For Elizabeth and TJ Atkinson of Houston, marriage, work and raising children filled their days — and, quickly, their years. “We were busy living our life, and not making our health a priority,” Elizabeth tells TODAY.com.
After more than two decades together, Elizabeth weighed 248 pounds — one sandwich away from 250, she says. TJ weighed 330 and had . They realized it was time to take care of their health, and in February 2019, they joined together.
The program worked for them. They learned they could still have the foods they liked, as long as they worked them into the WeightWatchers Points budget. They started .
They also connected with support since they met regularly with other people who were facing the same struggles. By the end of 2019, Elizabeth’s weight was down to 150 pounds, and by the end of 2020, TJ had dropped to 200 pounds. “I don’t want to say it was easy, but you have the support and the steps laid out in front of you.
It was easier than I thought,” she says. In fact, she was so enthusiastic about the program that she started working for WeightWatchers in early 2020. Losing weight helped them feel strong and healthy.
“We were on top of the world. We were at our goal weight, active and feeling so good,” she says. That was when they got a devastating diagnosis.
Like many people with diabetes, TJ had problems with blood circulation. “One of the things you have to really look out for is your feet. I had gotten a cut on my foot and it got inf.
