Jen Adamo couldn't believe that running after her sister's dog that chased a rabbit saved her from a lifetime of woes and possibly death.
Jen had some time to reflect on herself, exercise and become a social butterfly after she had the misfortune of falling and breaking her elbow.
But this isn't just your usual weight-loss story. As reported on NWI, this Merillville woman, not only shed off more than 300 pounds, she also got into different activities made only for the fittest people.
From rowing and running marathons, just last month, Jen has also competed in her first Ironman long-distance triathlon. Now, 200 pounds lighter than the early-2000s version of herself, she discovered that as her weight visibly reduced, so did her bouts of depression.
Jen, a nurse from Merrillville, believes that breaking her elbow was meant to happen as it was the starting point of her life-changing decision. She needed time to work on herself and she did just that when she had more than enough time to do it.
Jen now wants to publish a book about her life experience. This is her way of inspiring others who are going through the same thing she experienced. From being overweight to feeling isolated, she wants to be that person who can help others through their tough times. A nonprofit organization is in the works as well. Her aim is to provide assistane to people who wants to become physically and mentally fit. She plans to call it "Viviamo," a Latin word which means to live wholeheartedly.
Now 42 years old, she recalled struggling with her weight way since she was in middle school. She wanted to push people away and she believed that increasing her weight was the solution to that. She was triumphant as she ballooned to almost 400 pounds.
It was in the mid 2003, when her life changing experience happened. She was staying at her sister's house that time. She took out her sister's dog out for a walk and unfortunately (or fortunately, in this matter) she fell off the porch and broke her elbow in the process after the dog saw a rabbit and chased it.
Jen went through a number of surgeries for her mobility to be restored. And as she started to get more active, she realized that she also gained more motion in her life.
The incident has inspired Jen to make necessary changes in her life. She considered it to be the turning point of her life as she has found optimism to regain her old self. She became more conscious with her diet and health.
Jen strongly believes that having the accident renewed her life. Without it, she thinks that she would have fallen into a deeper depression with suicide as the only solution in the end.
