Success Story: Shannon Johnson “The Me Within”

Starting a weight loss journey can be very tough and quite hard on you when you feel like you’ve tried everything. You’ve tried things over and over again and it never worked. But then one day you wake up and realize it’s due time to start. Unfortunately this wasn’t the case for Shannon.

Shannon had to sit in her doctor’s office and hear the words that she had kidney disease …  here is the beginning of her story:

I was diagnosed with kidney disease in June 2009 seems like only a short time ago.  Only 1 month after having my 2^nd child. Doctor said I HAVE TO lose 100 pounds. The effects of living a healthy lifestyle could greatly delay if not stop the effects of this disease.

OH MY GOD!  Tears flew from my eyes.

Now, knowing I was dyeing wasn’t what scared me.  It was watching my mother and best friend be tortured by this same incurable illness that was so devastating. I am telling you she would gain almost 75 to 100lbs of water weight in one week. Then later be rushed to the hospital forced fed medication to decrease the amount of swelling and water in her body. My mother and I called it the dejucier trying to keep a great sense of humor about it.  She died June 12^th, 2004. Almost 2 weeks after my sister’s birthday, I was 5 months pregnant with her first grandchild whom she so desperately wanted and I was going to get married.

Now don’t get me wrong…  After I found out …I had my moments of DEPRESSION. Yes… YES… I took that moment of reflection of myself and most of all what would my family do without me? It took 3 months before I could start telling people about my diagnoses.  After I found out all I did was yell at my husband and fight with myself. I sat on my computer on the coach just wasting away.  All the time I knew if I didn’t get it together I would suffer the same fate.

CONFESSION COMING

Read the rest of Shannon’s Story Here

Lately Shannon has been posting on Facebook regarding doctor’s visits that she’s been having. I was sad tonight to read that they are  now checking her for cancer — I’m not sure all the details but I know that Shannon is a fighter and she will NOT let this get her down.  — (Shannon I am praying for you every night that this is not the case, have Faith in God that he will get you through all of this).

From what I’ve seen from Shannon she has been nothing but positive in every single way from her own journey to supporting and cheering on others here in our group. Shannon has been a true warrior and I’m so thankful to have met her.  She’s so pumped for the next challenge and when I do my exercise I can hear her yelling at me, “Get ‘er done Vera.”  It’s the same way with other people here at the site, I absolutely LOVE to see the support flying around here and facebook like crazy. You are all so awesome!

If you haven’t thought you could do it yourself, let me tell you to stop that thought right there in it’s tracks! You can do ANYTHING you set your mind to do! And when you have God on your side ANYTHING is possible!

Right?! Got it?! Good!

So let’s get onto Shannon’s wonderful, spectacular, driven, FANTASTIC results!

I think the pictures and results speak directly to us, ya think?

Shannon is amazing and she has grabbed a hold of my heart, I love her to bits already and I hardly even know this spectacular woman! Here’s what Shannon has said about her experience here with Plus Size Bloggers:

September 7th, 2010

I am so excited today. I actually lost 16 pounds his summer and made it into the Plus Size Bloggers Contest.  I really want to thank Plus Size Bloggers for this contest it really has help me stay motivated and when Vera took over I felt really connected with her. Thank you So Much Plus Size Bloggers

Here’s what she said today in her post about the next contest:

Thank you Vera without you I don’t know if I could do this! YOU ARE AWESOME!

Shannon, YOU are AWESOME! I cannot wait to see how you do in the next challenge and you have also put a serious FIRE under my butt!  Enjoy your health, wellness, and positive mindset — YOU are an inspiration to me and many others!

Let me leave you with Shannon’s funny video that she created, can’t wait to see more Shannon!   ((virtual HUGS & LOVE out to you!))

P.S. Do you have a SUCCESS story you’d like to share with us? We’d LOVE to feature you too! Sign up to the challenge HERE! (You have until Monday October 11th, 2010)

- Vera (Currently eating sugar free Halls for her sore throat)