Darling Matos

My name is Darling Matos. I'm 48 years old, I'm Nicaraguan and I live in Atlanta. I was a professional dancer in my native country and dancing gave me a privileged body, but when I arrived to the United States, my lifestyle and the type of food I was used to eat changed drastically. There was food all over and it did not matter if it was a pizza or a dish of chicharrón or beans. In the low temperatures in Atlanta, I was always hibernating and eating until I weighed 178 pounds, having to cover my body in XL clothing and heavy coats. With all this sadness going on, I received some beautiful news: I would be Grandmother! However, my happiness wasn't complete. It was my overweight that made me a sedentary and sad person, and because of that I could not help my daughter to take care of her son. Immediately, I saw that I had to do something if I wanted to spend many years with my loved ones. That was the moment when I decided with all my hear and strength that I would say, Yes You Can!. I have dropped 50 pounds – almost the same years as my age. Thanks to the inspiration of my hero Alejandro Chabán, now in winter and summer, I feel healthy and spectacular. I'm more than ready to enjoy my role of a mother and grandmother, with the warmth of the family. Today I tell my family and the world, Yes You Can!.