Debora Almonte

Born and raised in Brooklyn New York. I work for the City of New York in the Health & Hospitsals Corporation as a Pharmacy Technician. I believe in God and the purpose he has with my life. I have been blessed beyond measure. Although I believe in God and place my trust in Him, I have not lived a life with out struggle. I find passion in wanting to help others be a better version of themselves.

Years back I was faced with being diagnosed with high cholesterol. I was in my early twenties, weighing at 258lbs. I was scared. I knew too well by working in a Pharmacy, that once you are diagnosed with one thing it becimes a chain reaction and your soon diagnosed with another ailment. I dreaded reaching the age of 24 and possibly dying of a heart attack. At that moment I made a decision to change what was to become of me. Without any type of guidance and with no idea on how to start, I just gave it my all. i researched and made it my top priority to get myself in shape and above all healthy. And I did! Measuring at 5'11 I was able to reach a healthy weight of 165lbs.

That experience forever changed my life. It made me more self concious about maintaing a healthy lifestyle and even extended all I knew and had learned to my family. Being Puerto Rican and becuase of our culture the eating habits we develop affect us in a negative way when it comes to our health. I come from a family where both my parents are diabetic both suffer from hypertension. I knew if I didnt change what was to become of me.

July 5th, 2013 I was able to marry my bestfriend. But the months leading to the Wedding were super stressful. Money was an issue, my husband was just settling in after living in a shelter right after he had lost his job. Wth all the chaos that was going on I decided to take a break from the Gym. Boy was that a bad move on my part. Months passed by and I found myself less active, eating all types of junk, and gaining weight day by day. By May of 2014 I found myself weighing in at 230lbs. I was depressed, tired and exhausted, without motivation and frustrated. I entered a new chapter in my life and I just didnt kow how to deal. At church a month after we were married they made us Leaders of the Youth Ministry. I fould myself with even more stress and out of time. Until one day one of my friends and Co-worker asked me for my opinion on a fitness program she was interested on trying. I checked it out and decided to join her to try it out. We d