![]() ![]() My Weight Loss Story ! But now that I know I can and know how to do it, if sharing how I did it helps just one person, it’ll totally make it worth putting it all out there! ![]() I was diabetic but i had bariatric surgery and about 48 hours later my blood sugar levels went down to a normal range. I still take metformin to help with weight loss.I hated feeling like I was depriving myself. I knew I wouldn’t stick with something like that. Two years ago, I really got serious. I did the Couch to 5. K program. I went from completely sedentary to walking and then eventually running a 5. K 3- 4 days a week. I cut back my calories (although apparently not enough, because I didn’t really know how much to cut) and cut back on sweets, too. Chrissy Metz Photos, Height-Weight Drama: 100 Before-And-After Weight Loss Pics Of This is the story of my health and weight loss journey, tips on how I lost 30 pounds, and before and after photos. If I had a dollar for each time I started my weight. Some of you have noticed (and thank you so much for your sweet comments! I was really, really good for the full program- 8 weeks. And I didn’t lose a single pound. I didn’t lose any inches either, for what it’s worth. After that, I pretty much gave up. I figured if I couldn’t lose weight by “diet and exercise!” – then I felt like I just couldn’t do it on my own! Recently I was talking with a couple of my friends and they were having success with Nutrisystem and Jenny Craig type diets- the kind where they send you the food. Both of them saw results on the scale the very first week! And I would read updates on their blogs and they were consistently losing weight every week. I was so inspired in the kitchen & in the gym that I lost nearly 100 pounds of fat within 8 months. I am happy to answer any questions you. You can't help but be motivated by these stories and weight loss tips from real women who lost 30, 50, even 180 pounds! Surgery After Significant Weight Loss What is body contouring surgery after significant weight loss? Losing 100 pounds or more is a major achievement. These inspirational weight loss success stories include interviews with before and after photos from people who have been successful at losing weight. ![]() After my previous experience of trying it on my own and not losing a single pound- even after 8 weeks, I really thought the only way I could lose weight was through a program that sent you food. I wasn’t quite ready to do something like that though. Mostly because they were so expensive! I didn’t want to spend that kind of money. But also because I had Kevin to think about- I didn’t want to leave him to fend for himself while I was dieting, but I also didn’t want to cook dinner for him and not be able to eat it either! ![]() ![]() And how would I survive in the “real world” with real food? Would I really learn anything? Then someone said something about the Nutrisystem diet that really stuck with me. She said the Nutrisystem diet was a “1. Nothing more to see here.” Nothing more to see here – that really stuck with me. I don’t know, did I really think the boxed diet foods they sent you were super specially formulated to help you lose weight?? So I thought, hey, if I really wanted to give one of these type diets a try, I could do it myself with Healthy Choice, Lean Cuisine foods, etc. Just to see if it would really work. This is something I can do- I could try it for one week. I can keep track of my calories. I didn’t know if I had the discipline to count/track my calories, but having the frozen meals would help and it would only be for a week. It will be worth it if actually works! So the first week, here’s what I did. There were a ton of Smart Ones meals that I really liked! Or sometimes I would just have another bowl of cereal and a piece of fruit. If it was one of those days. I still wanted to be able to cook dinner for us at night- but what a PAIN it would be to figure out the calories in every single ingredient I used, add them all up, divide it by the number of servings the dish made, BLAH! I would never have the patience to do all that!! But then I found a tool called Recipe Analysis at Calorie. Count. com. All I had to do was copy and paste my recipe into the site, put in the number of servings it makes and it calculates everything! It told me exactly how many calories were in a serving- and having to put in the number of servings helped me know how much to put on my plate! Dessert/Snacks – 2. I often had extra calories left over for dessert or an afternoon snack. There are a whole range of *delicious* single- serving sized desserts and treats out there that I had *no* clue about!! My absolutely favorite? Weight Watcher’s Fudge Brownie Ice Cream. Oh my- It comes in a single serving 6oz cup- and it is *extremely* decadent and filling. Other favorites are Skinny Cow Ice Cream sandwiches (BIG sandwich for only 1. Weight Watcher’s Giant Latte Bars (huge ice cream bar, tastes better than anything at Starbucks, and only 9. Weight Watcher’s Giant Cookies & Cream Bar (kinda like a Nestle Crunch Bar, 1. And best of all, I could find it all at my regular grocery store (Kroger or Publix). So now I could pretty easily figure out exactly how many calories I was eating for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and desserts/snacks. For a week I stuck to the whole 1. I tracked my calories on Spark. People. net so I wouldn’t lose count during the day. At the end of the first week I had lost 2. I had *never* seen results like that before with anything else I’d tried. Seeing those results on the scale at the end of the week was enough encouragement for me to stick with it! After 1. 1 weeks, I had lost 2. ![]() And to date, I have lost a total 3. I went from a size 1. It’s been about 5. I started- Kevin joined in about 9 weeks ago and eats 1. He’s lost 2. 3 lbs so far! Since June 1st, I have had nothing to drink but water. Honestly, this was probably the hardest thing I did. I mean really, does anyone really ENJOY drinking tons of water?? It took probably 6- 8 weeks before I didn’t reach over for my glass of water and wish it was something else! But now I can honestly say that I don’t miss it at all- and I actually crave water now! I feel healthier now that I’m drinking more water, and I have gotten several compliments on my skin lately- I didn’t really put two and two together until someone mentioned that it might be because of all the water I’m drinking now. But maybe so! Another thing- and I don’t think this has anything to do with my weight loss, but it certainly has made me feel tons better- I started taking a multi- vitamin. Now I absolutely hate, hate, hate taking pills. Especially those giant horse pills they call multi- vitamins. And especially every day! So what’s a girl to do? I found One- A- Day Vita Craves! Now the name is deceiving because you actually get to eat 2 of them a day (yes, I said *get* : )). I just keep the bottle on the table and take them after dinner so I don’t forget. But I wouldn’t forget because I actually really look forward to taking them every day! It’s like a little sour fruit snack! And I can definitely tell- they have made a huge difference. Everyone has noticed how much more *energy* I have now! And one other thing I changed- and this one my doctor got on me about doing- I started eating *more* during the day and *less* at night. I used to be really bad about getting busy during the day and forgetting to eat- and then eating all my calories at night. It was hard at first because I am usually not hungry *at all* first thing in the morning. But now I try to balance my calories throughout the day and not eat anything within 4 hours of going to bed- and I’ve noticed that now I am hungry first thing in the morning and it’s easier to get more calories in during the day now! And I still get to eat all the foods I enjoy. We spent a week at the beach this summer and I ate what I wanted. It was indulgent and delicious, and I thoroughly enjoyed myself. The difference this time was that the “free for all” eating ended when I got home- and the next day I was right back on track. I am counting calories, but I’m still happy and able to enjoy myself without feeling deprived. I give myself one “cheat” meal a week- if Kevin and I want to go out to a new restaurant, or have dinner with friends, or have company over and make all those ridiculously sinful desserts you’ve been seeing me post about. All those things I’ve posted, I’ve been able have! It’s definitely not an every day or even an every week thing- but after counting calories and not cheating all week, it’s okay (and even good!) to give yourself a little reward. Weight Loss Success Stories with Before and After Photos. Get inspired by these amazing weight loss success stories shared by our visitors. We have included these motivational stories to help encourage others to start their weight loss journey so they can be successful at reaching their fitness goals. These inspirational stories include in- depth interviews with real people who have been successful at losing weight by eating a healthy diet and following a calorie burning exercise plan. Each story includes detailed before and after photos so you can see the amazing transformation each person makes. We really hope you will get inspired by reading these stories and learn important diet and exercise tips to get you started on the right track to success. If you have lost weight and would like to share your story with us, we will feature you on Shape. Fit to help motivate and inspire others to live a healthier life! Surgery After Weight Loss . The most successful outcomes from body contouring surgery are achieved when these important criteria are met: Weight trend: Has your weight been stable for at least a year with no further weight loss expected? Overall good health: Are you in good health overall? Do you have any chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes or heart disease? People in poor health are not good candidates for body contouring procedures. You should carefully review your health with a doctor at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center before proceeding with surgery. Nutrition: Do you have a healthy diet? Problems such as protein or vitamin deficiencies can interfere with healing after surgery. Smoking history: Smoking slows down the healing process and increases the risk of serious complications during and after surgery. You will be instructed to quit smoking at least six weeks prior to surgery. Individuals with a positive outlook and realistic goals for what body contouring can accomplish are also good candidates for body contouring procedures. How do I prepare for excess skin removal (body contouring) surgery after significant weight loss? Preparing for surgery after significant weight loss at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center includes discussing a number of questions about your health, desires and lifestyle with your plastic surgeon, including: Why you want the treatment(s), your expectations and desired outcome Your medical conditions, drug allergies and medical treatments Your use of current medications, vitamins, herbal supplements, alcohol, tobacco and drugs. Your Cleveland Clinic plastic surgeon may also: Evaluate your general health and any pre- existing health conditions or risk factors Take photos of your body for your medical record Discuss your body contouring treatment options Discuss likely expected outcomes of body contouring treatment and risks or potential complications. How many body contouring surgeries will I need after significant weight loss? Depending on individual patient factors, the extent of surgery needed and your surgeon’s preference, it is not uncommon for massive weight loss patients to have multiple operations performed in stages. In such cases, the waiting period between surgeries ranges from weeks to several months or longer. How much does surgery after significant weight loss cost? Prices for body contouring procedures can vary widely. A surgeon’s cost for body contouring procedures may vary based on his or her experience and the type of procedure used. Are the results of body contouring procedures and skin excisions permanent? The results of body contouring surgeries are permanent in some patients. The patients who see the best long- term results are those who maintain a stable weight, refrain from smoking and are in good overall health. One of the best ways to decide if cosmetic surgery is right for you is by meeting with a cosmetic or plastic surgeon at the Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center. During this first consultation, you and your surgeon will discuss your goals and expectations. Your surgeon will also: Review your complete medical history (including past and current medications) Evaluate the part of your body that you want treated Give recommendations Answer any questions you have Learn more about a physician consultation. How is surgery after significant weight loss performed? There are a variety of body contouring procedures that can treat your needs after significant weight loss. Your plastic surgeon will work with you to identify areas that are the most problematic or bothersome to you. The areas of the body that are most often treated through body contouring after significant weight loss include: Abdomen. Also known as a . An incision is made just above the pubic area from hip to hip, occasionally extending to the back. Sometimes a vertical incision is necessary, too. A panniculectomy removes any overhanging “apron” of skin and tissue from below the belly button. Having the abdominal muscles tightened or extending the incision to the back is most often considered cosmetic and is not usually covered by insurance. At times, an abdominal hernia may be found. Hernias up to a certain size can be repaired at the same time of the removal of excess abdominal skin. However, your plastic surgeon may refer you to a general surgeon if the hernia is too large to be repaired during the abdominal procedure. Buttocks/upper thighs. A body lift, or belt lipectomy, is a procedure to remove skin and lift the thighs and buttocks. This is usually performed as a continuation of an abdominal procedure. The incision is made in the belt area in the upper hips and excess skin is removed below the incision. Thighs. A medial thigh lift, designed to remove excess skin from the upper leg, involves an incision along the inner thigh starting at the groin and extending as far as the knee. Breasts. A number of breast procedures are available, including breast lift with or without augmentation (enlargement with implants) and breast reduction. To remove excess skin, incisions can be made vertically down the center of the breast. Sometimes incisions are made underneath the breast in the form of an upside- down . Sometimes this procedure can be combined with a breast procedure. Face and neck. Removing excess skin around the face or neck after weight loss is similar to a traditional facelift, except that more skin is removed. As a result, incision location may need to be altered. A combination of body contouring surgeries may be done at the same time, as long as safety can be maintained. The exact procedures to be performed at one time will be individualized to your needs through a thorough consultation with a plastic surgeon at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center. What results can I expect? The results of body contouring surgery after significant weight loss are visible almost immediately. However, it may take as many as one to two years or more for the final results of all the recommended body contouring procedures to fully develop. Visible scars from surgery will remain, but the overall results are long lasting if you maintain a stable weight and general, overall fitness. As your body ages, it is natural to lose some firmness. However, most of your initial improvement should be relatively permanent. Follow- up with an expert at Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center is the best way to ensure long- lasting results from your body contouring procedures. View our skin removal surgery after weight loss before and after photos to see results from actual patients. What is involved in recovery? Following your body contouring procedure(s) after significant weight loss, dressings or bandages will be applied to the incisions. A small, thin tube (drain) may be temporarily placed under the skin to drain any excess blood or fluid that may collect. The number of drains used may vary depending on the procedure. Body contouring surgeries may be performed as an outpatient procedure or require an overnight stay or longer depending on the procedure. Your post- surgery activities will be restricted until you have had plenty of time to recover. Restrictions may include no exercise and lifting of five pound or more. Walking is encouraged after surgery; however, additional exercise is not recommended until you’ve fully healed. A certain degree of soreness, swelling and bruising for two to three weeks after surgery is normal. Most people can return to work after two to four weeks, but people with physically demanding jobs need to wait at least three weeks. During this recovery period, you will monitored regularly by your plastic surgeon to ensure the best results. Is surgery after significant weight loss safe? Possible risks of body contouring surgery following significant weight loss include: Unfavorable scarring Bleeding (hematoma) Infection Fluid accumulation Poor wound healing Skin loss Numbness or other changes in skin sensation Anesthesia risks Skin discoloration and/or prolonged swelling Fatty tissue found deep in the skin might die (fat necrosis) Major wound separation Asymmetry Recurrent looseness of skin Pain, which may persist Deep vein thrombosis, cardiac and pulmonary complications Persistent swelling in the legs Possibility of revisional surgery Why Choose Us. If you're considering body contouring surgery after significant weight loss, look for a plastic surgeon with specialized training and significant experience performing these procedures. Consider going to a plastic surgeon who is affiliated with a major medical center, such as Cleveland Clinic. Ask your specialist about credentials, training and how many body contouring surgeries he or she has managed. Is this procedure covered by health insurance? Like all cosmetic procedures, body contouring surgery after significant weight loss is not typically covered by health insurance. Ask to talk with a financial representative from Cleveland Clinic Cosmetic & Plastic Surgery Center who can explain the cost of the procedures. This information is provided by the Cleveland Clinic and is not intended to replace the medical advice of your doctor or health care provider. Please consult your health care provider for advice about a specific medical condition. DAMY Member Weight Loss Testimonials. Stop wasting time and money jumping from fad to fad. Follow this plan and its simple principles and you are guaranteed success. I completely changed my body in only 1. I feel it is extremely important to try to put words to the fact that my physical transformation is sincerely only 4. What you can. I have an abundance of energy from the time I wake up in the morning to the time I decide to go to bed. I am actually physically on an athletic level (I never played a sport and barely moved in my younger years). I feel younger, my hair is thicker, my skin is glowing, I wake up excited for every day and have a passion for life that is intangible. This is why I am so passionate about my program! I know what this program can do for you and want to share it with the world! I am no different that you. YOU are able to do the same! Feel better within days and see results within a couple weeks. Make the decision and commitment to yourself and get started today! I had been active my whole life, recently ran a half marathon and was very happy with my conditioning. Despite all this I could not for the life of me lose the 1. I wanted to drop to get the cut look I was dying for! I generally followed the clean eating rule of thumb and overall had what I considered a healthy lifestyle. I had been following Amy on Facebook and really liked the recipes and ideas she was posting. I sent Amy a message stating the above and asking what she recommended. I signed up for the Bikini Body Program that weekend and the next 1. The weight starting dropping off (1. I felt more energized and my grocery bill dropped significantly (I was eating clean before but I was eating huge portion sizes!). I am ecstatic with the change I have seen in my physique as well as my energy levels. It has really made me realize how important it is to maintain a good balance of exercise AND proper eating.”– J (Bikini Body Program Member)Emily’s Bikini Body Program Success Story – “The thing I love most about DAMY is that you don’t have to count calories!” What weight loss results did you achieve on your DAMY Program? Although I did not have a significant amount of weight to lose, I had plenty of room for tightening and toning. In the first two weeks I lost 5 lbs. After the initial drop in weight, my number plateaued, but I continued to notice changes in body composition. I was looking longer, leaner and more defined each week. I couldn’t believe the difference in my before and after pictures! Other than weight loss, how else has DAMY helped you? I dreaded taking my initial pictures for the program. A back surgery sidelined me from exercising for four months. Prior to that I was in the best shape of my life (until now). I had found damyhealth prior to my surgery but knew that I would not be able to complete the exercise regimen during my recovery. Looking back, I wish I had joined for the nutritional aspect because diet is so important to health maintenance. Before surgery, I was exercising regularly and was eating many of the same foods on plan, but was eating them at the wrong time of the day which stalled my results. After surgery, I was not eating healthy and was not able to exercise. I was not happy with the way I looked and wanted to get back into shape. When I first started the program, I found that it was easy for me to adjust to the nutritional program since I was eating healthy before surgery. I loved experimenting with the recipes and am still amazed at how creative and delicious many of them are. The workouts were challenging enough so that I was able to complete them, but still felt as though I was being pushed. I am still amazed at how much my body changed and how much I accomplished in three short months on the Bikini Body Program. I feel so much better about myself and how I look. I love to see peoples’ reactions when I show them my before and after photos. It really is remarkable how Amy has fine tuned her program to suit the needs of so many different people. What do you love about DAMY? The thing I love most about DAMY is that you don’t have to count calories. I was driving myself crazy day in and day out logging caloric intake and burn. There were days where I would eat even if I was not hungry because I had not taken in enough calories. DAMY alleviates that stress and lets you focus on eating clean, healthy food without the guilt. The recipe variation is good and the desserts are simply amazing! The hardest part for me was choosing which treat to have each week! Amy is very motivational. I wanted to try her program after reading her own success story. You can see from her testimonial that she has walked in the shoes of women like myself. She knows how much hard work and dedication it takes to transform your lifestyle. Amy was always supportive and non- judgmental, even when I had an extra treat! I combined clean eating with my high intensity workout regimen and the inches just start to melt away! I am still 1. 54 pounds, but now I! For the first time in my life I feel like a woman should! I still have curves but I! I can actually see them! My butt is firming up and my arms are sculpted! People at the gym notice how hard I train and compliment me for motivating them to push harder, even some of the men! For the first time in my life, I am excited to go shopping! I look in the mirror every morning and say wow! She provides such motivation and inspiration! She believes in each and every one of us and knows that we have the inner courage, strength and will to succeed! Life can be negative and full of obstruction, but if Amy has taught me anything, it is that you can always find the light in the darkness! She taught me to achieve excellence in everything you do in life, pursue every challenge and overcome any obstacle with courage, zeal, and an unwavering spirit! Clean eating is my lifestyle and hard core training is what makes me happy! I feel sexy, feminine, fiery and unstoppable! Amy always said! Everyday I say, today is going to be a good day! I have a new life and I have surrounded myself with the right people! Thank you for being a friend, a coach, a confidant, and a true inspiration! You are a beautiful person inside and out and words can not express my gratitude for having you in my life! Thank you Thank you! Love ya!,Kimi. Sarah’s Success Story – “I kept seeing results even without working out!”I first found out about the DAMY Programs from two friends of mine from the gym (Kimi and Nikki – both of whom you have seen in their awesome transformations on the site!). They are always researching great webistes, blogs and recipes online and came across Amy’s site and shared some amazing tips, recipes and tricks with me. They were raving about the results they were getting from the BBEC and I wanted in! After having tried other clean diets with some success, I was ready to take it to the next level. Coming to DAMY with a good understanding of clean eating, and with a very active lifestyle, I knew pretty well what I was getting into. I got my daily stress relief (and adrenaline fix!) from high intensity workouts like bootcamps, spinning, sprints, and weight training 5- 6 times per week. I felt I had a pretty good start to the program and was already noticing my clothes fitting better after just a few weeks! Then a crazy thing happened. I am sure you are thinking the same thing I was- how could a healthy, young, non- smoker (who is not on any medications) have a stroke? Well, it actually happened at the gym (and apparently it is not super uncommon in young, healthy individuals who are very physically active- so I found). I was REALLY lucky in that I did not have any side effects like paralysis or weakness on either side, and I thank God that I am ok. The only thing that happened was I had some funny blurriness in my vision once in a while, and I had severe headaches. Once the diagnosis came, I was ordered out of the gym for 3 months. I was pretty bummed about that one especially because I had finally plucked up the courage to try a fitness competition in April with my two pals Kimi and Nikki. But, health comes first and so I diligently (yet begrudgingly at first) obeyed. My first thought was, “OMG I am going to blow up like a balloon if I can’t workout!” But then I remembered something that I have heard from Amy and several other trainers. Well people, it is so true. I kept seeing results even without working out! When I first started, the numbers were not really changing on the scale so much. I did have to go out and buy new jeans and pants though. I have lost a total of 1. Bikini Body Program, but some of it has definitely been due to the fact that I have not been able to workout. This program has really guided me to adopt this “plan” to become my lifestyle. Have you ever heard anyone say, “if you do something enough times, it becomes habit?” That is certainly what the Bikini Body Program has helped me with. I don’t really miss anything. I have become more creative with cooking and have been able to make substitutes for most of my favorite foods! And sure, going out for drinks or out to a party means I might have to plan a little in advance, but I know that it is not worth having something that is bad for me if it means I cannot fit into all my new clothes! There are so many things about this program that are so amazing! The blogs, the daily motivation, the yummy recipes, the testimonials, the emails, and of course, the accountability. Amy has been the most supportive, kind, caring and compassionate cheerleader to me even just through emails. I feel like she has a personal investment in me and she really does care. I know it is her job to care, but she does it with passion and conviction which cannot be forced. She has helped me to be more kind and patient with myself through this difficult time, and it has truly meant so much to me. I really hope that this testimonial might help some of you out there who cannot workout as rigorously or frequently, or if you might be discouraged for any reason.
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