660-Pound Woman Loses 267 Pounds in the Course of 1 Year
Many people struggle with their weight. For some of us, even facing the mirror is a challenge that often results in unhappiness or stress.
For many, struggles with weight are relatively minor. Others, unfortunately, are not so lucky.
Amber Rachdi was one individual whose battle with weight became nearly insurmountable. At only 24 years old, she had reached a weight of 660 pounds.
An emotional eater, Rachdi, aided by her well-meaning parents and boyfriend, ate large meals several times a day. She has admitted that eating was the only thing that helped calm her severe anxiety.
Her weight took a devastating toll on her physical and mental health. Unable to walk more than a few steps at a time due to severe swelling in her legs, she dropped out of college and rarely left her home.
Her isolation only increased her feelings of anxiety and depression, leading her to eat even more. Rachdi said that she never felt full, but instead constantly felt hungry, even after finishing a big meal.
According to HealthLine, people who are morbidly obese are likely to suffer from osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, gallstones, and type 2 diabetes, among a host of other issues. Even more frightening, they are more likely to suffer heart disease and stroke, leading to an early death.
Rachdi knew she could not continue this way and went to see a doctor, Dr. Nowzaradan, who specializes in gastric bypass surgery. He informed her that losing weight was the only way to save her life.
Before he would do the surgery, however, she needed to prove she was capable of implementing the lifestyle changes necessary to maintain a healthy weight. Come back, he said, after losing 22 pounds.
Rachdi had to go home and work on learning new habits. It was a difficult process, as Rachdi, who had been overweight since early childhood, had to learn an entirely new way of living.
Thankfully, Rachdi was determined. She knew that her life would be all too short if she did not lose the weight that was quite literally holding her down.
It took her three months, but finally she lost enough weight to qualify for the surgery. Dr. Nowzaradan performed the surgery, marking the beginning of the next phase of Rachdi’s life.
The surgery behind her, Rachdi stayed on track and continued to exercise and maintain a healthy diet. A year after her surgery, she had lost 267 pounds.
With excess skin hanging from her arms, legs, and abdomen, Rachdi was finding it increasingly difficult to exercise. Dr. Nowzaradan agreed to remove the excess skin in a follow-up surgery, and Rachdi truly began to feel like an entirely new person.
Now, while she has not yet reached her goal weight, Rachdi’s life is very different from the one she was living not long ago. She sees a therapist to properly handle her anxiety and depression, and she describes herself as being truly happy for the first time in her life.
Her future looking brighter than ever, Rachdi is making big plans. Soon, she will return to college and find work.
Ultimately, she plans to marry and start a family of her own. Amber Rachdi proves that no obstacle is too big to overcome — happiness and success are possible with faith and dedication!
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