Happy Birthday, Mom!

Today is a very emotional day for me for a couple of reasons. First of all, today is my mom's 80th birthday (happy birthday, Mom!). Secondly, today marks one year since I reached my weight loss goal, and I'm happy to report that I'm maintaining my 126 pound weight loss and I'm still in my goal size 6 :-).

Just over a year ago, my mom's health was clearly declining. Over 20 years of diabetes was taking its toll, with partial loss of vision in one eye, diminished kidney function, and reduced circulation in her feet. Her blood sugar numbers were all over the board and trying to adjust her insulin was a constant struggle; on two different occasions my dad had to call paramedics when her blood sugar got too low and she lapsed into unconsciousness, once going into seizures. Moving was becoming more and more difficult for her and my dad felt certain that Mom would be wheelchair bound in the near future, causing concern that they might have to move since navigating their home in a wheelchair would be very difficult. There were times when I wondered if my mom would see her 80th birthday.

Shortly before reaching my own weight loss goal, my parents contacted me and told me that they both wanted to start on Take Shape for Life/Medifast. They had been watching me lose weight for almost a year and after seeing my own diabetes turn around, they were hopeful that this might help my mom's diabetes, too.

Since going on Take Shape for Life/Medifast, the change in my mom is absolutely remarkable! Not only has she lost about 45 pounds (and is having a LOT more fun buying clothes these days!), she has also seen a dramatic improvement in her health. She is off of her daytime insulin (still takes her overnight dose most of the time) and her blood glucose numbers pretty much stay within normal limits. She no longer experiences the dangerous and frightening low blood sugar episodes, her eyes and kidneys have stabilized, and she just feels better. My dad used to bring a small wheelchair for Mom just about everyplace they went, but the wheelchair now stays at home because she's able to walk more easily.

I am praising God this morning because I believe that He used Take Shape for Life/Medifast to help bring my mom to this day. Without this program, only God knows if she would still be here. I know that without the program, her quality of life would be much poorer than it is today. Take Shape for Life/Medifast has not only improved the quality of her life, but may very well have extended her life. I can't even begin to express how thankful I am!

Once again, I can only wonder how different things might be if I hadn't found Take Shape for Life/Medifast when I did (I tell people all the time that God led me to this program at just the right time). I wonder how different things might be if I hadn't found the strength I needed (God's strength, not mine . . . ) to stay on the plan and get to my goal. If this had been another failed attempt at dieting, I know my mom would never have decided to go on the program.

A year after reaching my goal, I'm healthy, my mom and dad are both a lot healthier, and so are a lot of other people I've had the privilege to help. And tomorrow night our family is coming together to celebrate my mom's 80th birthday!

If my mom can do this, is she was able to learn new, healthier habits at her age, then you can, too :-)