Meaning of motherhood a weighty issue for Monica King

The most popular Mother's Day gifts last year were flowers, cards, and food, according to the National Retail Federation. But these tangible gifts can't really capture the true meaning of motherhood.

Instead, it takes something larger to really show what being a mom is all about. For Monica King of Copperas Cover, Texas, the meaning of motherhood reached 240 pounds.

Monica weighed 185 pounds when she got married in 2001. She half-heartedly followed fad diets, but her cravings for potato chips, pizza, and ice cream always won out.

Then Monica became pregnant with her baby girl Emily. That's when the pounds really added up, and she hit 240 pounds. After having Emily in 2003, Monica lost some baby weight, but reduced her size to only 192 pounds.

Because of the weight, Monica suffered severe sleep apnea and heartburn. Frustrated and fatigued, she wanted more than anything to go down the park slide, and swim with her daughter. But her weight held her back.

Monica's health took a turn for the worse when the excess weight caused a blood clot to form in the back of her left knee. She underwent vein-stripping surgery in early 2005 to relieve the clot.

When Monica came home, things weren't much better. That's when she decided the perfect way to get healthy and become a better mother would be to lose weight.

Monica put her plan into action with a trip to the Killeen, Texas, L A Weight Loss center. She immediately found the support and guidance she needed to get her eating habits on track. She could eat all her favorite foods -- including the pizza and ice cream -- just in moderation.

All along, Monica's biggest motivator was her mother. Monica told her what she should be eating, and cooked healthy meals with her. That helped Monica stick with the L A Weight Loss plan.

She reached her goal weight of 130 pounds on March 1, 2006, just five months after beginning her weight loss plan. That's 110 pounds gone from when she was at her heaviest!

And through it all, she had the one shining star that mattered to her most: her daughter Emily. Now four years old, Emily is full of life. Monica loves taking her to the park and going down the slide. They also rollerskate every Saturday afternoon, and bowl on Friday nights.

Monica always thinks positively, and knows she's a better mother now that her health is back on track. She couldn't have done it without her mother's support and her daughter's motivation. Sounds like this trio knows the true meaning of Mother's Day!

(Also, check out Monica's profile in this week's People Magazine!)

This is the 240-pound Monica before:



And here's Monica with a fabulous 130-pound figure and size 6 bikini to boot! Great job, Monica!



FAST FACTS

Name: Monica King
Hometown: Copperas Cover, Texas
Age: 26
Height: 5'7"

Starting weight: 240 pounds
Goal weight: 130 pounds
Current weight: 130 pounds
Program start date: Oct. 1, 2005

Biggest temptation: Ice cream.

Biggest motivator: Her daughter and mother.

Biggest obstacle: Getting over cravings for junk food.

Old eating philosophy: Indulging in pizza, rice, and other high-calorie foods.

New eating philosophy: Eating in moderation.

Best thing about losing weight: Being able to play with her daughter.

Best weight loss secret learned: Family support is the best way to stick with a weight loss plan.