Sarah Roap

I have recently overcome morbid obesity.  My heaviest weight was 300 pounds in 2007. I was delivered a death sentence by a family doctor in 2009 when I was diagnosed with weight induced high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes at the age of 25. At that time I weighed 285 pounds. I was told if I kept going the direction I was going in then I would never meet my grand kids. I went and saw a bariatric doctor and he suggested gastric bypass.  I went through the process and a 6 month diet to lose 20 pounds before the surgery. It was so HARD to lose those 20 pounds but I am so thankful that it was a requirement. It really got my mindset going in the right direction.
 

Picture taken January 2013

I had the surgery. I lost weight. I lost 20 pounds over the first 2 weeks. Then I hit a 6 week plateau and that was emotionally exhausting. During that time I got very depressed and that is when I realized there was a huge issue. I was highly addicted to food. I worked through that and have had to continue working through that every day. The weight finally started coming off again. I remember this part very clearly- I was at 220 pounds and it was May of 2010. Something inside me clicked. And it was intense.
 

I remember thinking that this could be something great- greater than what I was making of it. I was introduced to the couch to 5K by a lady I met out of town one day. She was, just by my observations, bigger than what I was. She talked about how she had grown to really love running and enjoyed it very much. Why couldn't I do that? I could at least try. I started running 30 seconds and walking 30 seconds for 20 minutes in the beginning. My goal was to be able to run a whole 5K and finish it without walking.
When I was training for this 5K, I got a little obsessed and rarely missed a day of running. I was trying to prove something to myself and failure was not an option.
In October of 2010 I ran my first 5K ever. My victory was so much more than that- I had completed my first ever fitness goal. I remember tears filling my eyes as I thought that a year ago from then I was not able to walk to the mailbox without feeling out of breath and now I could run 5Ks.
During all this I started trying to get smart with my diet even though it was very well portion controlled already. I was making a conscious decision that I would use this surgery as a tool, not a crutch.
I was introduced to a physical trainer at the Y and started weight training.  I was amazed at my results!  When I started working out with her I was 170. My personal goal was 150 I will never forget it... April 12, 2011. My one year check up. For the first time ever I met a weight loss goal. I stepped on the scale and saw 150 pounds. I now weigh around 120 and my story of where I have been and where I am going can motivate others, especially obese people. I still struggle every single day with the right choices in exercise and food. I'm not perfect.

Now I can be the parent that chases and plays with my kids in the backyard!  My life has been so enriched by my weight loss.  I got licensed to teach Zumba in 2012 and I LOVE IT!!!!
I am also a certified personal trainer at the YMCA & Sustainable Fitness in Huntsville, AL.
I am currently in my last year of completing my degree in Health from the University of North Alabama. 

I love teaching Zumba classes. The reason is simple: Every class feels like a party! Come join me and you'll see what I mean. You don't even have to know how to dance. Just move your body and follow my lead. It's easy! Come try it, I guarantee you will have a blast! I look forward to meeting you!