COVER STORY
Jennifer Yon
Publisher, IBA Success Magazine
I
I meet a lot of people in my travels
throughout Central Florida and for many
of them I am the picture of confidence.
They aren’t wrong, but the journey to my
present day self was painful.
In 1993 I was sixteen, pregnant and
severely overweight. Even in the early
90’s, teen moms weren’t all that common
and it contributed to my esteem struggles.
Already unsure of myself, I had difficulties
fitting in and was unsure of how and if I
could relate to my peers.
Being a young mother wasn’t as much
of a challenge as my weight. I felt a
general uncleanliness, not literally, but
emotionally. The image of the naked girl
who looked back at me from my mirror
had been abused sexually, emotionally
and verbally to the point where I began
to believe I deserved the abuse. Every
pound was a painful memory.
I prayed, and that very same day, I
experienced a blessing. A breath of fresh
air looked me in the face and spoke
clearly enough for me to hear her through
my loud, anguished sobs. “You’re not
dead yet,” were the words that I heard
pour from a stranger’s mouth. Clearly led
by what I now know was God’s influence,
she lifted my spirits, and in an instant
convinced me that there was hope. It was
2013 and my life was about to change.
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IBA Success Magazine
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VOL 4, Issue 2
At my heaviest, I was 387 pounds. My
doctor actually said, “Get out of my office,
you’re going to die anyway,” because I
walked through his door sipping what
was my favorite dessert — an Oreo
McFlurry! I was distraught. I felt alone,
and like a failure. As I sat in my car with
the windows up, I contemplated suicide.