Choosing To Live

In August 2010, I was tipping the scales at almost 300 pounds. My health was dangerously catapulting out of control and my self esteem was at an all time low. I had lost my will to live, lost every life desire and had given up on myself.

I found myself on the boulevard of broken dreams with a heart that had been pulled through the eye of a needle. My health was staggering out of control and every organ; every fibre of me was aching and shutting down.

All factors were filtering into my professional life.

I am an entertainer/event director and also teach music & dramatic arts. I lead a very busy and strenuous lifestyle. Many of my productions involve physical activity and long periods of stamina.

I was a morbidly obese woman leading the life of a thin person, and it had caught up with me.

I had one staggering health issue after another. It was becoming obvious to all of my fellow cast-mates and colleagues that I had given up on my appearance, which was having a direct impact on my performances and a noticeable decline in student attendance.

After years of my body expanding and continued bad health; my journey took me to yet ANOTHER doctor’s office in August 2010. (There had been MANY). I underwent a 2 hour medical test for an inner ear imbalance, due to the fact that on top of pancreas issues, severe acid reflux and vision ailments; I was now experiencing horrific attacks of acute vertigo and continual nausea.

During the examination, I had a violent physical reaction that ended up with me being covered in bodily fluids, vomit and fecal excretement.

I sat up from the table, in a freaked out state of embarrassment and disorientation and cried, “Joan you didn’t sign up for this”.

I’m a single mom of a teenage son, also a performer and who had resigned himself to the fact that he was going to live his adult life without his mom.

We had been told by many health professionals that I was a walking ticking time bomb and NOTHING was hitting home, not even his tears.

After the doctor’s office procedure, I was faced with the very real choice…you either continue on this path or you choose to live. I had to drive home with bodily fluids all over me and pulled into a driveway to find my son on his knees BEGGING and screaming at me to STOP the insanity.

I had to make a choice between junk food OR My Son.

HE WON!!!

Keeping all of this in forefront of my mind, over the next few weeks, I was sidelined preparing for a music festival that I run; all the while realizing as the days passed and with every tick of the clock, I was inching closer to death.

I was in agony both physically and emotionally until the morning of August 27th, which was the first day of the Rock of Ages Festival in Brantford Ontario. I was not only the festival director, but also the Grand Pubbah of the entire weekend and I needed to perform.

Something happened on August 27th, 2010, a moment that I cannot adequately put into words.

The proverbial “AHA” moment.

After being offered a slice of fruit from a friend, also on their own weight loss journey; something inside of me snapped. The light-bulb went off in my soul. From one friend’s offer to share a banana, came the symbolic realization that the answers I had been seeking were not within anyone else, but ME!!!

Whether it was just the realization of so many people depending on me, or my brother John reaching from heaven but at 6pm on August 27th, I WOKE UP!!!

I left the hotel to go home to change and I walked upstairs to my bedroom, stood in front of the mirror and I vowed from that moment that I would NEVER EVER look OR feel like this again.

THIS time, I was listening.

And when I walked back into the hotel…

My Journey Began!!!

So…on August 27th, 2010, I started on a health and wellness journey which has resulted in me turning my entire existence around.

I have lost an incredible amount of weight and NOW I an inspiring others to do the same.

I am back dancing, I am back performing, I am back acting, I am back teaching and I am back LIVING.

I have reinvented myself and have totally transformed ALL of my life. I look and feel ALIVE and am the healthiest I have in 20 years. I’ve started up my own motivational weight loss group/blog called THINspiration and I’m hosting a Phenomenal Women Expo in Brantford to celebrate health & wellness and all things FEMININE.

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Joan-Minnery-THINspiration/198315003535454?sk=app_2309869772

A year ago, I was at the end of my rope; NOW I’ve let the rope go and have hitched my wagon to a star and the sky IS the limit.

I no longer weigh almost 300 pounds. And while my journey is FAR from over, I Am Winning!!!

No gimmicks, no pills, no surgery, no crazy diet plans like eating hot dogs one day and strawberries the next. I did this all through personal strength, stamina, hard work, and physical exercise.

Simply…I Put Down The Fork & Got Moving!!!