By Dani M. Stone
Daphne Dortch was going to be a lawyer. After earning a political science and communication degree at Eastern Michigan University, she studied for and received a certificate in paralegal studies at Roosevelt University. She was ready for the last leg of the journey, law school, when she got pregnant with twin daughters. As a single mother, Daphne put her career on hold to raise her children. After a significant weight gain with the twins, an unhealthy eating style and now, plagued with atrial fibrillation, Daphne, 37, enters the ranch at 271 pounds. She joins her brother Adrian Dortch this season on Biggest Loser 13.
Raised in Evanston, Illinois with her younger brother, Daphne was active in elementary and middle school, playing basketball and throwing shot-put for the track team, but says she’s always been heavy and always struggled with her weight. During the pregnancy from her twins, she gained 100 pounds and 5 years later gained even more weight while pregnant with her son. Losing the additional weight seemed impossible.
Daphne realized her health was in jeopardy when she suddenly woke up one night to the sound of a “thud.” She quickly realized the thud had come from her heart. It was racing at over 180 beats per minute. In the emergency room that night she was diagnosed with atrial fibrillation and sleep apnea. She was subsequently put on medication to control her heart issues and given a CPAP machine to use at night. She was also counseled about the tremendous difference it would make in her health if she lost weight.
As a paralegal and kids activity team member, Daphne wants to lose weight on Biggest Loser and get healthy so she can continue to help her community, feel better again, have fun with her children, not be limited in her clothing choices, and finally, walk the beaches of Miami in a two-piece bikini.
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