Karen lost 98 pounds

Battling for Her Health: Karen lost 98 pounds. She’s battled her weight since she was 10 years old. She’s also battled a number of serious illnesses, including kidney disease, potential renal failure, high blood pressure and PCOS. This proud mom keeps fighting and has found ways to improve her health and quality of life. Check out her story…

My name is Karen. I have struggled with my weight since I was 10 years old. At 13 years old, I was diagnosed with hypoglycemia and high blood pressure. From there, I gained large amounts of weight and didn’t know why. In 1998, I was diagnosed with Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. In 2008, the PCOS was so bad that the doctors told me that I could die. I weighed 276 pounds. They recommended gastric bypass as a last resort, because studies showed it could reset my body. The results were amazing! I lost 105 pounds, and my symptoms were gone.

I began gaining weight rapidly in March of 2014. I started getting really sick. In July 2014, went to the hospital, found out that I had renal failure and was admitted. For the next 7 days, I was tested for everything you can think of. I learned that I have is FSGS, an incurable kidney disease. I was devastated to find out 5 days later that my twins had it also. My PCOS symptoms returned as well.

In August 2014, I was on Facebook and found Wiltrina Jones. I followed her for a month and after failing to find help elsewhere, I took a chance. That day was the day my journey started. I followed her meal and exercise plans. I had some ups and down since then, but now I am 28 pounds from my goal. I am smaller than I was with the bypass surgery. I even have muscles and see a hourglass shape. I’m proof that you can take control and improve your health. I am still working on my goal to hit my ideal BMI at 150 pounds.

When I started with Coach Wiltrina in Sept of 2014, I weighed 220 pounds. My health was not stable when I started my weight loss journey. At the time, my kidneys were only functioning at 30%. They were failing and my doctor told me that I need to consider the donors list.

I didn’t know what to do. I was lost on how to bridge the gap of PCOS and FSGS [Focal segmental glomerulosclerosis is the leading cause of kidney failure in adults.] I decided to take a chance on me and go for it with the IUTBU program. I learned how to eat and balance my portions. I stopped eating salt, sugar, and fried foods. I ate more veggies and 60 oz of protein was all I could have. I did Coach Wiltrina’s exercise plan, that consists of cardio and weights 3-6 days a week. I also joined her transformation contest for that extra challenge.

Now, I weigh 178 pounds, so I lost 98 pounds total. My current kidney function is at a 2 as of Jan of 2016. Normal is my goal and that is a 1. Though I am at stage 3 for kidney disease, I am no longer on the side of renal failure. Prior to when I started with coach Trina, I was at very bad at a 16. I also had serve edema. Now, I am off the donors list and showing improvement day after day.  I am doing so good that my doctor Hi-5s me now. It took 10 months to get from a size 18 to a 10.

My advice to anyone dealing with multiple, serious diseases: Don’t ever allow what the diagnosis is to keep you from trying to improve your quality of life. Choose your life and health, no matter how bad it looks. We all have the ability to create our best life and live it. I chose to prove that my doctors reports would not be the end of Karen. Though my thoughts and habits have evolved throughout my journey, one reason WHY still remains as my number 1. That WHY is that I have to do what I have to do to show my sons, who also have kidney disease, that it is possible to get better and live a healthy lifestyle.

Instagram: @ms.blake68 (IG name no longer active)

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