Alicia Briggs, 36, from Maryland, has transformed her life by losing more than half her body weight, inspiring nearly 75,000 Instagram followers with her journey. Struggling with weight since childhood, Alicia turned to food for comfort, leading her to reach 429 pounds, a weight so high it couldn’t be measured by standard scales.
Despite trying numerous fad diets, Alicia’s weight continued to climb, resulting in serious health issues and mobility challenges, including needing her husband to care for her daily needs. The turning point came when her daughter feared for her life after witnessing her pass out.
Alicia decided to undergo Gastric Sleeve Surgery, a procedure that reduces the stomach’s size to help with weight loss. The surgery, coupled with lifestyle changes like regular exercise, quitting smoking, and cutting out soda and pork, helped her achieve a healthier weight, now fluctuating between 195 and 210 pounds.
Though she still struggles with loose skin and body image issues, Alicia is proud of her progress and determined to inspire others. She’s working towards becoming a certified personal trainer, aiming to help children and young adults facing obesity challenges.
“I am working on loving my body and showing others that it’s OK to love theirs too,” Alicia shares, rejecting the criticism that surgery is an “easy way out.” She believes the procedure was a powerful tool that helped her reach her goals and improve her life.
