Jennifer Gillam was 28 years old when she had an epiphany. The mother of two had just given birth to her second child and was playing with her son on the floor.
To her dismay, Jennifer found that her weight was hindering her so much, she could not get back up. Although her husband was there to assist her, Jennifer felt it was time to make a positive change in her life.
The mom from Carshalton, London joined Weight Watchers and decided to publicly share her journey with others.
While weight loss is a deeply personal thing, we think it's worth mentioning that it's every person's individual choice. Beauty isn't contingent on a number on a scale. News anchor Katie Fehlinger already proved that when she took pride in her big pregnant belly, rather than allowing viewers to bully her over the weight gain.
"Some people said I wouldn't do it and shouldn't be thinking about losing weight with two young children, but that just spurred me on," Jennifer told DailyMail.
Suffering from symphysis pubis dysfunction, a condition that painfully swells the tissues and joints, Jennifer knew weight loss would not be easy.
It was through the support she got from the weight loss group she created that she was able to find what works for her.
See Jennifer Gillam’s weight loss journey below and let us know in the comments: do you think moms are sometimes unfairly judged for their post-baby bodies?
When 28-year-old mother Jennifer Gillam was playing with her daughter on the floor she noticed something strange: she couldn't get up. It was in that moment, where playing with her daughter became an impossible feat, that she decided to make a positive change in her life.
"I was like a beached whale. I didn't want to be stuck on the floor at 27," Jennifer told DailyMail.
Jennifer had just given birth to her second child without dropping the baby weight from her first.
"I didn't want to leave the house or be seen by others. I felt embarrassed and judged and couldn't even look in the mirror at myself without feeling disgust and sadness, so going to a weight loss class was a big deal for me," she said.
After joining Weight Watchers, Jennifer began posting photos of herself in her underwear in a small Facebook group. She and 30 other women used the group to motivate each other to get happy and healthy.
“I set up a private group with 30 members where we all helped each other to stay motivated. I was the daily motivation for them and in return it gave me a purpose to keep going to lead by example.”
“We shared photos of our bodies and problems that were concerning us and it was an education to share food facts and body insecurities that we are all normal. I feel so proud of the people I have managed to help and it motivated me to become a Weight Watchers leader myself, which I never would have dreamed of before,” she said.
“It was painful at first but as the weight slowly came off, my mood lifted and I became more motivated,” she said. “I used to feel embarrassed walking down the road pushing the double buggy, and would always think people in stopped cars were judging me.”
Since she began her journey one year ago, Jennifer has lost 84 pounds. She hopes to inspire others with her story.
"The thought at the back of my mind is if I can touch others who are in the same position as me before but can't find the strength like I did, then hopefully I can trigger some inspiration."
While we're happy that Jennifer reached her health goals and feels confident, it's important to remember that beauty isn't something you attain or acquire — it's something each and everyone is born with. That means beauty comes in every size! With that said, it takes a courageous person to share their deepest insecurities and fears with the world.
Please SHARE if you're glad Jennifer found a way to love her body, and hope every woman learns to do the same!
