Down 52 Pounds and Counting!

Two 5-pound bags of Albanese Gummi Bears sit idly on a pantry shelf in Angelique Moffett’s Southaven home – untouched but not forgotten about. What was once a guilty pleasure for the 35-year-old now serves as a daily reminder that hard work coupled with self-discipline pays off. Since starting her weight loss journey in March 2021, Angelique has gone from 199 pounds to 147. But her transformation isn’t over just yet, and it certainly hasn’t come without its obstacles.

What prompted Angelique to visit Dr. Duncan at the Delta Medical Center last year wasn’t weight gain, but her persistent abdominal pain. After running a series of tests, Dr. Duncan diagnosed her with Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS), an intestinal disorder requiring lifelong treatment, ranging from medication to stress management, cognitive behavioral therapy, and a medically supervised diet.

On top of it all, Angelique was in the midst of battling depression, the aftermath of a divorce, and her nearly 60-hour work-week as the assistant principal of Kingsbury High School.

“I stopped becoming active. I stopped socializing with my friends,” she recalls. “In addition to everything that I was going through emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, I didn’t know how to respond to my body gaining weight the way it was.”

Immediately following her IBS diagnosis, Angelique was referred next door to the Delta Medical Weight Management Center, where she met with certified fitness and nutrition coach, Rick Ellis. According to Rick, the key to sustainable weight loss goals starts with developing healthy habits. “Essentially, what we’re looking for is what are they ready, willing, and able to change?”

“In addition to everything that I was going through emotionally, spiritually, and mentally, I didn’t know how to respond to my body gaining weight the way it was.”

With Rick’s help, Angelique developed a food plan to cater to her weight loss goals while still leaving room to enjoy some of her favorite foods. Today, her diet consists of plenty of lean meats, healthy fats, low carbohydrates, vegetables, and little to no sugar. She says she no longer has the same cravings that defined her in the past, but she doesn’t shy away from the occasional Starbucks peppermint mocha.

Looking ahead, Angelique’s next goal is to incorporate more intentional exercise into her work schedule while continuing to utilize her current eating habits. “Just the fact that she’s been able to do this in a slow, gradual way….I think, for years, she’ll be able to maintain her weight and stay a very healthy, energetic, and vibrant person,” Rick says.

Angelique credits all the progress she’s made and the obstacles she’s overcome to her faith in God. “I feel like that’s the reason why I’m still here and why I’ve been able to do this,” she adds. “Without God, I wouldn’t have been able to lose this weight, nor to get through the struggles that I’ve had with depression.”

For more information or to schedule an appointment at the Delta Medical Weight Management Center, visit Dmwmc.com or call 662.253.4184.