Welcome! Here's a Little About Me- I'm Happy You're Here.
"My personal story of transformation gave me a platform- for a few minutes. However, the calling on my life to help other's find true freedom is what keeps me still on it, ten years later! The world needs to know- Diets don't work and self-esteem will never be found on a label as a size in a pair of blue-jeans..."
I was born in South Florida on January 30th, 1972. Yep, I’m officially 39 and holding! My parent’s are Jerry and Sherry Parrish. I also have a younger sister and two younger brothers. You may have just figured it out, I’m the oldest... And because of my birth order, I’ve referred to myself as the “golden child” since I was a young girl. While my parents still laugh about it, my siblings don’t seemed as amused. I suppose they can’t handle the truth (of course I’m kidding- Christy, David and Michael)
At about eight years old was when I first began to notice I was “different”. It was in the second grade when a little friend of mine asked why my legs were so big. I responded, “I’ll ask my mom”, and later when I did, she told me we are all “different” and that was that! For the next few years, “different” went from being a chubby child to over-weight adolescent. Eventually, I went from heavy teen to obese adult. Over several years, one pound at a time, I watched the scale go up and up. Sure, I tried diets. I think all of them. Except maybe the Cookie Diet. I was smart enough to figure out cookies had gotten into this mess, probably making them a main staple wouldn’t deliver much weight loss. I look back and can remember countless programs and plans I tried. It makes me tired to this day just trying to remember them all. I always got results. The same ones. Frustration and misery.
At 21- I finally got there! That is to the 300 pound mark. The good news: I was in love and had a great guy who wanted to marry me. The bad news: I had to find a size 26 wedding dress. I’ll never forget feeling sorry for myself as I looked in the mirror one last time just before I walked down the aisle. All I could think was, everyone in that church is going to wonder why I didn’t lose weight for my big day. And only I would know the truth. It wasn’t that I didn’t care, I just couldn't do it alone. Eventually I found a good excuse (or so I thought) to put my struggle on hold. I became pregnant with our first child. Instead of attempting to shed the weight after she was born, I decided pregnancy was easier. In those five years, I had three children, Ashley, Kayla and Jake. Too busy to try to lose weight, I put on lots of make-up and a happy face to mask the pain. But everyday I woke up, no matter where I went, I felt the paranoia that other’s could see I was hiding behind humor and a pseudo overly- happy disposition.
It was just after suffering a miscarriage and emergency gall-bladder surgery, that I found myself lower than I had ever been, driving alone in a car. In between sobbing and screaming, I decided to do all I could, I prayed. God, if you care, I’m done. Really, I’m done! Lord, I’m over this pain. I can’t live like this another day. Either let me die or help me change, but please don’t let me stay like this. I need your help. I have nothing left. As I calmed down, I heard these words in a whisper, “You’re not being the best you can be”, over and over. It was the closest thing to a Ten Commandments-Charlton Heston- moment I had ever experienced. And immediately, I saw myself and my weight problem in a brand new light. Indescribible peace was immediate. In those moments, I knew I would never be the same- I knew I would lose the weight- and I knew I would be a crusader for the power of prayer!
It was surrreal because at the same time I didn't feel like I needed to go out and loose lots of weight in record speed. What was happening was much, much bigger. I was embarking on a new life-long journey of simply living with one focus- To be better and live better each day! This took the pressure off me to perform well on a diet, and instead this new-found "weight loss plan" offered me the assurance I would eventually get there... All I had to do was make better choices than the day before.
The simplicity of what God showed me was something I knew the world was missing. Even sitting in my car, at over 350 pounds, I knew beyond a shadow of a doubt that the weight was already lost, the war was already won, and God was going to use me as a mouthpiece to show others the Way...to true freedom.
And from that day on, despite lots of circumstances out of my control, family illnesses, personal injuries, family vacations, food-filled holidays, even having a fourth child, and lots more challenges along the way, I have stayed the course. I can honestly say that I no longer live in fear of being fat again. I have accepted the love I longed for, and it conquers any doubt or discouragement I may encounter along this road less traveled. All the power I need to be fit and healthy lives within me.
Today, my life’s passion is to help other’s have hope. Not in simply reaching their goal weight, or becoming more fit, but hope in their future. In fact, it’s the reason why I keep writing books and offering solid web-support and advice. I feel blessed that my pain has now produced other changed lives. When you think about it, nothing could be better than knowing your darkest moments could one day provide a powerful light!
I am honored you have taken the time to read my story- but I want you to ask yourself this question:
Is it time for "your story" to begin?
