We're kicking off Erica's Weightloss Success Story with a few words from her Weightloss and Lifestyle Coach - Monica Hemming

"I have had the pleasure of watching my sweet friend Erica transform her mind,body, and soul over this last year into the "Athlete" she has always wanted to be! Being along with Erica on this journey of Finish Lines and medals around her neck and hearing about how she loves the taste of fruit and enjoys cooking for her husband...to say that it has been an honor and a pleasure is an understatement! Praise be to God!" - Monica

---

Erica's Weightloss Story - In Her Own Words

This journey with Grace and Strength has changed my life more than I could have ever imagined.  Through growth and education I have taken back my life.  I am living life for the first time.  I have taken back my dreams, I have taken back my health, and most importantly, I have taken back the mission that God has placed on my life.

When I began this journey over a year ago "I was a single, 28 yr old woman who had given up on ever finding "the one"...I was a single, 28 yr old woman who had given up on ever finding "the one" and had mourned the loss of ever being carried over the threshold if I ever did get married.  After all, no man could have lifted me.  That silly tradition may not seem like much to many but to me it was something I had dreamt of since childhood. A very close friend who had secretly loved me for years decided to make his move and joyfully, I can report the rebirth of that dream.  I had lost over 100 pounds and was almost to the end of my journey at the time of my wedding and my husband happily (and easily) lifted me in his arms and carried me into our home.  It was a moment I will never forget and will always be thankful for.

This journey has introduced me to what it means to be healthy.  I now know what it feels like to run across a field and not be winded. I know what it feels like to ride a roller coaster IN A REGULAR SEAT. I have been zip lining. I have been the "cute friend" at a party. I no longer have anxiety about being too big to fit in a space or being too heavy for a chair.  I can go shopping with my friends and be able to buy more than earrings or a necklace. I can actually try on clothes and amazingly a "large" is too big.  I actually WANT to be active.  I FEEL healthy.  I eat real food instead of drive through meals and processed things that pretend to be food.

Like the dry bones, my life has been resurrected.  My mission from God has been reborn.  I am called to be a foster parent and because of Grace and Strength I can now be active with my kids.  I can go all day at the water park. I can tackle Disney World and not think twice about my feet hurting or my back aching.  My kids can be confident that I am healthy enough to do things with them. Home Missions is my focus right now but I have been on several foreign mission trips.  On my trip to Ecuador, I remember hearing a child of about 6 years old refer to me as "gorda." For those who don't know, that means "fat lady" in Spanish.  The little girl had no idea that I understood what she said but that moment was the beginning of the opening of my eyes as to how others see me.  I was too big to be effective for the kingdom of God.  My weight was a distraction to what God was trying to do.  That little girl and the ones she was talking to were focused on the American that came to visit them but had so much excess and so little self-control that she was obese.  I was ashamed at that moment and even now when I think about it.  Those children who had so little were looking at someone who had so much and abused it.

My personal motivation statement has been "Say yes to life." I chose this statement because for so long I had to say no. My adventurous spirit said yes, but my obese body said no. "My adventurous spirit said yes, but my obese body said no." "No, I can't do that because I physically can't carry myself up that mountain." or "No, I can't do that because I won't fit in the seat." I can now say "Yes. I can and will do all of the things my heart desires because God has resurrected my life." Through this journey I have learned that I must say yes to life daily.  I must daily choose to use my body in a way that will support my dreams, my health, and the mission that God has for my life.  The Grace and Strength Lifestyle has truly been a miracle sent from the Lord.  I will forever be grateful.

---

---

* Individual results may vary.