You can do whatever you want to once you put your mind to it. June 2020 I saw a post for a competition for Ms. Health and Fitness 2020. I opened it up read it and said what the heck and entered it. Filled out the form and sent 3 pictures as requested. I got an email back almost immediately to fill out my profile and that the competition would start on July 20th, 2020. I have never competed in anything before and I said that I never would. This year I decided I needed to challenge myself and how better can I get my story out their to everyone. Each phase of voting narrowed the groups to Top 20, then a week later narrowed to the Top 15, a week later atop 10 and another week to the Top 5. I am proud to say that I made it to the Top 5 and am on my way to grasp the title of Ms. Health & Fitness 2020, being featured in Muscle & Fitness Hers magazine & a cash prize of 20k. My focus and Why do I want to win the title of Ms Health & Fitness 2020. To take my journey and to Empower & Impact people that go for your Dream. No Dream is to big. With your determination, dedication, passion, motivation, and perseverance YOU CAN DO ANYTHING YOU WANT! My advice is to find your Why & Purpose and set your Mind on it. GO FOR IT!! Your Worth it.
