Weight Loss Story  
 
I came into this world an average size, 8 lbs even. I lived a happy, wonderful childhood but, I was always bigger than the rest of the kids and I use to get teased and called names, Natalie Fattalie still rings in my head. When puberty hit I started to slim down. In 7th grade I weighed 125 and was 5’8″. In my head I still thought I was BIG since all my friends were much smaller but I was pretty happy with my body by high school when the boys caught up to me in height and I still weighed 125.  
 
In fact I was very proud to say on my wedding day at the age of 25 I still weighed the same as I did in 7th grade 125 and still 5’8″. After two years of happily wedded bliss our first child was born. I was really surprised when Sarah was born and didn’t weigh the full 65 pounds I put on while I was pregnant. She was two weeks early and did weigh 9 lbs 5 oz. I was able to lose some of the weight and 21 months later our son Kyle was born. I only put on around 40 lbs with him since I knew I had a wedding to be in shortly after his birth. Kyle weighed in at 10 lbs 5 oz a big boy. Our last child was born 24 months later, Eric was the champ weighing in at 10 lbs 9 oz. The day I delivered him I saw 200 lbs on the scale for the first time in my life while I was standing on it. By the next day I was under the 200 mark and planned never to go there again.  
 
Since I had no plans to have any more children and I couldn’t get my excess weight off I went in search of help and joined that group down the road with the weekly weigh-ins with a friend of mine. It worked for me and I lost 32 lbs and felt great again.  
 
Over the next few years I started having some health problems and the pounds started creeping on and the doctors had no answers for me. We eventually moved to Wisconsin and I had to start all over with new doctors but they finally figured out what the problem was. I had a football size cancerous tumor in my ovary. I was actually happy to hear I really did have something and that it wasn’t all in my head. After I recovered from a full hysterectomy I started to feel better but weight kept piling on. My doctor would say that’s what happens after menopause. I was concerned that it would never stop. I mean how big can I get? I was afraid to find out the answer.  
 
So I went back to the local weigh-in meetings that worked before and after 3 months and not losing a single pound the leader suggested a nutritionist. The nutritionist gave me a plan and a few months and again not even a pound off. I started walking with a friend, joined the Gym and went 5 times a week and still no luck. I had no problem putting on pounds and they just kept coming. At my doctor visits I would ask if there was anything I could do and she had no answers for me. I gave up on the exercise and gave some shakes and lean pre-packaged meals from the store a try but every season I would have to go out and buy new clothes in a larger size. Just sitting was uncomfortable with a big belly and forget about crossing my legs. I couldn’t even cross my arms in front of me. My feet and ankles hurt when I walked around and I wasn’t my normal happy self. This went on for 7 years.  
 
When the Summer 2009 came around I was just so sick of it I had to do something. The doctor had doubled my cholesterol meds and my liver tests were not good. She wanted to add another med. I said give me three months to figure out something that would help me. I read online how this guy I knew lost a lot of weight on Medifast with the help of his coach. Years ago in the doctors office I remember reading an ad about Medifast so I got online and started researching the company. I thought this may be the answer and I wouldn’t know if I didn’t give it a try.  
 
My first week I lost 5 lbs, and I’m thinking oh my gosh. Week 2 another 5 lbs and week 3, 5 more lbs. I couldn’t believe it. My clothes were actually getting lose. Weeks 4-7 I lost 2-3 pounds and even lost 2 pounds while on vacation camping.  
 
I was talking on the phone with my Mom one day and she said I sounded really happy and I was laughing again and she wanted to know what was different. I told her I had just lost 25 pounds. She credits Medifast for getting me my “Happy Back.”  
 
At 7 weeks I made the decision that I want to tell the world about something that really works and I want to help coach them to good health so they can get their “Happy Back” too!