At Age 59, I was 5'7 and 221 Pounds. If someone told me I'd be hiking the Pacific Crest Trail in Oregon in 6 months, I wouldn't have believed it. But I just did that yesterday!

In our younger years, my husband and I dreamed of relocating to Oregon. We were passionate about nature and longed to live within easy reach of hiking trails, envisioning weekly outdoor adventures.

However, life took an unexpected turn.

Over the years, I became a mother to three wonderful children. With each pregnancy, I gained around 20 pounds, and after each birth, I felt increasingly weighed down and fatigued.

Gazing at my reflection became a source of self-loathing and embarrassment.

My love for tasty food didn't help matters. At 59, prioritizing a healthy lifestyle wasn't at the forefront of my mind.

My grandchildren's enthusiasm for play waned as they realized I couldn't keep pace, they started not wanting to come over because it was no fun anymore.

Friends stopped extending invitations to social events, aware that I struggled to walk even short distances without becoming breathless.

My husband resorted to solo hikes, knowing that including me might require assistance from the hikers on the trail to make it back home.

The most painful aspect was recognizing the change in my husband's gaze. Though his love remained, I no longer resembled the woman he first fell for. I couldn't fault him for that.

Then, one day, everything changed...