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Posted on Nov 9th 2009 4:00PM by Deborah DunhamVisit msnbc.com for Breaking News, World News, and News about the Economy
Amy Barnes once described food as her comfort, her solitude and her very best friend. That "friend" ended up costing Amy her health and her family.
Overweight for most of her life, Amy put on an additional 200 pounds during an abusive relationship with a boyfriend that lasted five years. "I used food to celebrate, to mourn, out of boredom and for comfort," she told the Today Show. The 35-year-old admitted she was addicted to food, just like someone who is addicted to drugs or alcohol. "I always had food in my hands."
Amy ballooned to 490 pounds and became too big to sit in an armchair or airplane seat, and too tired to walk up a flight of stairs or play with her children. "I had lost complete control over myself physically," she said. That loss of control landed Amy homeless and without her kids after a judge ordered her to "get healthy and get your life in order".
That was Amy's wake-up call. "I knew I needed to be a healthy mom," she said. "My kids were my motivation."
Starting with small goals, Amy began working out and eating right. Her diet went from a tray of brownies in one sitting to vegetables, lean protein and egg whites. And while her size made it difficult to move, Amy started walking and doing exercise videos in her living room. She was determined to rebuild her body and her family.
Gradually the excess weight came off -- all 340 pounds of it. Amy now says she feels "amazing" and "healthy" and is a self-proclaimed fitness nut. Showing off her new rockin' figure and rock-hard abs on the Joy Fit Club today, you would never guess she was the same person. Even Matt Lauer called her "ripped".
Not only has Amy has regained her health and self-confidence, she regained custody of her boys. "There is nothing that feels better than being able to play with my children," Amy said.
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