I began gaining and losing weight in my 30s. At the age of 39 I was diagnosed with breast cancer. I was already 30 pounds overweight. After the mastectomy I stopped seeing myself. The weight packed on ,sometime stabilizing for a couple years at a time. I finally began trying this diet ,that program and I think I bought every book on "the way to eat " that hit the market. I never stuck with the program very long and if "the way to eat "worked I don't know because half the books I never read. I would look in the mirror and say to myself not bad but I was only looking at my face never my physique.

In the summertime I would take walks with my grandkids, so the first nice day we set out. I walked across the street and had to come back due to the pain and burning in my legs. each step I took was like screws in my hips being tightened. The pain had been there a long time but I didn't move much so I didn't feel it as much as I did that day.

The pain kept getting worse so I ended up going to this doctor who finally sent me to a pain specialist. He immediately wanted to start shots in the nerves that were entrapped. I refused that for a bit so he gave me muscle relaxers, pain pills and Valium to take when I wanted to start the shots. The idea of pain pills and muscle relaxers didn't sit well with me but neither did the idea of shots in entrapped nerves. I agreed to see how that would work. He scheduled me to come back in six weeks unless I was ready for the shots then I could come at any time. In that six-week. A lot happened. First I spoke out that I was just meant to be fat and I was done worrying about it. After all I've tried everything, right? Ha.

I ran into a girl I had known in school she didn't know me. When I told her who I was she said ,"My we all look so different "I thought you don't but I do.I kept thinking of that statement and missing the summer activities with my grand-kids. A couple days later I asked my husband to get the number to that weight-loss deal.

I told myself I'll give this a month. In that month I went to the pain doctor again able to say let's wait on the shots again because I'm trying to lose weight. He scheduled me to come back in four weeks. By then I had lost weight, pain gone, no pills, no creams and definitely no shots.

The obvious signs of change had begun but there were changes taking place that couldn't be seen. just as pounds and inches were melting away so were the dark places of my heart.

Coach Monica Hemming can bring a Bible study I must say !all the accountability and teaching about the food and body and spirit is amazing. It is what everything else out there lacks. Just as God drew me to him when I was ready, he drew me to grace and strength when I was ready. That's the thing I tell people first when they asked me what I'm doing I say, "you have to be ready".

I've been told I seem different; I seem happier. Someone even said I was glowing. "more of you less of me "was my prayer for a year before I begin this. God has delivered in every way. Oh I need more of God every day. I know my journey isn't over yet.

My eighth-grade teacher wrote in my autograph book, "to thine own self be true". I've always remembered that and pondered it. Never has it been more true than during this journey especially the last couple months. It's one of the areas I've always lacked - self truth.

For me this journey has been about obedience, another major lack. But God knew the past lessons and failures in obedience were leading me here. His time is perfect. He is faithful and I am thankful for his timing ,his faithfulness, for his truths. I am thankful for chains broken, and for all Coach Monica's efforts and what grace and strength has to offer.

I am more at peace within myself and now when I look in the mirror I see me!

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* Individual results may vary.