On June 15, 2019, Jodi Miner couldn’t wait for what should’ve been one of the happiest days of her life to end.
Although she was elated to witness her oldest daughter, Ellie, get married, she felt miserable for herself. Several months before the wedding, Miner was diagnosed with Type-2 diabetes and underwent surgery for a broken foot. She was also taking medication to combat an inflammatory disorder.
“There’s a photo from the wedding of me in my blue dress,” said Miner, a Washougal resident. “I was all swollen; the (medication) made me puffy. I felt horrible, ashamed and bad for my children. That was hard for me. Who wants to be the fat mother of the bride? I felt that way. I was sad. It was such a long day, and I just wanted it to be over. That’s not how I should’ve felt on a day like that.”
Miner had tried in previous years to lose weight, but her efforts were largely unsuccessful. After her daughter’s wedding, however, she found renewed inspiration to try one more time. Her efforts, combined with the assistance of a longtime friend, family members and virtual workout partners, have paid dividends.
Miner has lost more than 40 pounds in the past year, and feels better than she has in a long time. Now she’s trying to help other people find success through her role as a wellness coach.