In 2014, I decided. A decision to take charge of my health and transform my life. It wasn't easy, and it certainly wasn't an overnight success story. But as of today, I have lost 100 pounds. I may not be where I want to be just yet, but I am certainly not where I used to be. And that, my friends, is worth celebrating.

So, together, let's continue this journey of taking care of our health. Let's do it not just for ourselves, but for God, for our families, and for the powerful testimonies we carry within us. As Proverbs 25:27 reminds us, "It is not good to eat too much honey, nor is it honorable to search out matters that are too deep." And let's not forget Proverbs 17:22, "A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." Let's embrace the joy, the laughter, and the zest for life that comes with caring for our bodies, for we are fearfully and wonderfully made.

Then came the second pregnancy, but unfortunately, it ended in a heartbreaking miscarriage. That's when my life took a sharp turn. We discovered that the complications from the first birth had made it incredibly difficult for us to have any more children. It was a devastating realization. Countless surgeries, 10 pregnancies, seven miscarriages, three live births, and one loss later, I found myself weighing in at a whooping 300 pounds.

Living in pain and misery had become my norm. I was tired, physically and emotionally drained. Deep down, I knew that if I wanted to be there for my two precious children as they grew up, something had to change. It was time for me to reclaim my identity as a woman, not just a mother or a baby-machine.