While it was an emotional rollercoaster for her, Lexi did eventually find a stunning dress that fit her just right, allowing her to look and feel like the beautiful bride she was. Unfortunately, while their married life was only just starting, so was their biggest trial. The Danny and Lexi you’re looking at here had no clue as to the challenges that lay ahead of them.
As many of you know, with marriage comes talk of children. While parenthood was something both had dreams of for their future, both Lexi and their unborn child would be at risk if she were to get pregnant. While this was a big issue, it wasn’t the only dream that was in jeopardy for the newlyweds.
What to Do When Your Weight Is Holding You Back
While body positivity is a good thing, there’s a whole lot more to being overweight than just appearances. Danny and Lexi were becoming increasingly frustrated with all the things they just couldn’t do because of their weight. While they knew they were beyond lucky to be in such a happy, supportive relationship, it was painful to see other couples going biking together, hiking mountains, and even just enjoying long romantic walks. Meanwhile, Danny and Lexi had their life on the couch and empty calories to look forward to.
Over time, these visions and experiences were building up in the back of Lexi’s mind. Her weight was dragging her life down and holding her back. This image was becoming more and more clear and with it, a determination that she needed to turn things around. The problem was that she lacked both the knowledge and the motivation to get started. That was until a monumental event turned her life upside-down and changed everything.
The Proposal
This right here is a picture of pure joy. After taking her on one of those romantic walks she felt she was missing out on, Danny dropped down on one knee and proposed to Lexi in the most beautifully old-fashioned way. Obviously, Lexi said “yes”. While she was over the moon, a lurking concern started to creep into Lexi’s mind. Finding a wedding dress to fit would not be an easy task, as by that time her weight had crept up to 485 pounds.
Lexi shared the difficulty she faced in a post on Instagram: “Nobody knew how to make me feel like a bride and not my size. Thank god I was strong enough to know my worth and kept searching for my 34W dress even though I questioned if I would ever find one.”
The Small Things Start to Weigh Them Down
The thought that raising their own family might be an impossibility for them certainly weighed on Danny and Lexi’s minds. However, it’s not always just the big things that get to you. Many smaller goals they each had, were starting to feel impossible to achieve too. The idea of traveling, for example, which should bring excitement and joy, only inspired a sense of dread.
Lexi was particularly hopeful of going to Orlando, Florida, and visiting Universal Studios' Wizarding World of Harry Potter. The idea of trying to fit in a plane seat was mortifying. Yet, situated as they were in Indiana, the options for getting there were limited.
Love and Comfort Food: The Wonders and Pitfalls of Married Life
A year had gone by after this photo of the newlywed couple was taken and not a lot had changed. While the unrealized dreams and frustrations of daily life were still piling up, the couple still hadn’t found the spark they needed to get up off the couch, switch off the TV and make a stand against the unhealthy processed foods they were consuming.
Lexi had quietly begun to feel like her whole existence was spiraling out of control. If anything, her issues were getting worse. She knew something had to be done, but what? Her saving grace was that positive attitude she had. Even in her darkest moments, she never gave up hope; which goes to prove how much value hope holds. Little did Lexi know, a big change was just about to flip her downward spiral on its head.