Obesity and weight-related health issues disproportionately affect African-American women. While bariatric surgery is an option, cultural factors and lack of resources often prevent them from considering it. However, many have achieved significant weight loss through various methods, including surgery, diet changes, and exercise. Their stories offer inspiration and practical advice for anyone seeking to improve their health.
Biba Adams' Weight Loss Surgery Journey
Biba Adams openly shares her experience with vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG), a bariatric surgery that removes a portion of the stomach to restrict food intake. She advocates for more women of color to consider this option, as they are underrepresented among bariatric surgery patients despite high rates of obesity.
The Decision for VSG
Adams had struggled with her weight since childhood, finding comfort in food due to emotional distress and teasing. By 11th grade, she weighed nearly 200 pounds, eventually reaching 274 pounds. She tried various weight loss methods with fluctuating success. In addition to the visual effects of her obesity, she was plagued with back and knee pain and an overall sense of fatigue. She was also prediabetic and had just started taking medication to stave off the disease. It was then that she began to research surgical options.
Life After Surgery
In the three years since her surgery, she has lost nearly 100 pounds. Her body has ultimately “settled in” at about 185 pounds. At 5 feet 8, her weight loss is significant, and she navigates the world in a noticeably smaller body. She has given away nearly two-thirds of her clothing - even her shoes are a half-size smaller. Where her fat was once a place to hide from the world, she now earns compliments on her figure. Bariatric surgery is an adjustment that affects more than just weight, but it has given her a better quality of life.
Adams emphasizes the importance of addressing emotional eating through therapy to avoid transferring addictions.
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Overcoming Obstacles Through Diet and Exercise
Losing weight can be tough, especially without outside inspiration.
Gracie’s Family Weight Loss
Gracie, along with her parents Brad and Mandy, lost a combined 80lbs as a family. After her doctor suggested she lose weight, Gracie committed to lose weight with her parents. “I wanted to show my doctor that I could lose weight and also I wanted to fit into my musical theater costume.” Gracie’s parents, Brad and Mandy, joined to support her but soon after began seeing results themselves.
The whole family started making changes after watching educational videos. Gracie began tracking. They are empowered with knowledge.
Now Gracie and her mom invest time each night to prepare healthy meals for the next day. Also, they began spending less time on the couch and more time outside.
Small Changes, Big Results
Becky Cabral lost 100 pounds with “one small change at a time”.
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Becky’s Journey
Becky loved junk food, watching TV, and being as lazy as possible, so as appealing as the extreme diets were, they never stuck.
For her, the key to success was one small change at a time.
Going from soda to lemonade. Then to light lemonade, flavored water, fruit-infused water, and finally plain water.
Going from no vegetables to hiding vegetables to a few microwaved frozen vegetables then learning to cook fresh vegetables and now I pack my meals full of vegetables.
Every diet she tried or exercise program she joined, she learned something from it that she carried on with her to create a healthy lifestyle she genuinely love living.
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Dramatic Transformations Through Diet and Exercise
Dara Sarshuri lost 180 pounds in just 10 months this year just by diet and exercise.
Dara’s Story
35-year-old Dara Sarshuri weighed 390 pounds in February 2018 and said he was shocked by the number. At first, he decided on gastric bypass surgery and had to lose some weight ahead of the procedure. In his first two months following an eating plan, he lost 55 pounds. He lost 45 more by June, a total of 100 pounds.
It was at that point he decided not to go forward with the surgery. He had also started exercising, first just by walking. He eventually joined a gym and goes five days a week, still walking on the weekends.
He is stronger than he ever thought he was. He never had any confidence and now he sees how far he has come. He can run. He can do push-ups. He takes these small victories.
Cutting Out Unhealthy Habits
Rachel Saintfort lost 121 pounds by cutting fast food and soda from her life.
Rachel’s Transformation
After the birth of her daughter in 2007, however, things changed for Saintfort. Weighing 291 pounds, her highest, she decided to try dieting. But it wasn’t until her daughter turned 10 and one of her classmates called Saintfort “fat” that she made lasting changes.
She cut out fast food and soda and started doing daily three-mile walks around the lake in her town.
Finding What Works
Jen Wagner has lost 88 pounds since February without even going to the gym.
Jen’s Method
Jen Wagner had always been athletic, but when she got married, she stopped working out and gained 100 pounds, reaching her highest weight of 240 pounds in 2017.
Though she had tried for six years to lose weight on fad diets and different programs, she finally buckled down in February 2018. She started with her diet, first on keto, then to low-carb. Now she tracks her calories using MyFitnessPal and does intermittent fasting.
She also exercises by playing tennis, swimming, walking with hand weights, jumping on trampolines with her daughter and even doing yard work.
She never did something that made her miserable and not want to do it again. She hasn’t stepped foot inside of a gym even one time on this journey.
Her ultimate goal is to lose the 100 pounds she gained after getting married.
The thing I hear the most from people is that I look like a new person. I agree, since I often don’t recognize myself when I pass a mirror or a window, but more important than that, I FEEL like a new person! I feel like the person I had longed to be all those years I was overweight.
Exercise and Community Support
Kayla Mills lost 70 pounds after taking exercise classes through Groupon.
Kayla’s Path
In April 2016, Kayla Mills decided to start losing weight because she said, she didn’t recognize who she was.
When she first started to lose weight, she bought a month of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) boot camp classes on Groupon. She saw a lot of progress after just her first month and continued for a few more before she started working out on her own.
Eventually, 21 months later, she lost almost 70 pounds.
Since then, she has gained about 10 to 15 pounds, but she try not to focus on the scale… Weighing a certain amount can take away the joy and stress relief that working out has brought to my life.
From Weight Loss to Powerlifting
Brianna Bernard lost 107 pounds and became a powerlifter.
Brianna’s Inspiration
Brianna Bernard gained 70 pounds when she was pregnant with her first child and weighed 245 pounds after she gave birth. Though she thought she could lose that weight quickly, she held on to the weight even a year after her child was born.
Though she had tried plenty of weight loss methods, she was inspired to go to a gym that had helped another woman lose weight. She started training there two or three times a week doing weightlifting, plyometrics, and boxing and also changed her diet.
One year later, she had lost 107 pounds and started doing powerlifting competitions.
She feel like a completely different person, and she is in so many ways. Not just physically - that’s obvious - but the way I feel in my mind. It’s hard to even look back. It feels like a lifetime ago. Now I feel like there’s nothing I can’t do. If I can lose 100 pounds, I can do anything.
Veganism and Weight Loss
Joey Morganelli has lost 150 pounds by going vegan.
Joey’s Motivation
Both of Joey Morganelli’s parents died when he was a teenager, his mother from cancer when he was 13, and his father from a heart attack when he was 16. He began to cope with food but didn’t realize he was developing an addiction to food, according to what he told Men’s Health. By the time he was 18, he weighed about 312 pounds, and that number eventually rose to 400.
After encouragement from a professor during his freshman year, Morganelli decided to try to lose weight. At first, he lost some weight by counting calories but his weight fluctuated for several months because he sometimes binged.
One day he had a panic attack but thought it was a heart attack. He decided then that it was time to completely change his diet. He decided to go vegan.
Since starting my weight loss journey, I have seriously learned so much about nutrition and what works for me that it’s becoming a passion of mine. If there’s one thing about Nutrition that EVERYONE knows, it’s that there’s always a new fad diet or there’s always a pill or some shakes to take … Over these past four years, I’ve learned so much about what my body likes and this is it.
Additional Weight Loss Stories
- Charmaine lost 180 pounds by committing to small, consistent changes in her diet and movement.
- Angela lost 93 pounds, breaking a cycle of health challenges and encouraging her family.
- Tonya lost 70 pounds, managing diabetes, high blood pressure, and high cholesterol through consistent healthy habits.
- Tamicka lost 39 pounds through consistent workouts and a focus on body recomposition after a postpartum health scare.
- Autumn lost 16 pounds, honoring her late mother through health and fitness.
- Geniese lost 246 pounds through bariatric surgery and a total lifestyle transformation.
- AJ lost 33 pounds, motivated by her grandchildren and a desire to avoid obesity-related health issues.
Metformin and Weight Loss
Emilie Zemanek's story highlights the use of metformin, a medication typically used for type 2 diabetes, for weight loss. Frustrated with previous unsuccessful attempts, Emilie joined a medically-assisted weight loss program and was prescribed metformin.
Emilie's Experience with Metformin
Emilie noticed positive changes after starting metformin, including a decrease in her blood sugar levels. She also adopted a healthier lifestyle by walking more, eating smaller portions, and sticking to a healthy diet. After five months, Emilie’s weight has dropped from 200 pounds to 168 pounds. (Individual results vary.) She’s not done yet: Her goal of 140 is within reach.
Important Considerations about Metformin
It's important to note that metformin has potential side effects and risks, including gastrointestinal issues and a rare but serious risk of lactic acidosis. It's crucial to consult with a healthcare provider to determine if metformin is a suitable option.
The Queen's Weight Management Program Successes
The Queen's Comprehensive Weight Management Program has helped many people achieve their weight loss goals.
Frank Gouveia Jr.'s Success Story
“I hated how I looked and wasn’t comfortable in my own skin. When you’re a certain size, you know all the stores you can’t go to because they don’t have your size. Now I can go to those stores and shopping is more fun. My wardrobe has changed. I experiment with different styles and colors. I try new things. Before, I would walk with my head looking down at my feet. Now I walk around with my head held high and a smile on my face. I’m super proud of myself.”Frank Gouveia Jr. Success Story
Psalms & Kehau’s Success Story
“We’re skinny for the first time ever!”After researching their options, Hilo residents Psalms and Kehau decided to have Gastric Bypass Surgery through Queen’s Comprehensive Weight Management Program.Since their surgeries, the couple’s lives have improved dramatically. Both Psalms and Kehau each lost over 100 pounds, and their previous medical problems-high blood pressure, prediabete, high cholesterol, heel spurs, and gout-are now under control.
Tracy and James’s Success Story
Together this power couple lost over 210 pounds! When Tracy and James decided to get healthy, they turned to the Queen’s Weight Management Department. “We were looking at our future,” said Tracy. “We wondered, ‘How are we going to take care of each other?’”After attending an informational session, the pair knew weight loss surgery was right for them. “The doctors spoke to our heads and the patients spoke to our hearts.“Not only did their bodies change, so did their outlook. Everyone loses weight in different ways.