Shelisha King-Harris is an inspiration and good example for us all.

In May 2011, King-Harris decided she’d had enough of being overweight and the problems it was causing her and embarked on a long and difficult journey, but one in which her persistence has paid off in a big way.

At the time, she weighed 370. Five and a half years later, she’s dropped 150 pounds.

“I wanted to be able to see my kids grow. At the rate I was going, it wasn’t going to happen. It was hard for me to move, walk and I got tired fast,” King-Harris said.

But she persisted, and her efforts have paid off.

King-Harris said she began to cut calories by cutting out all sodas, teas and juices from her diet. She drinks only water and occasionally milk. Then, she slowly cut back on the food she ate, and stopped eating fried foods, breads and sweets altogether. In addition, she doesn’t eat after 6 p.m.

King-Harris said she for a couple of weeks, she went through withdrawals, like drug addicts do. However, after that first couple of weeks, it became “a walk in the park.”

Next, she began to exercise by walking a couple of times a week one lap around the Vicksburg Mall. That’s when her weight really started to come off.

Her battle was not without obstacles. Between 2013 and 2015, she put 70 pounds back on. However, she got herself back on track, upped her walking to three laps around the mall five days a week and has rededicated herself to a healthy lifestyle.

King-Harris said the key to losing weight was making up her mind to do so. “If you don’t want it in your mind and in your heart, it’s not going to happen,” she said.

Congratulations, Shelisha, on your incredible success and good luck as you continue your journey to a healthy life.

You stand as an inspiration to us all.