Taking Ownership of My Health

My health journey began in January 2021 when I was totally sickened by a picture taken of me at our church's Christmas party in December 2020. I did not recognize myself. It was a wake-up call for change.

Over the years, I knew that my weight had been creeping up, but it wasn't until I took a long look at the picture did I see how much I had gained. I realized it wasn't about how I looked in the picture but about how the excess weight affected my health. My Fibromyalgia symptoms, frequent migraines, and emotional lows were taking me down a deep, dark path toward clinical depression that I wasn't sure I could escape if it continued.

Throughout my life, I struggled with bouts of depression and was prescribed various antidepressants. These medications improved my mental health but almost always led to weight gain. As I got older, it became more and more challenging to shed the pounds. I also knew that my weight gain came from self-medicating with "comfort food," which gave temporary satisfaction but had long-term consequences on my health.

I began to think about my family's history of premature death. Diabetes, heart and kidney disease, Cancer, and addiction led to my parents' death in their sixties. The realization that both of their deaths came from self-destructive choices forced me to begin taking ownership of my health.

One of those changes involved doing something I was initially resistant to do, which was getting back on an antidepressant. However, after a family intervention, when I was confronted with how bad my depression had become, I reluctantly called my doctor. After sharing my fears and concerns with her, she and I agreed that I would take a low-dose prescribed antidepressant for six months, then reevaluate. The fear of gaining another 20-25 pounds was real, but I decided to trust the process.

As I prayed and cried out to the Lord for direction, an incredible peace filled my heart, and I heard Him say, "Angela, trust Me and trust the process and I will lead you through this journey. You have nothing to fear."

At this time, I also realized that change had to be from the inside out. It wasn't just about losing weight and feeling good, but about reclaiming my health and renewing my mind. It was also about allowing God to transform all facets of my being as I surrendered to His will.

During the same week, a lady I had been in fellowship with many years ago reached out to me on Facebook. She had no idea that her contacting me was Divinely appointed. She introduced me to a program that would lead to a lifestyle transformation.

As I began to read and understand the role food played in my life, I was amazed to learn that I was addicted to food. Most people, especially in the church, view addiction to alcohol, drugs, pornography, and smoking as deadly sins but never talk about food addiction. The reality is that when we depend on anything but Christ, we are in sin, and for me, food has become an idol.

Over the next two months, I began eating healthier, drinking water, eliminating sugar, reducing my carb intake, and others began to notice. In addition to my weight coming down and my inches shrinking, I noticed that my Fibromyalgia symptoms were disappearing, the migraines were less frequent, and my sleep quality was drastically improving. But the best part of the transformation was that I began to feel better, and my outlook on life was changing.

Over the last two years, I have lost 40 pounds, begin an exercise program, and I'm helping others find success by making similar lifestyle changes. Helping others reach their health goals and overcome their challenges is one of the most fulfilling parts of my ministry.