Name: Theresa Borawski
Age: 49
Height: 5’8″
Before Weight: 428 pounds
How I Gained It: I have always battled with weight issues and grew up in a family where food was the focal point of every gathering. I had gained and lost weight a number of times in my younger years, but by my mid-30s began to accept the reality that I would always be overweight and became less concerned about what I ate.
In 2003 and the years to follow, I experienced a significant number of losses in my life. First, I lost a job that I loved and devoted myself to for 15 years. I moved 200 miles away from friends and family to begin a new job. Shortly after my move, I lost two very significant men in my life: my grandfather and my closest friend. I was with each of them as they took their last breaths. The grieving process began, but was compounded by the loss of my new job due to funding cuts. Soon I found myself unemployed again. I was far away from family and close friends and began to fill the void with food. I think subconsciously I was trying to protect myself from getting hurt again, so I created a barrier of weight around me to keep others away.
I was in a lot of emotional pain, but was suddenly feeling a tremendous amount of physical pain as well. There were days when I could hardly walk, and none of the medications and treatments prescribed by various doctors seemed to help. About a year later, I was finally given a positive diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis, but by that time, the pain was so great that I could hardly move. My initial treatment involved medications that made me vomit and feel sick all the time. The doctors prescribed several different medications, but none of them worked. I tried to cope with the pain, the realization that there is no cure for RA and that I would likely end up in a wheelchair before my 50th birthday. To deal with it all I ate more. I developed an addiction to peach soda, drinking at least two liters a day. Those extra calories and my lack of physical movement began to pack on the pounds.
The heavier I got the more pain I experienced. Before long I weighed more than 400 pounds and was dependent on an electric wheelchair, wheeled walker or cane to get around. The physical pain was overwhelming and there came a point when I could hardly take care of myself.
Breaking Point: I began to have several “epiphany” moments after my beloved grandmother died in January 2011, including a conversation in late February with my rheumatologist. During a routine check-up, I informed him that I couldn’t live with the pain much longer. He told me that he was at a loss as to what to do for me because we had already tried multiple medications with little relief. His words, “I think you ought to be less concerned about living like this, and more concerned with just living,” really hit home. I left his office thinking if he couldn’t do anything for me, perhaps I had better do something for myself.
A couple of days later, on March 1, 2011, my sister called me to tell me that she had been scheduled for bariatric surgery. We had a rather tense conversation in which I begged her to reconsider the surgery; I was very afraid that something would happen to her and was opposed to her proceeding that way. She told me she had made up her mind and was going to have it. Well, that was the beginning of my journey! I hung up the phone, stated out loud, “I’ll show you,” opened my refrigerator and proceeded to dump the two-liter bottles of soda down the drain. I then dumped the contents of the sugar bowl in the trash, and from that point on, I never looked back.
How I Lost It: I didn’t follow any specific diet plan, but rather focused on calories. I began to read labels and purchased a calorie counting book off of eBay. I became extremely conscious of the number of calories I was accustomed to consuming on a daily basis, and began to limit my intake to around 1,000 to1,200 calories each day. I ate three meals and a snack, and started drinking a large amount of water with sugar-free flavor packets. I consumed between one and two gallons of water each day. The weight began to fall off at a rapid pace. Because I was over 400 pounds, it took a lot of calories just to eat, sleep and breathe, so when I started shaving about 3,000 to 4,000 calories off my usual intake, I began to lose weight very quickly. These immediate results kept me motivated.
Now, I am a totally new person. Although I still have RA (it never goes away), my symptoms have improved dramatically, and I no longer depend on a mobility device to get around. My motorized wheelchair sits in my office at work with a sign that says “Theresa doesn’t live here anymore” as a reminder that my motivation was to walk again. I no longer have to order clothes from a catalog and can shop in the Misses section and wear more stylish clothes. For the first time in my entire life I am at an average weight for my height and not considered obese. My medication needs have been reduced dramatically, my blood pressure has stabilized and I only need serious pain medications when the RA flares up. I’m not sure who this new person is when I look in the mirror, and I’m a work in progress, but I am so grateful to have been given this second chance at life. I am a walking, talking miracle and a participant in life as opposed to a spectator.
After Weight: 152 pounds
Source: Huffington Post
Theresa you cousin I think is my chiropractor (Nicholas Odette) he told me today if you can do it so can I. HELP ME please. I am 54 and my weight is 388. I have 2 kids at home and 1 married with my beautiful granddaughter. I want to live
TRUELY FANTASTIC!!! WTG!!!!!
Amazing! Thank you for sharing you look fabulous!
Congratulations you did a tremendous job, good luck and you look great!
Congratulations you’ve done a great job good luck to you
You are the greatest. You for filled ur dream you look beautiful
Thanks for sharing this story.
Missy Hoover
Amazing!!
Inspiring and AMAZING! Congratulations!!
Awesome job girl !!!!!
Wow great job.
Wow ! I love how she Turned it into mind over matter .amazing job.
You look fabulous…..congratulations!!!!
inspirational, congratulations on your amazing effort
Epic
Way to go!!
Congratulations to you
Seltzer is so much more delicious with no sugar or sweeteners.
Wow, congratulations!
Wish I could lose 70 pounds
Congratulations on your weight loss a job well done
Amazing..
such a great thing you have done! It is a lot of hard work!!!!!!!!!!!!
Awesome! I hope to do is one day!
God bless you and thank you for sharing
Wow!!! You are amazing!!!
Love to see people so happy and break free! So inspirational. Obese people are labeled as “gross” or “lazy” and people dont realize theres usually a much bigger reason. Were all human and while some people drink, pop pills, smoke to medicate their pain some people eat. Good for this woman
That is absolutely amazing! I love the part about the sign on the wheelchair!
Congratulations! 11 months ago II too gave up soda and lost 18 pounds. I don’t eat pasta or breads and very little sugar! All natural foods!! Well done!!
Congratulations Lori Devers Brulo 🙂 ~kat
Daralynne Wilson
It can be done amazing
Amazon results! Congrats
Amazing story. I also have RA and have found it difficult to lose weight over the years.
bravo
Wow ! Truly amazing! Love your story! An amazing job ! Your look unbelievable!
awesome job
You go girl!!
Fantastic. I’ve recently lost 70 lbs. I need to lose at least 100 more to get to a healthy weight for my height. I’ve gone off track and have put on a few pounds over the last couple of months. Thanks for giving me the motivation and inspiration to get back on track. I am determined to get to my goal weight of 140!
I know you’ll reach your goal! 🙂 ~kat
That’ll be my ideal goal weight too I’m getting there slowly but surely it’s coming off
Amazing. I’ve lost 112 lbs by giving up soda, breads and sugar. I exercise regularly too.
Congratulations!
That’s awesome! When can we see YOUR story on The Weigh We Were.com?? (The submission link is on the blog 😉 )~kat
The Weigh We Were.com of ice never thought about it. I’ll think about it.
very encouraging can I exercise due to injury but need to lose weight thank you for your story any tips feel free to send them to me
You. Look. Fabulous!!!
Great job!!!!
James May Sr.,she gave up sodas. I’m convicted. Lol
My goodness, these photos took my breath away and I gasped out loud. Your resolve and committment to losing weight is amazing. Well done and many congratulations!
you are amazing
Wow!!!!
I’m on my 2nd time quitting sprite. So far the cravings r less.
Congratulations!!! 🙂 ~kat
Congratulations on your amazing weightloss. What an accomplishment!! You look wonderful!!
That’s awesome! We are on our journey now as a family I hope we do good! ☺
No doubt your family will successful!!! 🙂 ~kat
Thank you!
What an amazing great job! The love you have for your sister is greater then the love you had for food or yourself, your an inspiration! Blessing to you always!
Good for you for taking back your life!!!
I’m so happy for you congratulations for all your hard work it paid off.
Thanks for sharing your story. Nothing tastes better than having good health and the ability to walk without assistance. Inspiring!
Congratulations! Very inspiring to everyone!
Congratulations on your amazing transformation. I know it wasn’t easy but look at you now! Wow
Amazing transformation!
But it was only with diet or bariatric surgery was??
Only diet and exercise… 🙂 ~kat
You look fabulous!!
Congratulations
Incredible story and motivation!
Incredible!!! Your life changes looks amazing on you!
What an amazing transformation. I also suffer from RA and have found it hard to lose weight over the years due to my medications.
Wow,she is truly an inspiration.
Wow congratulations, great job.
You are a role model!
Wow! Awesome job! You give me hope for myself
Wow you look great! I really identified with your story. It’s time for me to give up pop again. Thanks for the inspiration!
Congratulations on your hard work to achieve your goal. You are an inspiration to me and I’m sure other too.
Sharing your story
Incredible.
That’s awesome. That will be me in a year hopefully.
Fantastic
So happy for you. You go girl
Amazing
(y) Congrats!!!! 😀
awesome job!!!!
You look GREAT!!
Wow!!!
so proud of this lady.shes beautiful.i have a lot of admiratation for people who try.
Awesome
Great job I am encouraged
Wow!
OMG! what an amazing accomplishment! God Bless You, Theresa!!!
As I am eating the last chips in a bag…
I feel happy for this person
Disgusted with myself
Our stories are similar
All of my doctors say I can’t lose this weight (420pds) without gastric surgery. I am too heavy, my metabolism does not function correctly…
I would love to know more about her journey.
I have pretty much decided I will die this way.
This weight is my prison.
You can escape that prison Becky. I believe you can! Good luck!
What an awesome story
Awesome ,♡
Wow no words
Wow
conratulation, you are just perfect.
Awesome
Gratz!
Wow. My mum was as big but passed away just a few weeks after some really great weighloss progress. These stories inspire me. I’m happy for anyone who chooses to better there health and bodies by loosing weight and not just for vanity and bikini comps.
Very Impressive !!
Great going!! You have inspired hundreds! Aren’t you proud?
Amazing!
What happens w all the excess skin?
So inspiring!
Amazing
Unreal!!!!!! amazing job!
I love this:)
You go girl!!!
Wow great job!
Congratulations!!! You are a true inspiration for all of us. You could have taken the easy way and had surgery but you didnt! So proud of you!
Wow! Way to go. You look fantastic!
Wow, you look fabulous
Way to go Theresa you look great!
Congrats!
Wonderful!!!
Awesome !
wow great job
Awesome
Woww ,nice ! 😉
You look amazing! I am so proud of you! Very inspiring to me on my journey. Thank you.
Very awesome!
You go girl.
way to go.. you look fabulous
Amazing and inspirational!
you look amazing
Congrats
the only way to really slim ,treat carbs as fuel not a treat
Yes
A true success story! I don’t think I have ever seen/heard of a transformation as awesome as yours! Congrats Theresa on getting your life back!
Major kudos to you girl! Makes my 53 look like nothing 🙂
Wow!!!!!! Allison Dumas Dara Mallory Joy Crandall Lovie Malonebaker
Great job!!
That is amazing congrats
Amazing story!
OMG Good job
Amazing!!!
That’s amazing!
Thanks but why was my comment deleted?
Amazing!
BRAVO WONDERFUL AND I KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE YOU FEEL A LOT BETTER !!!
Did you have surgery to remove the extra skin I was like you I lost 160 pounds with more to go but I have alot of extra skin you look good but no matter how much exercise you do wouldnt get rid of all the extra skin. But you do look fantastic
very motivational. I am currently 270lb and have 110lb to lose to get into the ‘normal’ range. I just need to push myself to start and not give up :'(
Ya, what about the excess skin? Lol
Just another inspiring story to keep me going. Theresa you make me smile and know I can do this.
She looks great
What happened to her skin though?! Did it shrink that much on its own or did she have to have some surgically removed?
Very inspiring!!!
Wow!! Awesome!!
That’s awesome!! Go Theresa! Congrats 🙂
That’s awesome.
Hell ya!!!!!!!!