Great Loss, Great Gains

A physician’s message of “you can do it” inspires a young mom to take a natural approach to regaining better health.

For Hamilton resident Chelsie Marie Logsdon, 27, a routine medical check-up in 2014 changed her life. “I didn’t know if my weight gain was causing my depression, or the depression was causing my weight gain,” she recalls. “I was miserable. When my doctor asked me about it all, I just broke down and cried.”

A mother to a toddler and a newborn, Logsdon had gained an alarming 94 pounds since the birth of her child. This put her among an unfortunate majority of adults who are overweight or obese or who have other health conditions they struggle to manage. Like Logsdon, they understand the need to change. but change can be hard.

“Physicians every day encourage their patients to find ways to improve their health,” says John Harlan, MD, an obstetrician/gynecologist on the medical staff of Mccullough-Hyde Memorial Hospital in Oxford, and Logsdon’s physician. “We know it’s not easy. But when we can focus on the important things in life, like our kids or careers or plans for the future, it can be easier to take the steps to begin that change.”

For Logsdon, her children and other loved ones became her motivation. “I’m so thankful that my doctor gave me a pep talk about the things that I can’t do for them if I’m not as healthy as I can be,” she says. Her physician also gave her the confidence that she didn’t need a strict diet, expensive products or diet pills. His “natural” prescription: get active, stick to a certain number of calories each day and stop drinking pop.

She started immediately by stocking up on healthy foods. She began walking and doing free aerobic videos she found on YouTube. She became a regular at the gym. “Before, going up stairs was dreadful,” Logsdon says. “Now I fly up those stairs and I can run over a mile.” Today, she’s down to 140 pounds, from her high of 234. But her biggest win, she says, isn’t a number.

“I’m a much better mother now, and my relationships are better,” she says. “I didn’t realize how much I would gain just by being healthier. I’m happier than ever.” And with her as inspiration, several friends and family members have also made significant strides toward better health.

“People don’t fall into unhealthy habits on purpose,” Dr. Harlan says. “You really have to work hard to avoid those traps. ”But for you and those around you, the rewards are great if you just get started.