BUTLER TWP — Melissa and Amiah Darling have discovered a mother-daughter activity mutually beneficial to both.

For different reasons.

The Slippery Rock residents began coming to Harlans Elite Fitness in March of last year looking for a change.

“I am a Type 2 diabetic and my weight was out of control,” 43-year-old Melissa said. “I wanted to fight it. I was working out at another gym and was told about different programs they had here.”

Her daughter, 16-year-old Amiah, is a sophomore at Slippery Rock High School.

“I played soccer, but dropped out of it in high school “ Amiah said. “I was bored. I wanted some physical activity.

“My mom was coming here. I figured I'd give it a try, too.”

The two come to the gym six days for a week for an hour to 90 minutes each day. Melissa schedules her workouts around work. Amiah schedules her around school.

Melissa indicated that “I weighed 388 pounds, took five shots of insulin a day and a diabetic pill.

“I was taking morphine three times a day ... It was a mess.”

No more.

She has dropped more than 100 pounds — currently weighing 270 — and her blood-sugar level dropped from 620 down to 90-100.

And she no longer takes any insulin shots.

“My doctors didn't think this was possible. But the trainers here put me on a program and I followed it,” Melissa said. “Besides the workouts, I eat six small meals a day, usually one every three hours.”

Her menu primarily consists of egg whites, oatmeal, chicken, rice, broccoli and sweet potatoes.

“I do lifting, cardio work ... When you start seeing results, it's easy to keep going,” Melissa said. “I feel like this is saving my life.”

Amiah feels like it's enhancing hers.

Also a member of the drill team in the high school band, she decided to enter the competitive arena in the figure division of bodybuilding.

Amiah's first competition was Sept. 30 in Erie, where she picked up second and fourth-place finishes.

“I got some confidence and was curious to see how I'd do,” Amiah said. “I loved the experience of doing a show. I learned a lot. I'll do it again.”

Taylor Crede, a 2014 Knoch graduate, former cheerleader and an NPC Pittsburgh Women's Bodybuilding champion earlier this year, has been working with the Darlings.

“When they first showed up here, they had no background in this,” Crede said. “They just listened. It didn't take long to see how serious they were about it.

“It's so much more than what you do in the gym. You have to follow the diet, the meal structure, do the exercises on your own. I've seen them bring their meals here rather than go off schedule.

“These are two very dedicated women. I have a lot of respect for how far they've come,” Crede added.

And they plan to keep going.

“I know I can drop a lot more weight,” Melissa said. “This is how I'm living my life now and it's only going to get better.”