I have watched Monica's journey unfold and as her coach, I could not be prouder. She has worked so hard and even while her husband is over in Afghanistan, she has persevered and been determined in reaching her goals. I still remember the first time I met her on group night and heard her story of how she longs to be able to ride her horse again but because of her weight, she could not at the time. Monica is not even at goal yet but has done so well, she can now ride her beautiful horse again. I loved her story so much, I wanted to share it with you all! Love, Coach April

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Monica H's Story

I can remember when I was a very little girl I loved horses to the point where I actually wanted to be one. I had a group of friends who were in my Brownie Troop 214 that also loved horses and we would coral ourselves up during recess and trot around making whinnying sounds as if we were actually horses. These childhood games grew into a deeper more knowledgeable love for the animal and eventually my daddy gave me the greatest gift a young girl could ever hope for...a pony! I was in love, his name was Dan. Dan was my man for many years! I have fond memories of running home dropping my backpack grabbing an apple and throwing the saddle on his back, jamming that cold bit into Dan's mouth almost every afternoon. We would ride like the wind. The California High Desert was our home such a tranquil mix between desert heat and Alpine breeze.

As all things do come to an end so did my Dan. I went away to college and Dan retired to a comfortable home and my dreams of riding and owning my own horse took a back burner. After marrying my husband and settling on some land here in Florida the idea of owning my own horse became a clear reality. The only difference in my heart from those High Desert rides to Florida Humid afternoons was not my age or even the fact that I had so many more responsibilities what really made me nervous to ride again was my weight. I knew how important a strong body is to have a safe ride and I knew without a doubt that I was obese. Even though I was reluctant I still pressed forward and began riding again. Every time I would climb into the saddle I always felt fear. The fear of falling, fear of looking like a, "fat girl trying to ride a poor old horse", and fear of over correcting and giving the wrong signals to my horse. Some people say that everyone feels that way, but when I was a young girl I NEVER felt that way!

I knew that riding horses was dangerous and many people have had horrible falls. Maybe it was my childlike love for the animal or just the innocence of youth that allowed me to ride without fear but I truly believe the real reason I felt no fear was because I had been in great physical shape. A few years went by and the inevitable happened, I had a tragic fall. The kind of fall that you knew was because you didn't have balance and the reason I didn't have balance was because I was riding my horse with an extra FEED bag on my back...AKA at 5'2 weighing close to 240 pounds. After that fall I didn't ride again for almost 8 months. I continued to own horses and would have the occasional ride but the fear grew stronger and stronger until most days I just felt like grooming and not even consider riding my own horses. I began to live my dream through my son who shares a passion for horses. I would watch him ride and found joy in seeing him have such a great time. At times I was jealous of him as he would ride so carefree. That jealousy began to deepen and would surface in a sickening heartache that I never shared with my husband, my son, or even the Lord. I had trusted the Lord with everything....except my health. I trusted him with my marriage, the adoption of my son, the birth of our child, and most importantly I trusted the Lord to be my only redeemer. Why was it that I did not trust him with my health?

And then.... I saw my friend Lindsay Cotton who I knew had also had her own battle with weight. She had been with Grace and Strength for about 2 months and her transformation was unbelievable. Not only her physical transformation but her spirit was GLEAMING. After much prayer and consideration my husband and I believed that Grace and Strength was the missing piece. All these years of diets, gym memberships, even Lap-Band Surgery and even though these different tools had helped me they ALL lacked a foundation on Christ. I needed Christ! I needed to focus on HIM and only HIM.; No gimmicks, no games, just the WORD and HIS people. So March 10^th 2012, I Monica Hemming, weighed in at 218.4 pounds. And today, I Monica Hemming, weigh in at 159.6 pounds. But I am not a number! I am a daughter to the KING of KINGS! The Lord is shedding my weight, HE is refining me, HE is allowing me to dream and ponder the "impossible", HE has now become myALL.

Today when I ride my horses all I think about is, "I feel you, I feel your muscles, I feel you breathe, I feel you tromp the ground and I trust that I Can Ride YOU"! Sure I may fall someday but I am no longer fixed on the fear because the shedding of my fear has been replaced with the knowledge that GOD is my GOD whom shall I fear?

And today when I ride, it's like riding for the first time!

To God be the Glory,

Monica Hemming

Stay tuned ... I'm not done yet!!

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* Individual results may vary.