A Journey of Rediscovering Hope

Earlier this year, we invited our customers to share their stories of success and empowerment. Today, we're thrilled to present the first of these inspiring stories. At JunoActive, we go beyond being just a plus size clothing brand – we're a supportive community that deeply understands the unique journeys of plus size women.

Lynette's story is one of resilience and triumph in the face of adversity. As a plus size woman, she has faced numerous challenges and obstacles on her journey towards self-acceptance and hope.

"Some of the greatest blessings I've been given have had four legs, and came wrapped in fur."
-- Lynette B.

Lynette’s Story in Lynette's words:

 

There is a saying in the dog rescue world that goes, “Who rescued who?”, and I am not ashamed to say that I have been rescued by a dog more than once over the course of my sixty-plus years on this planet. More than once, I've found my way out of the darkness of Clinical Depression into the light of hope and healing holding onto the end of a dog's leash. And most recently, it's been the leash of a sweet, sensitive, and fearful mixed-breed dog named Domino. Let me tell you how Domino has helped save my life.

 

About two years ago, I found myself at my lowest point ever. A succession of depressive episodes over the course of decades had me feeling defeated, hopeless, and weighing just shy of 500 pounds. Also, years of inactivity and compulsive overeating had left me with several serious health issues, including Type-2 Diabetes, neuropathy in my feet, debilitating arthritis in my knees and a large, inoperable ventral hernia that hung down over my right leg. I swallowed a couple handfuls of pills every day, endured injections every three months to combat chronic knee pain, and used a wheeled walker to get around outside my home. I felt awful much of the time, and had a strong sense that I wouldn't be around much longer. There even came a point when I didn’t want to be around anymore. Enter Domino. . .

 

My husband and I adopted Domino shortly after losing our second dog, Dottie. Having met him previously, we knew that he was shy, but we had no inkling of the degree of his fearfulness until we brought him home. There, we quickly discovered that among his many fears, Domino was terribly afraid of my husband. In fact, he spent the first few months with us hiding behind the couch whenever my husband was around. The situation was quite distressing for all three of us, and far from ideal since my physical limitations made caring for Domino challenging without John's help. Still, we remained committed to him, vowing to do whatever we could to help him overcome his fears. To that end, we gathered a team of professional dog people around us, and embarked upon a journey of rehabilitation and healing for Domino. Little did I know, the experience would turn out to be as life-changing for me as it would be for him.

 

For me, the journey began with just a few steps at our local park - a few steps holding onto the handlebars of my walker while John held Domino's leash. Domino wouldn't go for walks with John alone, and I couldn't bear him missing out on another enjoyable activity because of his fear, so I started walking with them. At first, I could barely walk 5 minutes before I was exhausted, and had to sit on my walker to rest. With each labored step I took, the pain in my knees brought tears to my eyes, and the hernia pressed against my right leg, making it hard to move. Still, I willed myself to keep putting one foot in front of the other, spurred on by the excitement in Domino's eyes, and the spring in his step as he trotted happily along. The walks remained challenging for me, but the momentum I gained from them inspired me to begin making small changes in my diet, and to add more physical movement to my days. Fast forward two years, and I’m still putting one foot in front of the other, but now I’m able to walk for 30 minutes with my walker, and I weigh a whopping 100 pounds less than I did when I took that first step for love of Domino.

 

Looking back now and taking stock, the magnitude of my accomplishment is not lost on me. Yet, for me, this journey has been about even more than losing 100 pounds and improving my health. It has also been about learning to be more patient with myself and those around me, and to accept and affirm myself and others “as is”, without giving up on the possibility for change and growth. And by following Domino’s lead, I’ve also learned how to muster courage in the face of fear, and to persevere in the face of formidable obstacles for the sake of what and who I care about most. Finally, this journey has been about harnessing hope, and rediscovering the will to live with each step forward by following in the paw prints of a furry, four-legged blessing named Domino. Now, who wants to go for walkies?

A little more about Lynette’s Active. Life. Style. 

JunoActive: What is your favorite form of exercise? 

Lynette: I love walking/hiking with my dog. I use a wheeled walker with a seat because of bad knee arthritis. But my mobility challenges don't stop me from going off-road onto mulched or gravel paths in the woods, or into the dog parks. The walker gives me the support I need and allows me to sit and rest when I need to. Using my walker, I can go further and go places I couldn't go without it. And as I wrote in my story, it is walking with my dog that got me up on my feet walking and has helped me to drop 100 pounds (and counting!), literally saving my life.

JunoActive: What is your favorite JunoActive product and why? 

Lynette: My favorite JunoActive products over the years has been my one-piece aquatard  and my long hooded reversible fleece jacket I wear in chilly weather. I like the aquatard because it's one piece and gives more coverage for my legs than a regular swimsuit. It's very comfortable and I don't have to worry about it riding up. I love the fleece jacket  because it's long and provides coverage for my bottom and upper legs and it's cozy, soft and warm. It's also heavy enough to wear into the winter months.

As we celebrate Lynette's triumph, let us remember that every journey is unique, and every individual deserves to feel seen, heard, and valued. Together, we can create a more inclusive and accepting world for all.