Martine lost 122 pounds with surgery

Weight Loss Transformation of the Day: Martine lost 122 pounds with surgery.  This proud mom decided to take back her life and her health with her kids in mind.  She shared with us about her weight loss journey…

Hi, my name is Martine Beckett and I’m a 32 year old mom who resides in Norfolk, VA. In February of 2013, I had Gastric Bypass weight loss surgery. My starting weight was 327 pounds. I was pre-diabetic and pre-hypertension. I couldn’t keep up with my kids and even lost a job due to being so heavy because my feet hurt all the time. In addition to all this, I’m asthmatic! So, I made the decision to have surgery with my health and my kids in mind. I’ve never been a big person, just always in the thicker side! This journey for me has been long and hard but I wouldn’t change it for nothing! I’ve gone from 327 lbs to 205 lbs (height: 5’5″).

With the gastric bypass, you have to cut out sweet foods, refined sugars and greasy fatty food, or else they will disagree with you and make you sick. That left me with no choice but to change to fresh fruits, veggies, sugar free snacks and baked or broiled foods. I portion out my foods because if I overeat it makes me feel bad, but that’s how the surgery was designed. Now, it just comes natural to eat smaller portions. Also, with the surgery, it requires daily vitamin supplements and lots of exercise. I have a 3 day week gym workout plan. On my off days from the gym, I walk the track in my neighborhood and do a small cardio workout before bed.

My advice to others looking to do the surgery is to just do it!! It saved my life and changed it for the better. It was tough, especially right after surgery with not being able to drink liquids with your meals and only being able to eat soft foods. However, as I look back at old pics and how tired and sick I felt in my bigger days I’m glad I didn’t let all the naysayers talk me out of it.  You have to remember that surgery is a lifestyle change, not a quick fix or a fad diet. It has to be taking seriously. My advice for people whom want to lose weight in general is to stay focused and stick to your guns, because soon as you see your results physically and mentally you will never want to turn back. Take back your life and your health.

This first photo is March 2012 at 327 pounds. The second photo is in July of 2014.