Last week on September Success, we met Beth M. Anderson. This week, we”ll meet Alana Faulk. Alana is the survivor who beat alcoholism and took her life back.
Alana and I met in Women Speaker’s Association, a Facebook group dedicated to those who are trying to improve or build their speaking business. I was struck by her positive message and amazing weight loss. I couldn’t help but invite her to close out the month of September Success stories.
Q: What triggered you to lose weight?
At one 43 years old, I found myself weighing 528 pounds, and was a prisoner in my own home. I begged and pleaded with my insurance company and family doctor to approve weight loss surgery and finally got it. I lost about 230 pounds, but began to put it back on after 4 years.
At 50, I sat in the middle of my driveway on a frozen January night weighing 430 pounds, with a shattered wrist unable to pull myself up. I was a morbidly obese alcoholic, broke and alone. I sat there on my little corner of rock bottom and felt sorry for myself. I was repulsed and ashamed of what I had become. On January 15, 2011, I had an epiphany.
I was forced to face the reality of my mortality, and I changed my life forever.
Q: How did you lose it?
I joined Weight Watchers, found a psychologist who would cut her regular fee in half so that I was able to see her once a week for 3 months. The biggest change was giving up alcohol for good. Owning a nightclub made it too easy to drink almost every night. When I gave up the Jägermeister, I gave up a whole lot of empty calories and began dropping weight pretty fast and steady.
Three years later, I am clean and sober, down to 297 and still slowly losing. I am back in college after 25 years, just started a new job and have launched a writing career.
Life is very good.
Q: Share a story of one of your biggest milestones.
I can do things that I have not done in decades.
This summer, I went to the zoo and walked through the entire park. I went to a carnival and rode the Ferris wheel, happy because the safety bar closed on me. I went to the movies and fit into a regular, single theater seat. I also went out and purchased a bicycle. I have not yet found the courage to do more than sit upon the big white leather seat….but I will.
Q: How did you stay motivated when you had a setback?
Setbacks happen….to everyone. This journey has been a slow but steady one. I have two anchors that motivate me.
- The first is a worn and faded photograph I keep in my wallet of me when I weighed 528 pounds. It only takes one look at the hollow empty eyes to know I do not ever want to be in that place again.
- The second is a promise I made to my dying mother 2 short years ago. I told her that I would continue to lose weight, stay off of alcohol and go back to school. I have done all three.
I also write a very honest and straight forward blog about my journey called Pick a Struggle Cupcake. The blog has taken off like a rocket, and it keeps me accountable to thousands of fans and supporters.
I realize that have a long way to go to be considered “normal” but I feel pretty spectacular right now!
It’s a pleasure to share your journey, Alana!