Photograph courtesy of cheryl swain"I'll never forget Dr. McPhail's words at that visit. He said he had watched the scale go up and down for 20 years, and he didn't believe that I could lose weight for good on my own. And he was right. I would eat doughnuts, fast food sandwiches, and drink Diet Coke, and I'd exercise in spurts and get some results. But I never stayed committed, so the weight always came back on. He said if I continued down this path, I wouldn't be around much longer. That was enough to make me realize that something had to change. The more I thought about the bariatric surgery procedure, the more excited I got; I felt like I would finally be thin, and I was going to get the 'easy way out.' (Lose up to 25 pounds in 2 months—and look more radiant than ever—with our new Younger in 8 Weeks plan!)
Photograph courtesy of cheryl swain
My attitude quickly changed after I attended the bariatric seminar at my local hospital. When I learned about the lifestyle changes I would need to follow for the rest of my life—especially the exercise routine leading up to the surgery, and the long list of foods I could never eat again—I realized how drastic the surgery really was. And after the procedure, I'd have to make all the changes I had been dodging all my life, anyway. So, I thought, why not just make those lifestyle shifts on my own, and on my own terms?
The first thing I did was contact my friend Gordon, who's a personal trainer. While we were sitting outside Panera discussing how I could lose weight, I saw a thin lady walk by in a little black dress. I told Gordon I wanted to look like her. He said after we finished working together, I would look better than her. That was all the encouragement I needed.
Gordon and I started with weight training two times a week and cardio at least three times a week. I gave up my twice-a-day Diet Coke habit and switched to water. I also cut out my daily Bojangle's bacon egg biscuit, seasoned fries, and sweet tea. Within the first month, I dropped 20 pounds.
Photograph courtesy of Cheryl Swain
At first, I thought everyone would notice my weight loss, but that wasn't the case. They would ask me if I cut my hair, but no one really commented on the weight until I hit the 50-pound mark. At that point, I began to feel like a new person. I started exercising every chance I got. I would get up early, run to the high school about a mile away, and do intervals up and down the bleachers. I also discovered hot yoga and spin classes, and I stopped sitting in front of the TV. In fact, to this day, I rarely turn it on. I loved how I felt and was finally happy with my reflection in the mirror. I was also able to squat down to tie my shoes—something I had always wanted to do.
Photograph courtesy of Cheryl Swain
While I drink only water now and no longer eat sandwiches, fries, or pastries as much, I do treat myself now and then. I'm a firm believer in not cutting anything out of your diet forever, which is a recipe for disaster. My motto is 'everything in moderation, including exercise.'
Today, my exercise routine includes two or three weight-training sessions each week and three or four group circuit classes. I've found that weight training plays a huge role in burning calories, and it gives my body a nice, defined shape.
Photograph courtesy of Cheryl Swain
In addition to transforming my body, the weight loss also transformed my health. At one point, my C-reactive protein numbers, which are inflammatory markers, were outrageously high. Today, my numbers are in a normal range, and my vital statistics are all in line with where they should be. Dr. McPhail is now retired, but I know he would be proud.
Better yet, the weight loss was the catalyst for a whole new me. I enrolled in school and began volunteering. I am much more active in my community, where I chair a nonprofit whose mission is to help homeless veterans.
I've also reached out to others who have a lot of weight to lose. I created a Facebook page—Positively Changing Cheryl—to share positivity, which is essential for anyone who is making a change in her life. On the page, I document my habits, nutrition, and workouts. I also advise people that bariatric surgery is an option as long as you are willing to also make lifelong changes. When I get a message from someone who has started to lose weight because they've been inspired by my transformation, it helps encourage me and keep me on track.
Looking back, I now know what was missing during all my previous attempts to lose weight: accountability. Once I became accountable to my doctor, my trainer, and most importantly, myself, the weight came off, revealing the new and improved me. I feel like the woman in the little black dress, inside and out."
