By Betsy Finklea
Michele Legette has been there. She’s been small. She’s been big. Now, she’s a healthy weight and eager to share her story with others in hopes of inspiring others.
At 306 lbs., Legette woke up one morning with “the mind of the Lord” and “wanted to live.” In addition to being overweight, Legette was suffering from sleep apnea, hypertension, high cholesterol, and diabetes. She had grandchildren who she wanted to play with, but she was out of breath, and it was impossible for her to run behind them.
Legette said people she knew who had not seen her in a long time, didn’t ask her how she was doing, but remarked on how fat she had become. It was crippling. Legette was going down quickly.
Then came that morning – the morning that she “simply wanted to live” and not only live, but have a quality of life and live more abundantly.
Legette knew that she didn’t want to diet or take diet pills and that she didn’t want to have surgery. Legette chose a lifestyle change. She started eating clean, but didn’t deprive herself. If she wanted a piece of fried chicken, she ate enough – perhaps one piece instead of three. Rather than depriving herself totally, she ate in moderation and small portions – just enough to suffice the taste.
She began with the help of a personal trainer, David Deberry, at the City of Dillon Wellness Center.  He worked with Legette two days a week, but Legette took the initiative to do cardio exercises herself seven days a week. She worked with Deberry for seven months. Legette emphasizes though that while she was fortunate to be able to work with a trainer that one does not have to have a personal trainer or a gym membership to be successful.
Legette is a true advocate of “taking your life back” and “taking care of the temple that you do have.” She said there are things that everyone can do at home on their own and the lack of a gym membership or personal trainer is no excuse. She said people need to “get up and get moving” because it is “their life at stake.”
She said everyone can walk on the street or buy a video. She said if you are willing to put the work in, it will work for you. Legette said some people do have to have surgery, but she said to make surgery the last resort. Legette said weight loss and the lifestyle change can be done if one is willing to work at it.
Legette said to take one step today … then two tomorrow. Keep going and don’t stop. She said you will make mistakes. There will be failures. She said the failure is not in making the mistake, and success is found in getting up and in keeping on going.”Press on” she said. She said to go step by step, and day by day. She said it will not happen overnight, but it will happen.
Legette began her journey in May 2012 and to date she has lost 120 lbs. She said there will be good times and bad times, but as the results come, you will feel different and better about yourself.
Legette said that this is not about being small, it’s about being healthy. She hopes that her story will inspire and encourage people to get up and get moving. She said one does not have to accept being overweight. There is something you can do. She encourages people to choose to live.
Since her significant weight loss, Legette won the 2013 American Heart Association Lifestyle Change Award. She also ran the Cooper River Bridge Run last year. She is also working to become a personal trainer and a motivator. She wants to give back and perhaps help the next person who has given up hope.
Those who wish to meet Legette in person will have the opportunity at the McLeod Health Fair on March 29th from 8:00 a.m. – 12 noon, where she will be assisting in doing BMI (Body Mass Index) readings. She said she will be glad to talk to anyone who comes out and share what she has learned.
Legette, a motivational speaker, is happy to share her story. Clubs, groups, churches, organizations, or individuals who wish to contact her may do so by e-mailing her at cmlegette@aol.com or by calling her at (843) 845-4274.