A mother who gorged on McDonald’s every day has lost 154lbs and dropped an impressive ten dress sizes after giving up fast food and sugary drinks.
Angela Gerzanics, 35, from Michigan, halved her 308lbs frame – going from a size 30 to a size 10 – after kicking her unhealthy habits and undergoing gastric band surgery.
The mother-of-two used food to improve her mood ever since she was a youngster and it soon became her only coping mechanism – with the assembly technician being diagnosed as overweight at just nine-years-old.
Living most of her life morbidly obese, Angela visited her local McDonald’s drive thru every day on her way home from work, before eating dinner with her family.
But eventually, the devoted mother realized that if she continued with her unhealthy lifestyle she could possibly miss seeing her two sons grow up, and in August 2016, Angela had a gastric band fitted.
Angela Gerzanics (pictured left, before her weight loss journey, and right, after), 35, from Michigan, halved her 308lbs frame – going from a size 30 to a size 10 – after kicking her unhealthy habits and undergoing gastric band surgery
The mother-of-two (pictured after having a gastric band fitted) had used food to improve her mood ever since she was a youngster and it soon became her only coping mechanism
She dropped to 154lbs after losing half her 308lbs weight before having her excess skin removed in June 2018, and now Angela’s self-confidence has grown.
At her heaviest, Angela felt miserable in her body and was constantly ashamed of how she looked.
She pretended to be happy for years until in 2015, she suddenly realized that she didn’t want to cut her time with her sons Anthony, 15, and Justin, 7, short because of her unhealthy lifestyle.
Angela said she felt that she had become a shell of a mother, sitting on the sidelines rather than taking part in activities with her children.
‘From just nine years old, I learned to use food to cope and make myself feel better and that was when my weight spiralled out of control,’ said Angela.
Living most of her life morbidly obese, Angela (pictured left, before her weight loss journey, and right, following an excess skin removal procedure) visited her local McDonald’s drive thru every day on her way home from work, before eating dinner with her family
Eventually, the devoted mother (pictured before her weight loss) realised that if she continued with her unhealthy lifestyle she could possibly miss seeing her two sons grow up
In August 2016, Angela (pictured recently) had a gastric band fitted, as well as an excess skin removal procedure and decided to dramatically improve her lifestyle and diet
‘My childhood was troubled, but food was one of the only constants in my life. When I ate, I felt good, it gave me comfort and happiness.
‘I lived my entire life being morbidly obese and one hundred per cent dependent on that good feeling I got from food. I felt like food was the only thing there for me and never let me down.’
She added: ‘Before I lost weight, I felt awful about myself. I felt ashamed, embarrassed, and completely trapped in my body. I had given up and just came to terms that this was how my life was supposed to be.
‘But I decided to make a drastic change and take control of my health. I have two kids who need me – and they need all of me, not just a shell of a mother.’
Angela dropped to 154lbs after losing half her 308lbs weight, and now Angela’s self-confidence has grown
At her heaviest, Angela (pictured after first having her excess skin removal procedure) felt miserable in her body and was constantly ashamed of how she looked
Since losing weight, Angela enjoys running around with her children in the park – something she never believed would be possible.
Angela said that her frame may never look ‘perfect’, but she has so much appreciation for what her body has been through.
‘I was a stay-at-home mother for a few years but then I got a job with great health benefits. I used those medical benefits to have weight loss surgery and it forever changed my life,’ said Angela.
Speaking about her unhealthy food habits, the mother admitted: ‘My diet before weight loss surgery was McDonald’s drive thru on my way home from work and everything from the freezer section in the supermarket.
‘Now when me and my family go grocery shopping, we spend most of our time shopping the fresh produce, meat and dairy.
Angela said that her frame may never look ‘perfect’, but she has so much appreciation for what her body has been through
‘Now I do my best to try to only eat whole foods and limit how much processed food I eat. I am far from perfect and sometimes I indulge, but I no longer eat to comfort my feelings.
She added: ‘I drink almost no sugary drinks anymore, mostly sticking to water or black coffee. I make it a point to drink no less than two liters of water a day, whereas before I would be lucky to get that much water in a week.’
Angela, who can even shop in the teens clothing section now, said losing weight has ‘completely changed’ her life for both herself and her family because she now has more energy to spend time with them.
She continued: ‘I can fit on rides and fully enjoy being out with my boys. I’m no longer the mother sitting on the side watching them.
‘I finally love my body and my flaws. I have never been so at peace with myself than I am now.
‘People are genuinely shocked at how much weight I’ve lost. They are so happy for me and I have some great support.’