Tamara lost 162 pounds

Transformation of the Day: Tamara lost 162 pounds. Due to severe fluid retention in her legs, she was at risk for amputation. She decided to have weight loss surgery at the advice of her doctor. Although she is grateful that surgery helped her, if she knew then what she knows now she would have just used healthy eating and exercise. Check out her weight release journey.

During the summer of 2012, I weighed in at 383 pounds. I went to the Doctor due to my legs swelling. The doctor ended up putting me on some medication for fluid retention. My legs were at the point where they would swell so bad that it hurt to walk. I dealt with this for a little  over a year. After several trips to the doctor and him putting me on more medication, he finally had enough of what I was going through.

The doctor told me, “Ms. Goldsborough, after trying to treat you and trying to get you to lose weight so that the pressure on your legs would get better, I don’t know what else to tell you but the truth. If you don’t lose this weight and lose it fast you will end up getting a leg amputated somewhere between seven to ten years”.  I was so shocked and upset about what he said that I went to my car and cried. That’s when I knew I had to do something about this problem. After a year of going back to the doctor, I finally decided to get bariatric weight loss surgery.

On January 14,2014, I had the gastric bypass procedure. By the end of 2014, I’d lost a hundred pounds and then I was at a stand still. So, I decided to get a personal trainer. We sat down and came up with a plan for my journey. I started with my trainer at 276 pounds and  I now weigh 221 pounds. I workout five days a week and I am on a consistent meal plan. Clean eating is what I do, which means a lot of protein, veggies, fruit and lean meats. My trainer has me on a everyday training regimen. I don’t lift weights that much, but I do use bodyweight instead to help me tone.

If I could give any advice to others I would say this: If I knew my trainer back in 2012 when all of my problems started I would have never ever gotten the surgery. I’m glad about making decision that I made because it saved my legs. However, I feel that if I would had taken the time out to learn about fitness and health I would appreciate my weight loss a little more. I’m am happier now and healthier. I have a support group on Facebook named Healthier Living Support Group. I started it to try and help people see that they can become healthy and lose weight without the surgery.

Instagram: @tamaragjourney
Twitter: @tgjourney