Ramona lost 100 pounds

Ramona lost 100 pounds. This proud single mom is breaking generational curses, living her best life, and facing food addiction head-on. Gastric sleeve surgery, therapy, and getting in 10,000-15,000 steps a day are just some of the things that have helped her to transform. 

Hello, my name is Ramona. I am 43 years old and 5’4″. I started my weight loss journey four years ago. I began at 283 pounds, which is my highest weight. Today, I weigh 183 pounds. 

I am a single mother of a 10-year-old. I went through a horrible divorce. My ex-husband left when I was eight months pregnant and has never really been a part of my son’s life. When he was five, I decided that I needed to make a change in my life and reconcile with all of my demons. I also had an absent father. I want to cancel all of my generational curses and give my son a chance. This weight loss journey has also helped my son to feel healthier, and we are living our best lives. 

I decided to have gastric sleeve weight loss surgery in June 2016 because I was at the point of no return. I have been at 177-183 pounds for the last year now. I still have 20 more pounds to lose. I struggle every day to stay on the path, but I will definitely succeed.

My story is just like what many of you have experienced. I have been overweight all my life. Now I realize that I am addicted to food and use it as self-medication to fill an emotional void. Being able to recognize this has been HUGE! After surgery, I went to therapy. I not only had to heal my physical being but also my emotional being. I am now more in tune in terms of whether I’m eating to live or living to eat. I have relapses like all addicts do, but I refocus and reevaluate and figure out my triggers. 

I try to follow a low carb diet, and I joined Weight Watchers to maintain. Since I have joined Weight Watchers, I have noticed that carbs are not my friend. I tried to reintroduce refined carbs into my diet, but I noticed a change in fat accumulation. I will continue with WW as I work to eliminate processed carbs. 

With regard to my workout routine, I do my 10,000-15,000 a day, and I have run four 5Ks. I use the app from Couch to 5K to train. I also do Walk Away the Pounds workouts at least three days a week. 

I started this journey to be there for my son, and that is what motivates me every day. I think the biggest lesson I have learned from this entire process is to love myself, care for myself, and recognize my triggers, just like any addict.

My advice to other women: Heal your soul. Once you heal your soul, you will have the self-love to heal your body. It’s ok to fall off the wagon, but you have to jump right back on. Understand your triggers and embrace them. I left negative people behind and have only a few friends that I know are true.