Connie's Life Map

Thirteen year old Connie had recently gained more than 200 pounds. She was afraid to find out how much weight she had gained.The last time she stepped on the scales she weighed 154 pounds. She had a lot of friends then. Now she was afraid of making friends because she was fat and ugly. She did not want to step on the scales. She was now a teenager and not ready to be one. She had long blond straggly hair and did not comb it. She was not want to go to school.

Connie felt she no longer controlled a map of her life. She didn't have immediate goals, only long-term ones. Right now her main focus and interests were on eating too much, not getting enough sleep, and not caring about how she looked. She only ate unhealthy food, not enough fruits and vegetables. She could not overcome her poor eating habits. She didn't know how to have fun. She felt nothing in life could make her happy and had a low self-esteem. Connie did not look around her and see the beauties in life. She did not love herself and could not see how anyone else could love her because of how she looked.

She thought her family needed to move to a place where she could meet someone who would help her have a better outlook on life. Her family did not live anywhere near children. She needed to live life through the eyes of a child. Before Connie had gained more than 200 pounds, she had enjoyed ballet and gymnastics.

Her family did not move, but when she enrolled in ballet and gymnastics classes, she came across two thirteen year old girls, a six year old, seven year old, and a eight year old girl. These girls had not gained as much weight as Connie. The two thirteen year old girls, named Sabrina and Leilani had gained 140 pounds, and the six to eight year old girls, whose names were Josephine, Victoria, and Maxine had gained 75 pounds.

These five girls noticed Connie always looking down instead of up when she walked. They got her to look up and told her just because she had gained more than 200 pounds, she was still a good person and should not hate life. They encouraged her to say out loud every day she was a good person and to believe she was.

Each of the girls made a goal to walk three to five miles before their ballet and gymnastics classes. They would also encourage each other to eat more fruits and vegetables, no sweets, and drink fruit drinks. The five girls hugged Connie and shared tears with her. Each of them told her they loved her. They set a goal to lose one third of their weight in the next four months. They would check on each other's progress. These six girls, whom looked different than the rest of the girls in their ballet and gymnastics classes because of their weight were best friends.

Connie now had a better outlook on life. She always combed her long blond hair and held her head up when she walked. She felt if girls who were overweight like she was could love her, those who are healthy and hadn't gained a lot of weight could love her too. Walking three to five miles each day and eating better helped them lose part of their weight. These six girls worked hard in their ballet and gymnastics classes..They started walking five to eight miles a day. In four months' time each one had accomplished their goal to lose one-third of their weight.

They made a goal to work on losing the rest of the weight they needed to lose in the following four months which they did. Connie vowed to never let herself gain that much weight again or feel bad about life again. She would not have to be afraid to step on the scales.

June 6 and 7, 2023