My story is not about the 90-pound weight loss I have maintained for 8 years. This is a story of transformation. It’s a story of turning from victim to victory, from misery to miracle.

I share my ?before? and ?after? pictures with you to inspire you to believe that change is possible, and you can make it happen in your life too. And I’m not talking only about weight loss; I’m talking about true inner healing.

Growing up unhealthy

I used to sneak to the kitchen in the middle of the night in total darkness so nobody would wake up. I?d eat chocolate spread by the spoonful, and then quietly wash the spoon and put it back in the kitchen drawer so no one would notice. I didn’t realize how wrong this was.
My mom put me on my first diet when I was 7 years old. I felt insecure, unloved, and unsupported. I internalized deep shame about my body and the way I looked. I went to food for comfort and love. The more sugar I ate, the more I craved. As a teenager and a young adult, I had no control over what and how much I was eating. I had no idea what was wrong with me.

My healing path

Years later, depressed, unhappy, and married with 2 kids, I discovered Reiki and Meditation. I had become used to numbing my feelings with food. With these new discoveries, I learned for the first time in my life to feel safe just sitting quietly and looking within. Giving Reiki to myself gave me the energy I needed to heal. My eyes were opened to how I was keeping myself over-busy and over-stressed to avoid dealing with the pain. I could finally see the light at the end of the tunnel.

The turning point

My mother had her first heart attack when she was 55 and she passed at 65. It was at her graveside that I had an epiphany: either I set aside some of my responsibilities and obligations and start to take care of ME, or I will end up just like my mom. But I needed help. A random conversation I had at my mom’s funeral led me to 2 books that changed my life. These books, along with Reiki and Meditation, set me on the path to true healing.

When you know better, you do better

I had no idea that I have an addiction to food. I had no idea that there is a biogenetic condition of the body that creates physical cravings. I didn’t know that just like the alcoholic?s craving for alcohol, I have a craving for refined foods.
I didn’t know all that until I read Kay Sheppard?s books: Food Addiction: the Body Knows, and From the First Bite. (http://kaysheppard.com/)
Discovering that I have an addiction to refined foods led me to find a healthy food plan, a healthy support system, and a holistic program of recovery. Giving up sugar, flour, and wheat gave me my sanity back. I lost 90 pounds. Giving up sugar cleared my brain, making me focused and free to look within. I started changing the way I felt about myself and about the world.
I created a lifestyle that supports my addiction: Following Kay’s food plan, attending group meetings for support, creating a daily routine of prayer and meditation, reading inspiring materials to support my journey, exercising, and being of service to others.

What I’ve learned

I’ve learned that losing the weight was not the ?end all, be all.? The weight I was carrying was just a symptom of my stress level and unhappiness. The real deal is doing the inner work. True transformation happens when you have the knowledge you need to make changes in your life. When you get the right support and you change your thoughts and beliefs from the core, you begin to heal yourself. Losing the weight wouldn’t have made a difference and I would not have been able to keep it off without first changing my core beliefs, letting go of shame, and losing the feeling that I was ?not good enough.?

What I wish for you

My wish for you is that my story will inspire you to find the knowledge and support to help you do your own inner and outer work, to battle your own addictions, shame, and poor feelings about yourself. You ARE good enough. You CAN believe this.
When my mother passed, I finally gave up years of trying to do it all by myself. I finally reached out for support. I sincerely asked for help and I got it.

Have you found your turning point?
Are you ready to discover true, personal transformation?

If you feel inspired by my story and you believe that transformation is possible, I thank you for allowing me to help you.

Please share how my story has made you believe change is possible for you.