Alana Marie

I once weighed 528 pounds. I had a gastric bypass back in 2000 which saved my life and helped me to lose 220 pounds...however after a time, with no support or followup program back in those days, I began to gain the weight back and in 2012 I had gained back 175 pounds and had developed a severe drinking problem. One day, drunk and weighing well over 400 pounds (again) I fell in my driveway on a snowy January night and shattered my wrist in 3 places. Not being able to push myself up, I sat there for nearly an hour in the bitter cold until I finally crawled into my house. The next morning I had an epiphany and forever changed my life. I stopped drinking that day, went to my first Weight Watchers meeting and started going to counseling. The WLS helps me control my appetite and sugar intake, but I found that it isn't a magic answer. It takes hard work and motivation to keep the weight off, even after surgery. Today, almost 3 years later I have lost that 170 pounds again and am still clean and sober. I have launched a writing career telling about all of my struggles.I have written a blog, a book "Pick A Struggle Cupcake", I have published stories in "Chicken Soup For The Soul" and Weight Watchers "Thinline Magazine" along with many other online magazines and websites. I am here to share some of my struggles with you. Stay inspired, "The struggle is real!"