Jameka Mauldin had been told to eat less and move more in order to lose weight after tipping the scales at 51 stone – but then a double diagnosis changed everything
By the time she was 35, Jameka Mauldin was so overweight that she feared every night might be her last.
She had to rely on other people to help her get out of bed and even take her to the toilet, as she struggled with swelling in her legs and lower body that didn’t respond to traditional weight loss methods.
“Doctors told me to eat less and move more, but no matter what I did, my legs just kept growing,” says Jameka, from Detroit, Michigan. “It wasn’t just fat. It felt different. It was heavy, tight, painful. I knew something was wrong.”
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Her weight spiralled to 51 stone (325kg). But in 2019, she finally got the answers she’d been looking for, and has since managed to shed over 25 stone (159kg).
Six years ago, Jameka was finally diagnosed with lymphedema, a chronic condition that causes lymph fluid to build up in the body’s soft tissue, which leads to painful swelling, especially in the arms and legs.
She was also told she has lipedema, which is a fat distribution disorder that typically affects women and is marked by the abnormal buildup of painful fat cells, particularly in the hips, thighs, and legs.
“Getting a diagnosis changed everything,” she says. “I cried. Not because I was scared, but because I finally had a name for what I’d been going through all these years. Now I’m finally free. And I’m not just doing this for me, I’m doing it for every woman who’s ever been dismissed, misdiagnosed, or told to just ‘try harder’.”
Lymphedema occurs when the body’s lymphatic system is damaged or blocked, preventing fluid from draining properly. It can lead to infections like cellulitis, and even severe mobility issues.
Lipedema, meanwhile, is a genetic, hormonal condition that causes disproportionate fat buildup in the lower body. It often worsens with hormonal changes like puberty, pregnancy, or menopause, and cannot be reversed with diet or exercise.
Both conditions are progressive and incurable, and sadly, both are often ignored or misdiagnosed, especially in black women.
“People need to know this isn’t their fault,” says Jameka. “You can be doing everything right and still be gaining weight because your body is holding fluid and fat in ways you can’t control.”
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At her heaviest, Jameka’s legs were so swollen she was unable to walk unaided. “I needed help with everything, bathing, dressing, even going to the bathroom. I felt helpless. I felt humiliated,” she admits.
She had worked as a caregiver and nursing assistant since 2010, but her health issues meant she needed to take a full year off for surgeries and recovery. Eventually, she was admitted to a care facility, no longer able to manage daily life at home. “I became a resident in a nursing home. That was my rock bottom.”
But instead of giving up, she made a decision: if she couldn’t walk, she’d crawl. If she couldn’t do everything at once, she’d at least do something.
“Every day I told myself, ‘Just one thing, Jameka. Just do one thing today’.” And slowly the weight began to drop off.
Today, Jameka has lost more than half her body weight through lifestyle changes, physical therapy, and a series of targeted liposuction surgeries to remove damaged lymphatic tissue from her legs.
She now walks without help and has returned to work as a Certified Nursing Assistant. She notes: “I went from being cared for to caring for others. That’s the full-circle moment that keeps me going!”
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By her side throughout her ordeal, Jameka was supported by her daughter, 15-year-old Jamya. “She’s my reason. Every time I wanted to quit, I thought of her,” says her proud mum. “I still have loose skin. I still have bad days. But now I love the woman in the mirror. Because I know what she’s been through.”
Jameka is now an advocate for lymphedema and lipedema awareness, especially in underrepresented communities, and she has a powerful message to share.
“Stop waiting for someone to clap for you. Clap for your damn self,” she says. “We need more education. More compassion. More doctors who know what they’re talking about. Too many of us are suffering in silence.”
Jameka now has nearly 100,000 Instagram followers as @meekmeek2u_ and hopes to write a book about her battle. “This isn’t just a weight loss story,” she says. “This is a survival story. A comeback story. And it’s only just beginning.”