Abbys weight problems began in college. She stopped playing sports in school and started eating unhealthy foods. With each year, she got heavier and heavier. She tried dieting before she got married but didn’t have much success.
After having children, Abbys weight skyrocketed and she was unable to lose the weight. “After my second pregnancy, I gained 50 lbs and could not get it off. “I always tried to hide my weight behind baggy outfits — usually black clothes. I once talked to the parent of a child in my kindergarten class who said, “You always look like you’re dressed for a funeral. At the time, I laughed it off. But I was hurt. A similar thing happened when one of my kids was climbing a tree in the playground. “You can’t climb a tree because you have too much right here,” he said, pointing to my stomach. Wow,” I thought. “Kids are so honest.” This little boy certainly was. I weighed 256 pounds at the time. At 5-foot-4, I was dangerously overweight.”
Abby suffered from a host of health problems including high blood pressure, liver problems, and extreme fatigue. She tried all kinds of diets but could never lose more than 10 lbs without gaining it all back. “My weight was really bringing me down. I went on a field trip to a farm with my students. I was huffing and puffing. It was hard to keep up. I felt a lot of guilt. It made me feel like a bad teacher because I wanted to do active things with my class. The stress made me eat more. I was an emotional eater. It was the same deal at home. I was tired all the time. My bad moods affected my relationship with my husband and children. My older daughter, Aubrey, started playing soccer. I couldn’t even kick a ball with her without being winded. Next, I was diagnosed with fatty-liver disease. The doctor said it could eventually lead to cirrhosis. He said that I could prevent it from happening by losing weight. Something had to change.”
Abby decided to have Gastric Sleeve Surgery in November of 2022. She began losing an average of 3 lbs per week. “The weight came off quickly — about 2 to 3 pounds a week. I’m down to 165 pounds. I’ve lost 90 pounds. My goal is to lose a total of 100 pounds. I now have a different mindset toward portions and healthy eating.”
Abby’s family is extremely proud of her for having the surgery and losing the weight. “My family loves the change in me. I can join in with soccer and cheerleading with the kids. The biggest aha moment came a couple of months ago. I hugged my younger daughter, Scarlett.
“Mom, I’m so proud of you,” she said. “I can put my arms all the way around you now.” As for the new school year, I’m ready to keep up with my brand-new kindergarten class.”
