A woman who previously tipped the scales at 411 lbs reached breaking point when she lashed out at her husband on vacation, inspiring her to pursue a life-changing weight loss journey that would see her halve her body weight.
Shelby Villatoro, 25, was on an anniversary break with her husband Hugo, 27, in January 2017, but the weekend was ruined by her weight which left her unable to do anything and in complete pain.
The Orlando-native knew that something had to change after she was laid up in the hotel with swollen ankles and sore muscles, having broken down in tears attempting an uphill walk. Then and there she decided she needed to take control of the situation – and has now celebrated an incredible weight loss of 208 lbs.
Weight loss: Shelby Villatoro, 25, has halved her body weight after making lifestyle changes and undergoing bariatric surgery after her weight began to affect her marriage
Difference: Shelby said she can hardly recognize herself at present, right, compared to her 411 lbs self, pictured left in 2017
Disbelief: Shelby, right in 2019, poses in the same dress she ‘barely fit into’ for her cousin’s wedding, pictured left in 2015
After she returned from the west coast, the media consultant made an appointment with her doctor about kick starting her weight loss.
During the appointment, Shelby had to stand on the scales and saw her highest ever weight of 411 lbs.
Shelby said she had ‘always been overweight’, weighing 168 lbs when she was just 12-years-old.
As a teenager, she tried to lose weight through fad diets but couldn’t sustain it and her weight continued to creep up.
Shelby admits that large portions and a lack of fresh produce throughout her childhood and no education on proper nutrition led to her awful eating habits, and by the time she left school Shelby tipped the scale at almost 200 lbs.
By the time she visited the doctor after that fateful anniversary trip, she was wearing size 28 clothes and felt ashamed of her weight.
After embarking on a new diet plan, in two months Shelby lost nearly a stone and a half, but she still felt defeated by how far she had to go to reach a healthy weight.
There didn’t seem to be an end in sight, so she started looking into weight loss surgery to help her get there.
Husband: The media consultant praised her husband Hugo, pictured with her in June 2019, whom she married in 2016
Teenager: Shelby, right in September 2019, has recently started the ‘Couch to 5K’ running app and has been celebrating furthering her distance each week
Childhood: Shelby, from Florida, said a lack of nutrition education and fresh produce set her up for poor eating habits in her childhood
In July 2017, Shelby started a six-month program to prove she could make long-term lifestyle changes ahead of undergoing bariatric surgery on January 30, 2018.
The changes she had made to her diet prior to surgery made it easier for Shelby to adjust to smaller portions and healthier meals – something that she had not initially learned in her formative years.
‘My eating habits were awful as I didn’t learn about nutrition growing up, so I ate giant portions and the only vegetables I ate were canned and slathered in butter,’ Shelby recalled of her childhood.
‘I stayed active in school through sports, but when I graduated, I started putting on more weight. I tried to diet occasionally, but never sustained any weight loss – I realize now that I wasn’t dieting properly.
‘I didn’t notice my weight being so high unless there was physical activity I couldn’t do. For a long time, I thought I still enjoyed myself, still went out with friends and was confident for a long time.
‘It wasn’t until I lost the weight that I realized how much I had shrunk myself once I reached my highest weight, avoiding social situations and deliberately stayed home.
Shelby recalled the debilitating moment that caused her to feel so low physically and mentally.
Best friends: Shelby said that her husband Hugo, pictured left in 2017 and right in June 2019, has ‘loved her through thick and thin’
The perfect pair: The Orlando-born media professional poses with Hugo in a pair of her old jeans
Secure: Losing weight and regaining her health has helped Shelby, pictured with her husband, ‘feel more secure’ in her relationship
‘In January 2017, my husband and I were celebrating our anniversary in Seattle but for the entire week I was too tired to do much and skipped out on activities. I stayed in the hotel room because my ankles were so swollen from walking. My weight ruined the entire trip.
‘It was off to a bad start when our luggage got delayed for a day and I couldn’t just go into any shop to buy clothes that fit me. I washed my clothes in the sink and hung them out to dry,’ she said.
‘There was a park that was up a hill and it has an amazing view. I was sobbing in pain and when we reached the top, I couldn’t make it up the stairs to the actual park – Hugo went up without me because I begged him to. I never saw the view.
‘We struggled to fit into bus seats together and the active things that I wanted to do took a toll on me. Not only was it awful for me, but I was lashing out at Hugo because of my own shame.
‘This was my breaking point and I realized how many things my weight impacted. I avoided restaurants with seats that had armrests, I made excuses for why I couldn’t join people at events, and I was too large to use the treadmills at the gym. I could make excuses for all those things, but I hadn’t realized the impact it truly had on my life until the Seattle trip.
‘When we got back, I saw my doctor and discussed the best way to get my health back. I weighed in at my highest weight and was in absolute shock. I squeezed into a size 28 and even then, certain styles didn’t fit.
Surgery: Shelby pictured in January 2018 before having the life-changing gastric bypass surgery
Smiling: The biggest difference between her photos is often in her smiling appearance, as Shelby said she has a newfound confidence
Achievement: Shelby celebrated losing a colossal 200 lbs in June 2019
‘I ate out a lot and had multiple courses, and even finished off Hugo’s food too. I ate a large ten-piece nugget meal with four packs of sauce, large fries and a large drink.
‘My doctor gave me a diet and exercise plan with each meal consisting of four ounces of lean protein, eight ounces of vegetables and a piece of fruit. I could have one snack of fruit a day. I struggled because I felt hungry all the time and was never satisfied.’
Since having bariatric surgery in 2018 and halving her weight, Shelby admits that she feels like a new person and loves the way she looks. The determination she showed to her weight loss is a change she will carry through the rest of her life.
‘The weight loss has just made everything so much better for us. Our date nights no longer focus on going out to dinner. Instead, we embrace new adventures like biking new trails, ice skating and going to theme parks to ride roller coasters,’ Shelby said.
‘I am more confident and happier with myself, which has made me feel more secure in our relationship. We are truly best friends and he has literally loved me through thick and thin.
‘My diet has completely changed since having gastric bypass surgery. Protein is important, so each meal is centered around lean protein. I have cottage cheese and yogurt for breakfast, with grilled chicken and turkey dominating most of my other meals.
Working out: Being active again, including weekly strength training sessions, is now the new normal for the 25-year-old
Progress: Shelby, pictured, shares daily updates about her weight loss journey on her Instagram account @SubtractingShelby
‘I fell in love with cauliflower rice and eat it with almost everything. I stay away from a lot of things with sugar, I have a protein shake every day and take vitamins to supplement what I can’t absorb from food.
‘I have a weekly 30-minute strength training session with a personal trainer who has helped me gain back muscle. I try to make a conscious effort to work out at least three times a week.
Transformation: The Florida-native has made strategic lifestyle changes like walking more and eating low-carb options to help maintain her new physique
‘The biggest change has been pursuing an active lifestyle – walking to places, parking further from the front door and taking walks throughout the day. I used to go to bed at night having done less than 2,000 steps a day, but now I average 11,000 steps a day.
‘I still struggle to notice just how much weight I’ve lost, but I feel like an entirely new person. I’m beyond thrilled with the way I look and, more importantly, the way I feel. It’s like I aged backwards. I am healthier than I’ve ever been.
‘Now, over a year and a half since the surgery, I have little restriction in terms of what I can eat, but I make a conscious effort to put in the work both in the kitchen and in the gym to see results, as I’ve seen plenty of people regain their weight after weight loss surgery. My commitment to a healthier lifestyle is why I continue to lose weight and it’s a lifestyle change that I will continue for the rest of my life.
‘Surgery has helped me learn who I am as a person. I no longer go out of my way to impress people, to prove that I’m more than just the biggest person in the room.’