Rochelle lost 141 pounds

Update: Rochelle has lost 219 pounds!

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I believed I could, so I did! 219 pounds gone forever! #purposeonlyshehas #vsg #bariatricsurgery #weightlosstransformation

A post shared by Rochelle Monique (@theerochellemonique) on Oct 17, 2019 at 12:25pm PDT

Transformation of the Day: Rochelle lost 141 pounds. After struggling with her weight for years and trying lots of different methods to lose weight, she decided to look into the benefits of bariatric surgery. This proud mom did her research, had surgery, and did the work of changing her lifestyle and habits to get great results. Now, she’s sharing her journey online to inspire and help other women.

On May 17th 2016, my life changed forever when I had bariatric surgery. Bariatric surgery, or weight loss surgery, is procedure performed on the stomach or intestines to induce weight loss. There are several options for bariatric surgery and I chose the vertical sleeve. The Vertical Sleeve Gastrectomy (VSG) procedure is minimally invasive surgery where a large portion of your stomach is removed. The new, smaller, stomach is about the size of a banana. It limits the amount of food one can eat by making you feel full after eating small amounts of food.

Many ask, “Why did you decide to have surgery?” Well, I’ve struggled with my weight pretty much my entire life. I’ve tried every diet known to man. I could not stay consistent with any of them. I started working out with a trainer two years ago and lost about 60 pounds. I thought I was finally going to win the battle with my weight. Unfortunately, I injured my knee in the process, and as a result my workout routine ended. Feeling defeated, I eventually put the weight back on and then some.

At my heaviest, I weighed 380 pounds standing at 5 feet 6 inches tall. I was miserable. I could not walk up the stairs, and every day activity felt like a chore. My clothes did not fit, and my confidence was at an all-time low. I even had my husband, a photographer, Photoshopping my pictures. I decided that I needed help.

Surgery was the best option for me. I researched, and researched until I could not research anymore. I knew everything I needed to know. I made my initial doctor’s appointment, and was ready to start my journey. After my initial pre-surgery class, I let my family and friends talk me out of moving forward. A year later and after tirelessly trying to lose weight again, to no avail, I knew I had to make a major decision. I was contemplating surgery again when one day, while in the bathroom preparing to leave for work, I decided to weigh myself. I was mortified to see the number on the scale. I could not believe I was on my way to weighing 400 pounds. It was at that moment I decided to have the surgery and no one would stop me.

Here I am, almost 1 year post-op, and the only regret I have is that I didn’t do it sooner. This is by far the best decision I’ve made. Yes, there were days I felt like I couldn’t go on, but on those days I think of my children and my dreams. That’s what kept me inspired. I wanted to be able to enjoy life with my children. I also knew where I wanted to go professionally and my weight was holding me back. Not Anymore!

To date, I’ve lost 141 pounds in only 11 months. I’m proud to say I now weigh 239 pounds and feel great! I have my life back and this is only the beginning.  I must admit, having surgery will put you in the mindset to change your eating habits. I follow a strict low carb/high fat diet called, the Ketogenic Diet. I work out 5 days a week for approximately 35 to 45 minutes. My workout routine consist of mainly cardio alternating between arms and legs for strength training.

I have documented my journey on my YouTube channel, “Losing Me“. I’ve also decided to help those struggling to lose weight. It is important for me to be the example for others who think they cannot accomplish their goals. One on One with Rochelle Monique is a weight loss coaching and fashion consulting brand. With my experience and compassion, I encourage individuals to stay on the path to weight loss while helping them dress their new bodies in every stage of their journey. I want to be a source of inspiration as well as motivation to women. If I can help them “Smash their Goals” then I consider myself successful.

My advice to women who want to lose weight is “never give up.” There will be days when you want to quit because you’re not seeing the results you want, but to that I say, be patient. Stay consistent and alter your workouts when needed. Find someone who you can talk to who will encourage you to keep going. Most of all, stay prayed up and believe in yourself.

Instagram: @theerochellemonique