A mom of two has reclaimed control of her life by dropping an incredible 200 pounds through walking and incorporating a low-carb diet. She’s now living an active life with her kids that she never had before.
Kristi Ledgerwood, 43, is a stay-at-home mom living in Dallas, Texas, with her husband, who works in IT, and their 13-year-old son and 10-year-old daughter. Ms. Ledgerwood, who has “always been heavy,” began showing signs of diabetes after the birth of her daughter. When she tipped the scales at 329 pounds in 2022, she sought medical advice.
“For years, I haven’t been able to do much with my kids because I was always in pain,” she told The Epoch Times. “My husband was really getting worried about me, so I went to the doctor.”
“I found I had high cholesterol, high blood pressure, kidney problems, [and type 2] diabetes, all in the same appointment,” she said.
After returning home from the appointment, she decided to change her lifestyle completely.
“I lost my dad and three other family members to diabetes, so it scared me enough to make the changes,” she said.
Ms. Ledgerwood was prescribed injectable medication to control her diabetes in March 2022, but the diagnosis had already hit home. She immediately swapped out fast food, soda, and simple carbs for healthier, low-carb alternatives, determined to control her blood sugar and get her health on the right path for a better future.
“I was eating fast food probably three times a week,” she said. “Honestly, I just didn’t count anything, I didn’t track anything I had. I was eating so many carbs. ... I was in a pretty deep depression.”
![[Left] Ms. Ledgerwood, before she went on a weight loss journey, [Right] Ms. Ledgerwood after she shed those extra pounds. (Courtesy of Kristi Ledgerwood)](/_next/image?url=https%3A%2F%2Fimg.theepochtimes.com%2Fassets%2Fuploads%2F2023%2F10%2F14%2Fid5510033-367418616_10168128781530092_2456628014169477009_n-1200x1200.jpeg&w=1200&q=75)
A typical breakfast for Ms. Ledgerwood now consists of cottage cheese and scrambled eggs, a breakfast bowl with sausage and bacon, or peanut butter on toasted sourdough bread. Meanwhile, her lunch comprises wraps with a protein bar, and taco bowls have become a favorite dinner option.
As Ms. Ledgerwood’s weight began to drop, the pain and inflammation in her joints also began to ease, allowing her to exercise. She then chose to walk around the neighborhood and invested in a treadmill at home. She soon hit her stride with an easy, accessible activity she enjoyed.
“I had a lot of hard days and then my weight would stall,” she told The Epoch Times. “I was like, ‘Is this all that’s going to happen? Am I going to just be stuck here?’ ... But the motivation came from, as I was losing the weight, I just felt better. That just kept me going. Plus, I just wanted to be healthy to enjoy my kids.”
It took “others to notice” the physical difference after Ms. Ledgerwood’s first 80-pound weight loss. Within just 16 months she lost a total of 200 pounds, almost 64 percent of her original body weight. Today, she maintains a healthy 119 pounds and has also seen her A1C levels, a marker for diabetes, drop from 8.4 to 4.5.
“March 2022 to June 2023, that’s the timeline of when I lost the weight,” she said. “I hit my goal weight in June. ... I’m not losing anymore, because I’m adding a few more carbs. I’m not as restrictive as I was in the beginning.”
Today, Ms. Ledgerwood starts her day at 5:30 a.m. and goes for a walk at 6:00 a.m., six days a week. She logs around 8 miles per day. Her husband and kids have been supportive and love the changes they’ve seen.
“They just enjoy me being able to do stuff with them now, because before I wasn’t able to do as much,” Ms. Ledgerwood said. “I can go on really long walks, go to the park, and swim with them. Before, I just couldn’t. I would have to sit in the car or just be sitting down all the time.”
After her lifestyle overhaul and dramatic weight loss, Ms. Ledgerwood even shocked members of her extended family with her transformed appearance at her niece’s wedding on Sept. 23.
It was “crazy,” she said. “I first got there, and there were some family members who didn’t know who I was, and I had to reintroduce myself. I was just proud, honestly, but I know I’ve come a long way.”
Ms. Ledgerwood is planning to have a tummy tuck—to remove the excess skin left behind from her massive weight loss—in February 2024. Eventually, she plans to have an arm lift to remove excess skin on her arms. She hopes her journey will encourage others to see that change is possible.
“It just takes a lot of commitment and dedication,” she said. “There’s definitely going to be a lot of hard days, but it’s so worth it.”
