Mom’s Weight-loss Journey Inspires Healthy Cooking Habits for 4-year-old Son

By Space Coast Daily // January 28, 2020

Nancy’s 4-Year-Old Son JJ Learning a Healthy Lifestyle at the Health First Center for Child Development

BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA – It’s a devastating and deadly family health cycle Nancy doesn’t want her 4-year-old son, JJ, to ever experience.

“My mom had gastric bypass surgery, and my dad died of obesity-related issues,” Nancy said.

Even as a little girl, she was always the biggest one in the room. In seventh grade, Nancy weighed 210 pounds.

“I look back and can’t believe I ever thought that was normal,” Nancy said.

Rock bottom came in 2011 when she had to be weighed on a freight scale at a fertility clinic basement.

“I saw that 500 number and thought, ‘Oh my God, this has to change,’ ” Nancy said.

She would go on to have gastric bypass surgery and slim down to 200 pounds.

In February 2015, she welcomed a healthy baby boy, but her weight would creep back up to 350 pounds.

“On-the-go eating habits, pregnancy and lack of self-care had done me in,” Nancy said.

It wasn’t until Nancy saw a picture of herself with her son that made her have a second epiphany, but this time, she was sticking to it for good.

Through exercising and improving her eating habits, she met her target weight-loss goal.

“I’m at 160 pounds now and feel great,” Nancy said.

It’s the same dedication to a healthy lifestyle she teaches JJ at home, but he’s also learning it at the Health First Center for Child Development.

JJ and his VPK classmates recently learned from several Health First dietitians about healthy food habits.

“His favorite part was making the healthy caterpillars and eating blueberries,” Nancy said.

It truly is a team effort to help prevent the obesity cycle before it begins.

“JJ means the world to me,” Nancy said. “I don’t want him to ever have that issue and have it stopped dead in its tracks.”

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