Jacqueline Adan, a 29-year-old woman from California, has quite a story to share. Her life journey is so inspiring that it is worth sharing with every person on the planet. She is the perfect proof that when we want something badly, nothing can stand on our way of achieving our dreams, no matter how unreachable they seem at first glance.
She shared her motivational weight journey on her blog and attracted millions of fans.
This is her story:
“My name is Jacqueline Adan, I’m 29, a native of California, and I’ve struggled with weight my entire life.
From an early age, I struggled with my body image and despised the way I looked; the more depressed I became over it, the more I ate.
I was also angry with myself for letting food rule my life and contributing to my extreme weight gain.
No matter what I tried, it seemed like I could never maintain any sort of “diet” plan and would either wind up reclaiming the lost weight plus some, or I would give up when it became too difficult and turn to food once more.
I was always different from everyone around me because I was always “dieting” or worried about food and my body, and I was sick of it!”
“I could never eat what my friends were eating! I had given up totally by the time I started college in 2005 and just wanted to have a “regular” college life, so I started eating like everyone else and stopped caring.
My boyfriend Kevin and my sister Jenny decided that we needed to visit Disneyland, a place I have adored since since I was born, at the end of 2011, just a few months before my 25th birthday.
It’s a realm of magic and fantasy, a place where anything was possible and where dreams really did come true, a place where I was instantly turned into a princess as soon as I walked through those gates.
I reasoned that perhaps visiting the “happiest spot on earth” would help me feel better, but when we got there, I was so weak that I could hardly make it to the front gate without needing to rent a wheelchair.
I felt so ashamed that I was physically unable to walk and that I had gained so much weight that I had to use a wheelchair to move about.
When I was in a wheelchair in Disneyland, I recall feeling as like everyone was looking at me, judging me, and admiring the overweight girl on wheels who couldn’t even stand! I was humiliated!
In reality, I knew I wouldn’t fit on the rides, which crushed me, even though I told my sister and Kevin I didn’t want to ride them.
I consented to go on a couple rides that I believed I could fit on, but I overlooked one minor detail.
I noticed the turnstile as we got closer to the front of the line. Kevin and my sister both passed through, but I got stranded. I felt terrible!”
“I laughed it off once I got out, but I was overcome with guilt, shame, and embarrassment at the time. I couldn’t believe I had let myself get that huge. I went to the restroom and sobbed there.
A few days after turning 25, in February 2012, I recall knowing I needed to change—I wanted to change—when I woke up one morning.
Unaware of how drastically my life would change after making that one phone call, I chose to call Jenny Craig.
My thoughts was racing as I got ready to walk back onto the scale, but nothing could have prepared me for what I was going to see there.
Right there in Jenny Craig, I lost it and started crying. Once I had collected myself, I wiped my eyes, declared, “Ok, I can do this,” and we established a target for me to drop more than 300 pounds.
I aimed to at least reach the hundred mark. That day, as I left the center, I felt ready, resolute, overwhelmed, and terrified.
I am the type of person who will follow through on a goal if I truly believe in it. This time, nothing was going to stop me.”
Jacqueline went on to explain how she lost 100 pounds within a year with Jenny Craig as her inspiration and encouragement, as well as her family’s and friends’ support.
Her next trip to Disneyland took place some time later, but this time, Jacqueline was able to fit every ride.
Then in 2013, she visited Disneyland for a third time, but this time, she was 200 pounds lighter.
“I was still having trouble eating, wasn’t getting enough calories, which was making my migraine headaches worse, and the weight loss was still proving to be a challenge.
I started trying new meals, and I had to consciously remind myself that eating wouldn’t make me fat or gain weight. After some time, I was eventually able to turn things around and continue my change.
I started taking a “boot camp” session at “Fit For Life Solutions” in January 2015, and I absolutely adore it!”
Currently, Jacqueline weighs around 350 pounds, but she’s still attending boot camps. However, this weight loss didn’t come without other changes to her body. Sometimes, she experiences rashes, severe neck and back discomfort, and headaches as a result of the mental struggle she faces with because of her additional skin.
“Since I’m still healing from my first skin removal operation from July 28th, I’m trying not to let this stress me out too much and to keep my mind and body positive and peaceful.
This is not the end of my adventure, and I can’t wait to discover what lies ahead for me!
I still have the rest of my life to live, and I’m doing it in a way that makes me proud and no longer makes me ashamed.
Now I don’t have to worry about renting a wheelchair or trying to fit on the rides when I go to Disneyland.
In my family, there is a running joke that after everything is said and done, I will have a destination wedding, forgo wearing a bridal gown entirely, and exchange vows in a white designer bikini.
Disney once said, “Anything is possible; all you need is a little bit of confidence, trust, and fairy dust.” All of us must simply wait and see.”
With a little trust in ourselves, there is nothing we can’t achieve in life and this determined woman teaches us exactly that.
Way to go, Jacqueline.
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