TESTIMONIAL: Karen Fulbright

Before After

I am writing this letter to let everyone know about Monika and the Ultimate Weight Loss Challenge. When the original WLC was aired, I was sitting and watching with a cast on my leg. I had reached an all time high weight of 293 pounds. I was disgusted with myself, depressed and feeling very hopeless. It was so exciting watching Dr. Phil select the challengers was trying to guess who would be chosen. Then Monika’s piece aired. I was in tears because I related so much to her story. Dr. Phil chose well when he picked Monika. I had taped the show and watched it several times. I wasn’t sure if I had what it takes to lose the weight, I had been a failure in the weight loss department for a LONG time, yo-yo dieting for over 30 years. I went back in the archive to find my original post. It seems to have disappeared, but I can tell you I was scared. I was scared of gaining even more weight, scared of dying way too young. I first posted on Monika’s Dr. Phil forum in early in October of 2003. I had NEVER, EVER posted any personal information about myself on the web. I was desperately trying to find a fix for my problems. Monika replied, she was positive and she gave me the boost I needed to get off my butt and take the challenge. Monika’s energy, caring and understanding, and enthusiasm were so contagious I couldn’t help but succeed. Over the next 14 months a group of women shared, cared, laughed, cried and supported each other in the most moving demonstration of Key 7 circle of support ever. We even had our own special “happydance” and were ecstatic when Monika did the little shimmy for us on national TV. I was 275 pounds when I started in October 2003. By January 2005 I was right at 200 pounds even, 20 pounds away from my goal. (I had lost 18 pounds before taking the challenge because my leg was broken and it was just too darn hard to get to the snacks.) Monika incorporated the 7 Keys into her life and shared her personal trials and triumphs with all the online challengers. Her heartfelt leadership was the driving force that kept us all laughing and losing. As all things in life change, so did the boards at DrPhil.com. They went through an update and the boards were not available for a period. The forums there lost some momentum. At about the same time when I was enjoying my thinner self and buying new clothes and having more energy than I had in YEARS, I was diagnosed with Graves Disease. The subsequent health trials and tribulations I went through resulted in a rapid weight gain. Even though I was practicing my 7 keys and eating right, the weight piled on. I felt betrayed by my body and robbed of my success. Dr. Phil’s book does not address medical issues in depth and I was so lost. I felt that Dr. Phil had left everyone with medical problems behind with no hope of using the keys to lose the weight. Monika continued to be in contact by email, checking with her professional contacts and trying to find help for my medical weight loss issues. I went through a period of disenchantment with the whole process, and the medical professionals that were treating me did more harm than good. Now in October 2006, 36 months later, I’m back at square one. I have found an M.D.(after firing 2 endocrinologists and an internist) who has finally began diagnosing the multitude of issues that I am fighting with. He is very supportive and has given me some medications that are addressing the real issues, not just mindless doctoring of symptoms. I have confidence that the Keys worked for me once and they will work again. Monika, you are an inspiration. Your friendship and caring are very precious to me. If I had a sister, I would want her to be just like you. Even though we’ve never met in person, I pray that we will meet one