For Bridgett Moore, a resident of Birmingham, Alabama, shedding more than 200 pounds was a monumental challenge she undertook not for herself, but to honor a sacred promise made to her father on his deathbed. Her inspiring story is one of love, loss, and a reclaimed life.
A Father's Final Wish Sparks a Transformation
Moore's life took a difficult turn at the age of 27 when she was diagnosed with diabetes. Just three months later, she received the devastating news that her father, James, had terminal pancreatic cancer. Moore, who had battled weight issues her entire life, found herself at a critical juncture. While her father was in hospice care, he pulled her aside for a final, heartfelt conversation.
"He specifically told me, 'Bridgett, get healthy. I don't want you to be sick like me. Do whatever you can to take your health back,'" Moore, now 40, recalled. In that emotional moment, she gave him her word. At the time, she weighed 385 lbs. After her father's passing, the weight of that unfulfilled promise began to burden her conscience, fueling her determination to change.
The Turning Point: Embracing a New Decade with Health
The real catalyst for change came as Moore approached her 30th birthday. Reflecting on a miserable decade plagued by illness and medication, she decided she did not want to enter her thirties feeling the same way. "I wanted to get healthy," she stated firmly. A friend from her church group then suggested using the MyFitnessPal app to track her food intake, a simple suggestion that would change everything.
Moore began diligently logging her meals, which led to a shocking revelation about the calorie content of her favourite foods. "I remember eating a slice of cheesecake after a meal, and I looked the cheesecake up, and it was 1,200 calories. That's some people's daily allowance to eat!" she said. This awareness helped her learn to pre-plan her meals, a habit she maintains and loves to this day.
Surgery and Soaring to New Heights
After a full year of dedicated healthy eating and proving her commitment, Moore qualified for gastric sleeve surgery. "I got approved really quickly because they saw all of the work I had put in," she explained. The surgery, which she underwent in February 2024, was a major step in her journey.
The results have been life-altering. Moore, who now weighs 200 lbs with a goal of reaching 185 lbs, recently achieved what she once thought impossible: hiking in a rainforest in Belize. "That's something I could have never done at my heaviest. I would have been winded just walking," she shared. Simple joys, like flying on an airplane without needing a seatbelt extender, have become wonderful new experiences.
Today, Moore is not only fulfilling her promise to her father but also striving to set a positive example for her 7-year-old daughter, Amiyah. The memory of her father's wish continues to be her driving force. "You don't want to break a promise to someone, and they're gone," she said, a sentiment that keeps her dedicated to her health every single day.
