Suzanne Lafreniere won't back away from living a healthy life
There was a time when Suzanne Lafreniere had a hard time walking to the end of her driveway.
She suffered from asthma, fibromyalgia and arthritis. She also suffered post traumatic stress disorder and depression.
And she tipped the scale at 300 pounds, Lafreniere said.
Childhood trauma was a contributor to her poor health, as well as burning out at work back in 2002, which she says brought on the fibromyalgia.
For more than a decade, Lafreniere slept — on average — 16 to 20 hours a day.
At one point, "I decided enough was enough and I had to get out."
Get dressed and face the day
Lafreniere went to asthma rehab for awhile, as well as Weight Watchers. Then someone suggested aquafit at the Sudbury YMCA.
It wasn't an easy step to take.
"I didn't want anyone to see me in my bathing suit at 300 lbs, but everyone looks the same in the water," she said.
"There were quite a few days that I didn't want to get up and get dressed and face the day."
Now she teaches those aquafit classes. And, every Friday, she goes over to the Parkside older adults centre at the YMCA and dances for three hours straight.
In 2012, she underwent bariatric surgery.
"It was one of the best decisions I've ever made."
Lafreniere now weighs 146 lbs.
"I love being who I am today. My motto is get up, get dressed and face the day."