Macaroni Kid Family Fitness loves to celebrate moms and dads who have taken the leap to better health because a healthy parent is a major step towards a healthy family!
Want to share your journey with us? Send an email to jennys@macaronikid.com answering the seven questions below, include an image, and you could be our next featured parent!
What is your name and what town are you from?
Becky and I am from Naperville, Illinois.
Who makes up your family?
There are 5 of us. My husband Frank, who was my college sweetheart. We got married in 2000. My oldest son, Dominic is 12 and was diagnosed with ADHD at an early age. In the middle is Frankie who is 10 and Grace, the youngest, who is 7.
Briefly, tell us your struggles.
My biggest struggle is, when I got married, Frank committed to a healthy wife. We didn't know I would one day be diagnosed with multiple sclerosis (MS). I struggle with my kids seeing me sick or my then four-year-old having to give me a shot. Some days my kids want a mom who can run in sand and push them on a swing. I struggle because at school I sign up to help with room parties and a few weeks later I decline helping in case I'm not well. I struggle with the fear of waking up one day and never walking again. I struggle that I won't be able to run with my grandchildren. The bottom line is, I struggle with fear, not knowing and not being in control of my body. However, in the end, I know in my heart that I have MS but MS will NEVER have me!
What was the turning point that made you change the way you care for yourself?
My first turning point was being diagnosed and thinking my husband should leave me. It wasn't fair to him. My next turning point was realizing how much Frank loves me and that I needed to let him in and be with me. Another turning point was realizing my love of scrap-booking was one of my best MS therapies. My last turning point was when I told myself, "You are a wife, you are a mom, you are a daughter, you are a sister, you are a Godmother 5 times!" So I made a list of what I would change or better in my life and picked one at a time to fight. I started small, like making all of the beds every day. I did things I knew I could accomplish and right away I felt more confident. Then I decided to tackle the hardest challenge on my list which was weight loss. I knew losing weight would help me physically and lessen the pain in my legs and feet. However, what is not a struggle, is wanting to feel healthier!
What actions did you take to become healthier?
I had been going through steroid treatments and I blew up to almost 300 pounds. My legs were in extreme pain and I just had to take control. I had been over weight my entire life and I did not know how to eat right. I knew I had to do a change in lifestyle as opposed to going on a diet. I am not able to exercise much so I had to work on making better food choices. I switched to water and started watching what I ate. Over time, I didn't need as much of the bad foods I used to eat. Fifty pounds came off and my exercise increased because my pain lessened. I then wanted to eat healthier because I was feeling so good! I now weigh 183 and have lost 115 pounds! One of the biggest challenges was learning it's okay not to finish everything on my plate and the importance of water.
How have you implemented (or plan to) your new habits with your family?
I put out fruit instead of junk. I got everyone to stop drinking juice and pop by giving them water as an only option. Having my kids walk with me was great exercise for them. I remind myself that I can't change the past, so I let go and move forward! That is how I am trying to help my family: by teaching them that we are not perfect. We make mistakes. The important thing is you know to forgive yourself and make better choices the next time.
