‘I was so overweight I could not have kids – now I help others become fit’

A woman who could not have children due to being overweight has now shared how she managed to lose half her body weight.
Donie Lee from Washington used to weigh 362 lbs and explained that exercising once was near “impossible” for her as she could barely walk due to her weight.
She said: “I’ve never let the opinions about my size shape my self-image, however, as the pounds piled on, my weight started affecting my health.
“I noticed everyday tasks as simple as tying my shoelaces left me gasping for breath. I hit a very low point one day and ended up on the phone with my mum, crying and venting about how my size was making me miserable.
“She replied, ‘OK, so what’s our plan?’ That ‘our’ made me feel like I wasn’t in this alone. She probably didn’t even realize the boost she gave me right then.”
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Donie tried several diet plans and would lose a few pounds after a few weeks only to regain it again, but things changed for her in 2018 when her period stopped.
She said: “Becoming a mum has always been my ultimate goal, but my menstrual cycle was all over the place, and then it just stopped for nearly a year. Worried, I booked an appointment with my OB/GYN to get some answers.
“That’s when I got hit with the hard truth: my weight was messing with my cycles, and it was also putting my dream of motherhood at risk.
“My doctor laid it out pretty clearly – at this weight, pregnancy could be dangerous, even life-threatening, for me or my baby, or both. Hearing that was devastating.”
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Donie’s doctor also spoke to her about gastric sleeve surgery and eventually, she decided to undergo the procedure after struggling to lose weight on her own.
She said: “Initially, I assumed weight loss surgery was a fast and simple solution for shedding pounds with minimal work on my part. It wasn’t until after the surgery that I truly grasped the commitment required to maintain the results.”
However, once she underwent the surgery Donie said she was determined to make significant lifestyle changes so that she follow her dream of being a mother.
Donie said: “I enrolled at a gym but I felt so self-conscious that everyone was staring at me. Still, I stuck it out for almost eight months until I decided to start working out at home.
“My favorite fitness activities are jumping rope, and going for walks. I will walk two to three miles depending on the weather.”
Donie now weighs 164 lbs and has begun sharing her weight-loss journey on TikTok and Instagram on her social media @iamdonie to encourage other people who do not how to begin changing their lifestyles.
She said: ”I found it easier to set mini-fitness goals instead of high ones. Multiple mini-goals help me hit my target faster and build some confidence at the same time.”
For those just starting to get into fitness and trying to eat better, Donie said that there is no shame in struggling but it begins with wishing to become healthier.
Donie said: “Take charge of your journey, embrace each setback as a learning opportunity, and recognize your capacity for transformation. Only you can determine when it’s time to make a change in your life.”