WEIGHT LOSS STORY

Carrissa Merchant

Before

Carrissa

After

Carrissa After

 

NOT JUST CUSTOMERS BUT FRIENDS
As a little girl, my mother always joked, because I loved taking pictures. If there was a camera I was always in front of it. As an adult, this was not the case. I got married quickly out of high school to my high school sweetheart. All thru high school I was very athletic, could eat whatever I wanted so food was never an issue. I was 190 lbs when graduating…which I thought was fat, but the doctors always said that was a good weight for my height and build. My husband and I ate when or whatever we wanted he never gained weight, me well this was sadly not the case. I was happily married to a wonderful man who desired to make me happy, but inside I was dying. I had 2 years of very tragic deaths topped with other heartbreaking news. I felt I had reached my end, I felt like life was pretty much sure to do me in. I had reached my top weight of 288 lbs so this is where my journey begins the year 2004. I had a little boy, someone to live for other than me I decided I wanted to be healthy I wanted to quit feeling dead, I wanted to live and I mean really LIVE.

I quit smoking after smoking for 13 years, and after trying many different FAILED diet attempts unsuccessfully, my friend invited me to come with her to The Karate Dojo. I thought ok it’s free I will go and try it but there is NO way I will ever be able to do this. Walking in feeling slightly uncomfortable, and intimidated by this little bald headed, long goateed man, it was much more than I had anticipated. As intimidated and embarrassed as I was to be this big, never did he make me feel incapable of doing this, if anything he was always encouraging and uplifting. I would be doing leg raises and could only do 4 and he would always say GREAT JOB!  When I felt I was at a weight loss stand still,  Sensei always sat down and said what can I do to help you reach your goal, what can I do to help you. After 2 years of staying in the Dojo, my life got busy and I fell out, I gained 30 pounds of the 88 pounds I had lost back. Then life settled down my children had gotten older. One impromptu day I was eating at Zesto’s with my mom and decided I would walk over to the Dojo after being gone for 2 years. I was nervous not knowing what to expect but really it felt like I was walking back in after only being gone for a day. Sensei remembered my name, made me feel confident and never made me feel bad for leaving, or even bad for gaining weight. I contemplated joining back up. After 3 days of thinking and contemplating I took the plunge, I wanted to only loose the 30 pounds I had gained back, never knowing that I would loose more and gain MUCH more. Since coming back I have lost 50 pounds and I have started karate, (something I thought I would never be capable of doing. Remember I was the girl that had trouble doing 4 leg lifts), I have gained so much self awareness, confidence and determination to succeed. I focus on the definite and not the “what ifs.” I have realized that life is full of possibilities; more importantly I am full of capabilities that I never even begin to imagine. My confidence level is still not what I would like it to be, on some days I still see the 288 pound woman looking back at me and I may never be as confident as I would like, I still don’t like the camera as much…but my abilities are stronger, my determination is stronger, my HEART is stronger, and on a good day I may just pose for a picture. I have learned I will NEVER GIVE UP! I do still have this little bald headed; little goateed of a man yelling at me great job, or quit complaining and DO IT!!!  The day I walked back into The Karate Dojo little did I know that I would be walking back into, not just a fitness program but also a family of sorts.

The people at the Dojo support you, make you smile, make you laugh, and they encourage…they are FAMILY.  It may be dysfunctional at times, but aren’t all families?  I will FOREVER thank you Sensei; for being the person you are and having such a wonderful heart to care for us.

We are not just your customers, but your friends.