Dominica lost 237 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Dominica lost 237 pounds. When her mother and her grandmother passed away in the same year, she used food to mask her feelings. This led to significant weight gain, which hindered her from doing simple things, like riding amusement park rides. She decided to have Gastric Sleeve surgery, and lost 81 lbs before surgery. 

What was your motivation?
My motivation to lose weight came mostly from the constant pain I was in because of the weight gain. I lost my mom and her mom (my grandmother) two months apart, on 5/19/13 and 7/25/13. I battled with depression and began to use food to mask my feelings. This caused me to gain almost 150 pounds in one year after losing them.

I gained this massive amount of weight so fast it caused painful pressure in my legs and my knee constantly ached. I was told that losing weight would help the pain subside.

What inspired you to keep going, even when you wanted to give up?
I wanted to give up several times throughout my weight loss journey, but my kids pushed and inspired me to keep going. I wanted to be able to do simple things with them that the weight prevented me from physically being able to do.

I wanted to ride amusement park rides with them. I was embarrassed at one park when I couldn’t fit into the seat. I also wanted to ride on airplanes without a seatbelt extender. I wanted to take walks without feeling like I’d pass out. These are small things that so many people take for granted. I cried myself to sleep, dreaming of doing these things.

How did you take action to change your life?
I decided to get Gastric Sleeve weight loss surgery. My doctor required me to go through a seven-month program prior to surgery. During that time, I met with a dietitian, a psychologist, and my surgeon. They gave me tips on starting my journey, and I followed their blueprint. I ended up losing 81 pounds on my own before the surgery! I was sleeved on December 19, 2017.

How did you change your eating habits?
I stopped eating restaurant food. If I ate fried foods at home, I pulled the skin off. I decreased my portion sizes and stopped eating sweets and chips. I also completely cut out soda (it’s not recommended after surgery). I drank 64oz of distilled water each day. (Water is a natural fat flusher and rids the body of toxins).

Tell us about your workout routine.
I work out three days a week for 2 1/2 hours. I mostly walk on the treadmill, use the elliptical bike, and I use the weight bars.

What was your starting weight? What is your current weight?
My heaviest weight ever was 416 pounds, and I currently weigh 179 pounds.

My greatest accomplishments on this journey have been not taking blood pressure medication anymore, not using seatbelt extenders and AND BEING ABLE TO FIT SOME OF THE SAME SIZE CLOTHING AS MY 15-YEAR-OLD DAUGHTER! Lol! She hates that part because I’m in her closet now. I plan on losing more weight.

What is your height?
I’m 5’8″.

What is the biggest lesson you’ve learned?
The most important thing I’ve learned through this journey has been that losing weight is 80% mental and 20% about what you put into your body. You have to change your mind before you can change the numbers on the scale. Otherwise, the victories will be short-lived!

What advice do you have for people who want to lose weight?
The best advice I could give is never give up on yourself. It’s not a weight loss race; it’s a weight loss journey that will last forever. Don’t do daily weigh-ins because you’ll obsess over the numbers. Weekly weigh-ins are fine!

Instagram: @msbossbugatti