Last year, I started Grace & Strength, finished it and then became a coach! Since then, I've started running and have a pretty consistent exercise routine. I totally love my life but never saw how a trip to Disney World would put such a perspective on my "new" way of life.

Early February, my hubby and I decided to treat ourselves and our 2 kids to a family vacation to Disney World. We decided to make the 16 hour drive from VA with all of our luggage and medical equipment for our special needs daughter. I'm not going to lie...our van was stuffed to the max!

We started our vacation in Disney at the Magic Kingdom, a place where I have vivid memories as a child. I knew it was so important to create those memories with my kids. So, I pushed it! Literally...I pushed my daughter (about 35lbs), her wheelchair (about 15lbs), her big oxygen tank (about 10lbs), a spare smaller oxygen tank to take while we ride rides (about 8lbs), and her emergency backpack with medical supplies and about 5 water bottles(felt like 50 lbs, but realistically probably only another 12 lbs or so)!! That is about 80lbs that I pushed through Disney World. To say I never would have made it a year ago is a huge understatement.

My hubby would offer to push and my response was always, "This is a great workout...I'll let ya know if I need you to take over!" He called me crazy and let me push! By the end of day 1, my legs and butt were sore! There were more hills and wheelchair ramps than I remembered! By the end of day 2, I'm pretty sure I was exhausted. Each night, I would collapse in our hotel like the kids did. By day 3, I let my hubby push for about the first 2 hours. I saw him sweating and could tell he was tired of it. I told him that I would take back over.

I pushed the last few days...it really was great exercise. I was thinking and contemplating on the way home. I NEVER in a million, trillion years would have been able to do that a year ago! At 200+ pounds, I would have exhausted myself and ended up riding the train all day with my kids. I thought about how thankful I was that Grace & Strength came into my life. Losing this weight has not only saved my life, but also has helped make tons of new memories with my kids. When I wasn't pushing the wheelchair, I was giving my 6 year old piggy back rides and having dance parties with Mickey, Minnie and Goofy. Without this program, my kids would have missed out on so much! The memories of those days at Disney are priceless and won't be forgotten. I thank God each and every day for G&S! I can honestly say that getting healthy on this program was the best thing I have ever done for myself and my family!

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* Individual results may vary.