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Michele lost 120 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Michele lost 120 pounds.  Starting at over 300 pounds and taking meds for health issuers from sleep apnea to diabetes, Michele knew that it was time for a true lifestyle change.  She has transformed her body, her health and her life.  Read her success story:

Michele before and after

My name is Michele Legette. I am 5 feet 9 inches tall and I weighed 306 lbs when I started on this weight loss journey in May 2012. I wanted to live a quality life as well as a quantity life. I had been diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes, hyper cholesterol and sleep apnea. I was not able to play with my grandchildren without getting out of breath. I knew I needed to lose weight but it seemed like it was impossible because I did not know where to begin. When I would see people that I knew from my past they would not identify me by name. They would say “God, you got fat”. That sent me in reverse.

Well, in May 2012 I began exercising. At first I worked with a personal trainer for seven months, twice a week and my workouts consisted of mostly Cross fit activities. On my own, I did cardio exercises for an hour, seven days a week. I knew that I did not want surgery, diet pills, etc. MY question was if I stopped eating certain foods, what would happen when I started eating them again? I wondered what would happen if I took pills and then stopped taking them? Therefore, I opted for lifestyle change instead. I ate baked and broiled lean protein, vegetables and nuts. If I wanted something fried, I ate it in moderation but it was not all the time. I ate enough to get the taste of the food, so I was eating 1 piece of some foods to get rid of the cravings.

My transformation took 17 months and I lost 120 pounds.  I am no longer on medication with the help of God. Now, I do strength training, cardiovascular exercises, Cross fit routines and a lot of bodyweight exercises. I’m also running intervals.  I am now a personal trainer as well as a motivational speaker. It is my endeavor to inspire and encourage as many people as possible to take their life back and live life more abundantly. My advice to others is to take it one second, one minute, one hour, one day at a time. It is not impossible and you can do it. Failure is when you fall down and choose not to get up. Success is when you fall down but choose to get up and try again. It has been 25 months since I stared my weight loss journey. I am a work in progress and enjoying my new lease on life. We Got This!

Lesa lost 123 with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Lesa who has lost 123 pounds.  She decided to have gastric sleeve weight loss surgery after dealing with a number of chronic health conditions affected by being overweight.  After dealing with the loss of her closest relatives and having to be put in a medically induced coma, she realized that she had to be here to support and love her children.  Here is what she shared with us about her journey:

Lesa weight loss surgery

I’ve always been overweight, as far as I can remember. It was “cute” when I was a chubby toddler and never shed any of the extra pounds. I grew up in an “overweight” family. I was raised by typical Black Country fed, homegrown, soul food grandparents. My mom was the type of woman who loved being a voluptuous woman and I inherited that gene.

I loved being voluptuous, plus sized, etc. it wasn’t until I realized that as I older, I got bigger. My entire adult life I was 300+ but by the time I was 37, I was up to 390 lbs.  Now with health problems, single parenting, losing close family members and juggling too much that I started having severe health problems; namely Sleep Apnea, Congestive Heart failure, low immune system, and Pulmonary Hypertension (which caused me to go into respiratory distress October 2010).

After being in a medically induced coma for 21 days I woke from the coma and my first thought was “Who took care of my babies?”  They already lost my mom and grandparents and were on the verge of losing me!!  My mom passed away at the age of 45 years old and it was heartbreaking to me and my children.  She had a multitude of health issues including diabetes, high blood pressure, & CHF that if she lost weight she might still be alive today.  I was finally diagnosed with Tracheal Stenosis after being hospitalized three times. Then, I had to have an emergency tracheostomy February, 2011. I was told by numerous doctors that I would have the trach for the rest of my life due to extensive scarring to my trachea from the intubation.

One of the medical specialists that told me that I would have my trach removed in December of 2012. My trachea healed. I discovered that Medicare paid for gastric surgery and in May 1, 2013 I had my first consultation. Initially, in 2009, I planned to get the Lap Band (I’m glad that things didn’t work out for me to get it). I researched the gastric sleeve and found people that had the surgery.  After months of planning I had my surgery October 31, 2013.

Weight Loss Surgery is a tool, not a miracle cure for obesity. It is our responsibility to make the right choices.  I sometimes start to eat things like I’m a trance.  Not realizing what I was doing until I’m in mid bite.  I’ve discovered that my comfort food and drinks aren’t so comforting.  Now, I love veggies, fruits and WATER. Lots and lots of water.  I do not get caught up in the scales. This is the one thing that I cannot stress enough. It is not good emotionally if you get all of your sense of achievement from the scale. I just keep in mind that this is a Marathon and NOT a sprint. My workout routine is walking. I walk everywhere and climb stairs.  Imagine me, a person who loves to shop having to use the motorized cart in Walmart or having to sit down while shopping at the mall…or flat out not going to the mall at all!  Imagine not wanting to go anywhere because your fat is basically insulation and you are constantly hot!  Now, I have energy and don’t mind cooking, cleaning, walking or climbing the stairs.

I’m still in transition and I’m only 9 months post-surgery and have lost 123 lbs. and my current weight is 267.  Initially, I wanted to be 225 lbs. or a size 18/20, however my ultimate goal is to just be healthy.  I recommend joining a support group as I seem to be having identity issues post-surgery.  I’ve always been comfortable being plus sized that now that I’ve lost weight I can’t identify with the person I see in the mirror.  Daily what I am thankful for is that I’m not plagued with health issues and I’m going to be around to be a parent to my daughters!

Lesa weight loss surgery

Danielle lost 65 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: Danielle lost 65 pounds with weight loss surgery.  This proud single mom and blogger struggled with a number of ailments, including PCOS and sleep apnea, that she has seen go away or get better since surgery.  Weight loss surgery was the right choice for her and she knows that it was not an “easy way out”  Read her story and check out her photos below:

“Hello. I have taken the step of having weight loss surgery and I am documenting my journey through a blog. I am a 41 year old single mom to a 21 year old daughter and I’ve struggled with my weight for as many years as I can remember. Prior to surgery I struggled with hypertension, pre-diabetes, moderate sleep apnea, high cholesterol and PCOS, most which has been eliminated or reduced since surgery. The blog is losingmyselfin2014.wordpress.com/. So far I have lost nearly 60 pounds.”

Danielle weight loss surgery

What was your motivation?
One of my biggest motivations to lose weight was to be rid of my sleep apnea. I had other conditions such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, pre-diabetes, PCOS and arthritis but it was the moderate sleep apnea that became the kick in the pants for me. I hated having to put on that darn mask every night because it became my lifeline. I was tired, lethargic and moody for years and didn’t quite know why. Yes, I was a busy single mom but there was more going on so my doctor prescribed a sleep study and determined I would stop breathing over 100 times per night. This made it impossible to have solid sleep or the energy to exercise. And along with the sleep deprivation came the bad food choices. It was a vicious cycle that I needed to get controlled. Having tried for years to get the weight off myself I considered having weight loss surgery five years ago but chickened out but revisited it last year following the sleep apnea diagnosis at 40 years old. I wanted to be around for a long time for my daughter and not have more conditions and diseases added to my body. Learning more about new procedures for weight loss I decided to have the vertical sleeve gastrectomy.

How did you change your eating habits?
Following the vertical sleeve weight loss surgery I had to begin focusing mainly on protein-based foods. My new pouch only allows 4 oz. of food per sitting so I had to shift not only what I ate but how much and how often as I now have to eat 4-6 times a day. My nutritional goals include getting at least 60-80 grams of protein, although I find more success in the 80-100 grams range. I also aim for no more than 50 grams of carbs daily and 64-100 oz of water a day. I look for creative ways to get protein in whether it means choosing a Greek yogurt cream cheese or a protein bar that has at least 18-20 grams per serving. I have also developed a love for seafood. I’ve never been one for chicken but find that I eat it more since it is a great protein option.

Danielle weight lossWhat do your workout routines look like? 
“I’m enjoying a variety of things around fitness. I have fallen in love with at home workouts such as Dance Central 2 & 3 on Xbox, which have fitness modes to help time your workouts and calorie count. To work on improving my muscle tone I have joined a gym. I also invested in a Fitbit, which tracks my steps and calories burned and syncs with other online tools such as Myfitnesspal, SparkPeople and LoseIt to track my food and water intake and workouts. I also have Zumba and Leslie Sansone walking videos as well as my home free weights and stability ball.  Also, I recently completed my first 5K walk in three years and have set a goal to complete one 5K every month this summer.”

What was your starting weight and what is your current weight? 
“My highest weight ever was 253 pounds. When I started my pre-op diet for my weight loss surgery I was 242.6. My current weight is 177.2.”

How long did the transformation take? 
“My transformation is still ongoing as my goal weight set my surgeon is 137 lbs (I’m not quite 5’ 4”). I had my surgery in early November so it has been just over six months that I have been able to lose 65.4 pounds.”

What advice do you have for others who want to lose weight? 
“I would advise people to explore their options and make themselves a priority. I didn’t have weight loss surgery for many years believing like some people that it was a cope-out and that it was an easy way out. My own ignorance on the subject prevented me from having a healthier life for many years. Weight loss surgery is a major commitment and by no means an easy way out. It takes a great deal of discipline and isn’t everyone’s cup of tea but is a valuable tool people should at least check out if to see if it is in fact for them.  I would also tell people to make themselves a priority. We all get busy with life and think that we can worry about our health later but today is later. Even if it means finding ten minutes a day to exercise it is a start.”

Meka lost 103 pounds

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Weight Loss Story of the Day: My Sigma Gamma Rho Soror Meka lost 103 pounds.  She was motivated by dealing with infertility, fibroids and sleep apnea, two conditions that are many times impacted by weight.  Read her story and find out how she changed her lifestyle to find greater wellness:

Meka sigma gamma rho

“My motivation for losing weight was me not being able to have children. I had very large fibroid tumors throughout my uterus. They were affecting my ability to have children. My GYN said that fibroids were fueled by estrogen and estrogen is found in fat. So, if me being fat was the reason I couldn’t have kids, then it was time for me to do something about it. I also had chronic obstructive sleep apnea and I knew that was weight related too. I lost the weight, but unfortunately I still had to have a partial hysterectomy due to the fibroids. However, I’m so glad I did lose the weight. It has made such a difference in my health. I no longer have to use my CPAP to sleep.

I started counting calories and used loseit.com to get my daily calorie budget. I measure all of my portions and instead of pork sausage and smoked sausage, I use turkey. I also gave up sugar in 2001. I use Splenda and Healthy Life 35 calorie bread. I load up on plenty of fruits and green veggies. I still eat regular food, just in moderation.

I workout 3-5 times a week, doing mostly cardio (dancing, treadmill, cardio circuit, elliptical). I go to Planet Fitness. I do 100 crunches using the ab machine @80 lbs a crunch. I also do bicep and tricep reps.

My starting weight was 320 lbs. Currently I weigh 236 pounds but my lowest weight was 217 pounds. I began my Transformation on April 25, 2011 and I will not stop until I reach my Goal Weight of 180 lbs. My advice to others is to never, ever give up! I have been overweight all of my life and if I can do it, anyone can. Losing weight doesn’t happen overnight and it won’t last using a quick fix. Eating right and working hard does pay off. It also helps when you have a good support system. I have awesome family and friends who have supported and encouraged me every step of the way.”

Meka sigma gamma rho

 

Karen lost 60 pounds

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Let’s show some love to Karen.  She lost 60 pounds after dealing with years of tremendous loss and sleep apnea. Here is what she shared about improving her health and losing the pounds:

Karen weight loss diet

“Hello my name is Karen. I am 47 years old. My weight loss is a testament of God’s Grace and Mercy. My weight gain began my sophomore year in college and gradually progressed through the years. I had several storms in my life which caused me to be depressed. My brother was murdered at the age of 25, my childhood friend died soon after. My closest friend in college died of sleep apnea. My father died in 2000 and I lost my grandmother in 2010. My grandmother was with us until the age of 107. She was the rock of the family. I spent a lot of time with my grandmother. People say just think they had a long life or it was their time. Knowing all of this does not take the pain away. Even though we move forward their still in our hearts. I was in an emotional roller coaster relationship that was not healthy for me. I begin to stress eat and before I knew it I had gained quite a bit of weight.

Because of God’s Grace and Mercy I knew that changes needed to take place in my life and that meant I had to be willing to make those changes. I was diagnosed with high blood pressure and menopause in my early 40’s. I had gone to several doctors and no one could really diagnose what was wrong with me. I was frustrated. About four years ago I had gone to an urologist and he suggested that I go through a sleep study for sleep apnea. I was in denial. I said, no. I did not listen. However, I continued to have the same symptoms only by this time I was sleeping all day after coming home from work. My mother would send my sisters to my house to check on me. I would become so angry because they were interrupting my sleep. I now know that I could have slept on and not awakened. I was transferred on my job. This sent me back into a state of depression and I began to eat foods that made me feel good such as ice cream, cookies, and hamburgers from McDonalds, Taco Bell and Popeye’s. This hurt because I was happy where I was working I had been there for fifteen years. It was difficult for me to accept this change. I tried a new doctor and when I told him my symptoms he immediately suggested that I had sleep apnea and suggested that I be tested to validate the diagnoses. In February of this year I went through the sleep apnea clinic and was diagnosed in April. I knew that my weight was a contributing factor to my condition. All I could think about was that my friend had died from sleep apnea 25 years ago. He had given up and I had to fight for him in my mind.

I was overweight I needed to change my eating habits and lose weight. My doctor put me on a 1200 calorie diet. I lost 20 pounds in two months. I walked ten miles a day even though I was supposed to walk for 30 minutes. I wanted it! The third month I only lost 3 pounds. I decided to go on the HCG diet. It takes discipline as with any diet however, this was a weight loss tool that worked for me. It is a low calorie diet. It consists of fruits, vegetables, chicken, turkey, shrimp, and lean hamburger meat just to name a few. I have lost 60 pounds and I am continuing my weight loss journey. I want to lose another 40 pounds. I am no longer on blood pressure medication. It is because of God’s grace that I am still here. I know that I have a purpose to fulfill in this life’s journey. I awaken every morning reading two of Steve Maraboli’s inspirational quotes: “Renew, release, let go. Yesterday’s gone. There’s nothing you can do to bring it back. You can’t “should’ve” done something. You can only DO something. Renew yourself. Release that attachment. Today is a new day!”. And the other quote: “When you rise in the morning, think of what a precious privilege it is to be alive-to breathe, to think, to enjoy, to love –then make that day count!”. We are faced with many obstacles in life however; it is up to us to make that change. We are going to make mistakes in this life. We are human. Just start again and just do not give up. Remember God’s grace and mercy will carry one through. I am a living witness that he will help you on your journey. Don’t give up keep moving forward! It is through change that I have grown. I end with this quote Keep your dreams alive. Understand to achieve anything requires faith and belief in yourself, vision, hard work, determination, and dedication.

‘Remember all things are possible for those who believe.’
— Gail Devers”

Martina lost 111 pounds

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Featured weight loss success story: Martina lost 111 pounds.  She no longer suffers from pre-diabetes, sleep apnea, knee issues or high blood pressure.  She wrote to us and shared how making lifestyle changes helped her get healthy:

“Hi. My name is Martina and I am a 33 year old woman, wife and mother of two girls. I’ve lost a total of 111 pounds in 14 months. I used to weigh 253 pounds.  Now I weigh 142 pounds with the help of diet and exercise and the support of my family and friends. On July 14, 2012, I had a breast reduction and weighed 253 lbs at the time of my surgery. After my surgery, I decided to lose weight for various reasons. I decided to lose weight due to my health. I was borderline type 2 diabetic with high cholesterol, back problems and facing other health issues. I was also having heavy menstrual cycles, had trouble walking and sleep apnea. I was at my heaviest, so I decided that enough was enough.

Six weeks after my breast reduction surgery, with the support from my husband, I decided to join the gym.  I changed my eating habits by changing my portion sizes, cutting back on sweets and unhealthy snacks and eating more fruits and veggies.  I stopped eating pork and beef, drinking soda and sweet tea’s. I started drinking more water and green tea, walking and working out at home. I also downloaded an app on to my phone called My Fitness Pal that helped a lot with my weight loss. In the beginning, I worked out 7 days/week with cardio and did strength training for 1 to 2 hours.  I cut back to only eating 1500 calories/day or less. Now, I work out 5 days/week for at least 30 to 60 mins with cardio and strength training.  I eat no more than 1800 calories/day. I feel healthier, younger, and stronger than I ever did when I was in my teens and twenties. Since my weight loss, my cholesterol has gone down dramatically.  I’m not facing type 2 diabetes anymore and I don’t have trouble walking up and down the stairs due to knee issues.  Also, no more sleep apnea, my blood pressure is low and my menstrual cycles are not as heavy anymore.  Since my breast reduction, I went from a size 46DDD to a size 36C. My motivation was my family, my friends and looking at old pics of myself and saw how unhealthy I was. My advice is to keep holding on and believe in yourself and with prayer, determination, dedication, and hard work anything is possible.”

Martina before and after weight loss

Lucinda lost 90 pounds

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Lucinda lost 90 pounds with a medically supervised diet plan and by working out.  Her health was improved in a number of ways.  She is no longer diabetic or dealing with sleep apnea.  Here is what she shared with us:

weight loss success

I would like to share my weight loss journey.  Hopefully it will encourage someone somewhere to get up, get started and be motivated to transform into a new healthier and better looking person!! My journey started when I went to my annual exam on 12/24/12.  I’ve been plus size for a very long time, and on this day I weighed 306.5 pounds. On 12/28/12, my doctor called me with the lab results and began telling me I was in the diabetic range. When he said the “D” word that lifted my spirit to motivate me to do something about my weight! A really good friend of mine named Doretta had been loosing a lot of weight on the Optifast program.  I looked into it and even went for a consultation. I began changing my eating habit immediately. I also started preparing diabetic foods. During my consultation, Dr. Angela Tran was focused on what my health conditions were and how the plan could benefit me.

I had, asthma, sleep apnea, and was possibly diabetic by that time. I have also had two breast surgeries with one cancer positive cyst removal. I started the Optifast program on Jan. 9, 2013, which is a 22 week medically monitored weight loss program (liquid diet focus). I was encouraged stay dedicated to the program during the 22 weeks as it re-trains and shrinks your stomach back to the normal size. I was determined to loose the health issues I was dealing with, so I was very dedicated to the weight loss program. I would go to weigh in weekly and meet with Dr. Tran. At my appointments she would teach me all the things I didn’t know about weight loss, eating, etc. to help me when I graduate from the program. For example “listen to your body when it speaks” I know that may sound weird but when your body says “I’m full” you should listen and stop eating. That is very hard.

I also met with a personal trainer named Liz weekly.  She would teach me exercises and what areas I should work out. Working out could be a struggle, and often overwhelming. So, I would walk 6-8 miles a day at the beginning.  Now I’m up to walking 11 miles a day and doing about 200 squats. Working out has become the best habit I could of ever developed! I am not done with this journey and I have lost 90 pounds so far.  Along with losing the weight, in April my medical labs were pulled and I’m no longer in diabetic range. I have not had any asthma issues since.  Also, I retested for sleep apnea and that is no longer a problem!!  It’s no longer necessary for me to have a mammogram every three months!! I thank God for giving me strength daily to stay motivated and press on during this difficult journey and for placing a resource by way of a friend, Doretta, in my life to share with me. I hope if there’s anyone out there struggling with any types of health conditions, that you decide to make a change and begin your weight loss journey.

Updated: Sabrina lost 152 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Check out this great before and after weight loss story: Sabrina lost 137 pounds with weight loss surgery 3 years ago and was able to overcome a number of health challenges.  Here is what she shared with us: (Updated 10/22/13 – See the update and photos below)

“I have been inspired by many during my weight loss journey. I have struggled with my weight since High School. My weight was up and down, after trying so many diets, weight loss pills, and different weight loss plans nothing seemed to work. My heaviest weight was 354 pounds and my health was not good. I was 29 years old and I was suffering from sleep apnea, severe acid reflux, back problems, knee problems and shortness of breath. I had to make a decision. On March 15, 2010, I decided to have weight loss surgery. It was a tough road, but it was well worth it compared to going through all the pain and medical problems I had before. I changed my eating habits and worked out 3-4 days a week.  The most important thing was I remembered where I came from so I would not allow myself to ever go back to what I use to be. My current weight is 217 pounds. I have gained a lot of muscle, learned healthier ways of eating and portion control.  Vitamins and constant prayer have also helped me.  Motivation from others helps keeps me going as well. Its been a little over three years since the surgery and I have maintained my weight loss. I am a happier healthier person.”

Update – Sabrina has lost a total of 152 pounds: “You posted my story while back. Well, I am currently still working on my goal to lose weight and I have lost more. I was looking over my medical records from the day I was released from the hospital and my weight the day I was released was 360 pounds. My current weight is 208 pounds. I have started using My Fitness Pal and this app has helped me control my calorie intake. I am so glad that I’m back on the road to losing weight again. I continue to workout and read books on clean eating. I even purchased your last book and this helped me so much. I have become more conscious about what I eat. I’m reading labels and drinking tons of water. Your site has encouraged me and others to continue on. Some days are harder than other but you must not let it weigh you down.  You’ve got to pick yourself up and keep going. I’m going through a separation from my husband but I refuse to let that knock me down. I am a winner and I will not give up!! Here are some new photos.”

Sabrina weight loss surgery

Orignal Photos:

sabrina weight loss surgerySabrina weight loss success

Stephanie lost 146 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some BWLW love to Stephanie who lost 146 pounds with gastric bypass surgery.  She no longer suffers from hypertension, diabetes and sleep apnea.  Her motivation was her husband and two children.  Here is what she shared with us:

My name is Stephanie and I’m from Orlando FL. I am a 30 year old wife and mother of two. All my life, I struggled with my weight, starting in elementary school.  Even as an adult, I was teased about my weight. At the age of 27, I was diagnosed with hypertension, diabetes and sleep apnea.  These conditions were constantly getting worse. During this time, my weight was 361 pounds.  I had to do something quick, so I began taking lipotropic b12 shots and getting lots of exercise.  With this and eating right, I got down to 305 pounds. The weight loss was steady and I was feeling a lot better.

Then I had a slip and fall accident and injured my knee.  A month later I was in a car accident and injured my back which left me unable to exercise. The weight began to come back until I was back at 351 pounds. At that point, I felt helpless.  I continued to do the injections but they no longer worked.  I tried hcg and had really bad side effects from that, so had to stop. Me and my doctor then decided that we had tried all other options and she referred me for gastric bypass weight loss surgery.

On August 30 2012, I had my surgery.  I have since lost 146 pounds. Now, I can play around with my children. I can dance. I can fit on roller coasters. I no longer suffer with hypertension, diabetes, or sleep apnea. My motivation was my children and my husband. I wanted to be here for them as long as I possibly can. My current weight is 205 pounds. The workouts I do is on the Xbox Kinect. I do dance games like Dance Central and Zumba. I also do workouts with DVDs by Jillian Michaels and Jane Fonda.  I workout on the treadmill, run and do yoga as well. I try to stick to a fat free,no sugar, no carb, high protein diet with lots of organic fresh fruits and vegetables.

A lot of people like to think WLS patients try to take the easy way out but let me tell you nothing about this has been easy. I still have to eat healthy. I still have to exercise in order to lose weight. I still have cravings like a person with a normal size stomach but it takes a lot of will power to say no. I am just happy to be able to live life to its full potential finally. Thank you for reading my story.

Stephanie weight loss surgery

Ernestine lost 100 pounds with weight loss surgery

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Let’s show some Black Women Losing Weight Love to Ernestine.  She lost 100 pounds with bariatric weight loss surgery and it has changed her life and her health.  Here is what she shared with us:

Hello, my name is Ernestine, I was 244 pounds last year until I had Bariatric surgery done called the sleeve.  I had the surgery on April 17th 2012 and it has changed my life. It took one year to lose 100 pounds and I would like to lose at least 9 more pounds more.  The reason why I had the surgery was because I had sleep apnea, high blood pressure and sugar diabetes.  I could not stand for a long period of time, my back was always hurting and I couldn’t enjoy life. For 20 years I tried to get pregnant and the doctors kept saying that I would never get pregnant because I had polycycstic ovarian syndrome.   The weight was no help.  I prayed to God for a child and I finally got pregnant in 2004, but my weight kept going up.  I decided to have the surgery because I needed to start taking care of myself and to also be able to take care of the child I always wanted.  I wanted to live, but I was literally dying on my feet.

I’m thanking God everyday for a second chance, I’m learning how to eat healthy and I’m learning how to make the right choices when it comes to eating. I walk everyday with a DVD that my mom got me called “Walk away the Pounds” and I also work out with my stationary bike. I lift 4 pound weights to build up the muscles in my upper part of my body, especially underneath my arms.  I’m also taking karate class and I’m learning how to do kick boxing. Before I lost the weight, I couldn’t shop, do hair, try on new clothes or couldn’t play with my son because I was so tired all the time.  I was sleeping at red lights and sleeping on the job.  I had no energy and now I’m moving much, much, better and I’m getting much sleep without the machine on my face every night.  I’m very blessed and again I’m thanking God for a second chance.

So to anyone who is reading this story I’m asking you to not give up, ask the Lord to guide you in all your decisions and he will. The only reason why I don’t have a picture of me standing when I was heavy was because I did not like taking pictures and I was ashamed of my body, so this was the only one that I could find. Again thanks for giving me the opportunity to tell my story.

Ernestine weight loss surgery