Danielle lost 109 pounds

Featured Story of the Day: Danielle lost 109 pounds.  She had weight loss surgery and believed that it would be an easy way to lose weight.  After losing weight for a few months her weight loss stalled and she found out an important truth about weight loss post-surgery.  Read her story and photos below to find out how she lost the weight:

Here’s my story…My orthopedic surgeon told me to start lifting weights and eating healthy. Unfortunately (I was still suffering from a rotator cuff tear) and osteochondral defect (cysts) in my ankle. It was suggested that I get gastric bypass surgery. I thought either, I wouldn’t be approved for it or if I got it that it would be the easy way out (like most people think)…far from true! I had ankle surgery first then 2 weeks later I had gastric bypass.  Most people are up and walking around in days, but I couldn’t walk because of the ankle surgery.

Initially I lost 30 lbs in 2 1/2 months, but then I plateaued and couldn’t figure out why. My gastroenterologist told me that the first few months the weight comes off because you are eating healthy (which I did), BUT….after that it’s all you. WHAT? I didn’t sign on for that! Again, I thought the weight would just fall off and it didn’t! What they also don’t tell you is that eventually you’ll start getting hunger pains and start eating more…WTF!! Of course, because you’re eating more, YOU START TO GAIN WEIGHT BACK! (Smdh again)

I thought this would be easy. My husband told me one day that I looked like I was gaining weight again.. I went back to the doctor and sure enough I gained weight! Long story short (lol) I was then told because I wasn’t active (my weight wasn’t going anywhere).  What part of ankle surgery did they not understand?? I was then told I had to workout out.  Nooooooo!  So, I joined a gym. I would hide behind the machines and BS in the gym because of my ankle. I was very limited with regard to what I could do, no treadmill, elliptical, etc. That’s when I was introduced to weight lifting…(which I was against because “I didn’t want to look like a man”).  The first day was hell! I wanted to quit! My husband (my trainer) told me not to give up and that he knew I could do it! Although I believed him, I still had no faith in myself, but I knew I wanted this weight off!

In 3 months I lost a total of 33 lbs…I wanted to quit at that point, but I didn’t! My therapist told me to go to the gym 3-5 days per week. Prior to this I was only going 1 or 2 days for 30 minutes. I switched up and started going 5 days a week for 1 hour and 15 minutes on top of physical therapy.  Eating wise, I was already eating healthy, but not eating enough.  I increased my protein to 65 grams per day.  I ate grilled boneless skinless chicken breast, broccoli, brown rice, and baked sweet potatoes.  This is when the weight started coming off. The first month of weight training I lost 17 lbs! The second month I lost 19 lbs! This is when I realized, lifting weights was for me and bariatric surgery was not the answer to losing weight, but definitely a tool to help someone start their journey.

To lose weight you have to commit yourself to being very active and eating healthy ALL the time! I gave up a lot but I gained so much more! I now have my life back!  I’m 109 pounds down as of 5/15/2014! My Gastro surgeon told me I was one of his most successful patients because of my commitment and dedication.  At my last visit with him in December,  was at 94lbs lost in 7 months.  He told me that this was a result of working out (hard) and continuing to eat right.  I don’t eat cheat meals! My motivation is not wanting to die!! Plain and simple! My husband never lost faith in me, even when I didn’t believe in myself! I started my own brand Move Your Azz, which is simple. Move in the kitchen, move up the steps, move your body in some type of exercise, dance, etc. It’s just being active.

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