From 240 to 154 pounds: Woman details weight-loss surgery success

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It's nearly a year after my surgery and I feel like a new person.

A few years back, a fat friend debuted her new body on Instagram. Gone were the days of close-up, filtered face pictures. Suddenly, there she was posing in sleeveless jumpsuits and leather pencil skirts.

At the time, I weighed 220 pounds at 5 feet, 3 inches tall, so naturally, I reached out to learn her secrets.As she got thinner and thinner, I got bigger and bigger. We were the same age. We were both moms. We’d both struggled with obesity since childhood. Why was I was failing when she was succeeding?Courtesy Rachel Paula Abrahamsonvertical sleeve gastrectomyShe’d had VSG years earlier, but was too embarrassed to tell anyone.

When I was wheeled into the operating room at Brigham and Women’s Hospital in Boston in Dec. 2019, I was 40 years old and I weighed 240 pounds. Even though I was “healthy obese,” meaning I had normal blood pressure, blood sugar and cholesterol, I suffered from chronic pain in my legs and back.Ten months later, I weigh 154 pounds and I'm still losing. The same person who used to get winded walking up one flight of stairs now spins six days a week. Not only that, but I actually crave exercise.

“Decades ago, the surgery was seen as high-risk. The mortality rate now is 1 out of every 2,000, about the same as gallbladder surgery,” Shikora told TODAY. “Bariatric surgery is like this great secret no one knows about.”

 

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So proud of you!! Congratulations 🎉

As a person who just had RNY surgery in Nov., this is truly an inspirational story for all of us that struggle with weight loss. I am at the beginning of my journey post-surgery. Thanks for telling this story.

You don't need surgery...try some self control.

CroodsCare

I tell anyone who will listen that the surgery saved my life. 320 to 145.

Love this ❤️👏🏽

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