Courtney worried for her daughter...
Illustration
Courtney worried for her daughter. Lindsey was ten years old, and she was constantly looking in the mirror and telling herself that she didn't want to get fat. The incessant comments about weight lay heavily on Courtney, and she knew why. She herself was heavy: 353 pounds.
Courtney knew she had a serious problem, but her doctor was a young man who said she should just "not eat as much." Courtney was continually gaining more weight. Her stomach was flabby and it lopped over her pants. She hated it. She hated being fat, and she hated herself for it.
But she loved her only child, Lindsey, and she would do anything for her. That's why Courtney sought professional help from someone who would understand. She went to a weight specialist and paid for it herself. At first she was required only to write everything down that she ate, the time, and what her mood was. She didn't have to eat less; in fact, the doctor told her it would benefit Courtney if she tried to eat as normally as she could. She did. Then Courtney was given vitamins and minerals to help curb her appetite, but not to make her thinner. That was up to Courtney. She had to learn why she ate what and when.
With a supervised diet, exercise, and weekly counseling, Courtney began to lose weight. She was able to confront some unresolved issues left over from her childhood, which was mostly happy. Courtney realized that she didn't eat to satisfy a physical hunger; Courtney ate to feed an emptiness inside her, an emotional hunger. Lindsey also came to visit at the clinic and learned about proper food choices. She learned that she didn't have to become obese, which was Lindsey's greatest fear, and Lindsey learned how to eat to live, not to live to eat.
The two are making great progress. Lindsey is becoming a beautiful young woman who is proud of her body and takes good care of herself. She doesn't feel that she needs to be a certain size or wear certain clothes to fit in. She is learning to trust herself to be the special person she is. Courtney is also making progress. She has lost 162 pounds so far. Her goal weight is 145 pounds. She knows she will make the goal. It's been two years now, and the difference has been incredible. Courtney feels and looks much better, and is gaining confidence in herself. She is learning to take care of the body that God gave her, the body that God loves, the body that she is learning to love.
Courtney knew she had a serious problem, but her doctor was a young man who said she should just "not eat as much." Courtney was continually gaining more weight. Her stomach was flabby and it lopped over her pants. She hated it. She hated being fat, and she hated herself for it.
But she loved her only child, Lindsey, and she would do anything for her. That's why Courtney sought professional help from someone who would understand. She went to a weight specialist and paid for it herself. At first she was required only to write everything down that she ate, the time, and what her mood was. She didn't have to eat less; in fact, the doctor told her it would benefit Courtney if she tried to eat as normally as she could. She did. Then Courtney was given vitamins and minerals to help curb her appetite, but not to make her thinner. That was up to Courtney. She had to learn why she ate what and when.
With a supervised diet, exercise, and weekly counseling, Courtney began to lose weight. She was able to confront some unresolved issues left over from her childhood, which was mostly happy. Courtney realized that she didn't eat to satisfy a physical hunger; Courtney ate to feed an emptiness inside her, an emotional hunger. Lindsey also came to visit at the clinic and learned about proper food choices. She learned that she didn't have to become obese, which was Lindsey's greatest fear, and Lindsey learned how to eat to live, not to live to eat.
The two are making great progress. Lindsey is becoming a beautiful young woman who is proud of her body and takes good care of herself. She doesn't feel that she needs to be a certain size or wear certain clothes to fit in. She is learning to trust herself to be the special person she is. Courtney is also making progress. She has lost 162 pounds so far. Her goal weight is 145 pounds. She knows she will make the goal. It's been two years now, and the difference has been incredible. Courtney feels and looks much better, and is gaining confidence in herself. She is learning to take care of the body that God gave her, the body that God loves, the body that she is learning to love.
