Too Much Fast Food
This young man, Anthony Bayer, had trouble eating healthy for quite a while now. He loved fast food and ate it every single day. Fries, burgers, pizzas, and hot dogs. The supposed weekend treats had become an everyday menu for this young man.
His family tried to intervene, but Anthony was so sneaky he always got a hold of this unhealthy food every single day. He gained more and more weight, but he never seemed to be bothered by it. He was blinded by these so-called fast foods and never gave proper nutrition a single thought.
The Mocking and Taunting Started
With his unhealthy weight and obvious lack of effort to control his eating tendencies, he soon became the subject of teasing and taunting in the school. What was sadder was that even his teachers join in and make subtle comments about his issues without actually helping solve the problem.
Although still affected by the humiliation around him, Anthony learned to build a wall around him and continued with his awful eating habits. His unhealthy coping was slowly dragging him further down. He was not aware of what was about to come.
He Struggled Alone in School
It is now obvious that the cycle of poor food choices and an unhealthy emotional state is locking the young man in a world of harm. Unless some miracle happens (or real help occurs), he will only continue bringing himself down further. Meatballs for breakfast, two pizzas for lunch, and a fried chicken for dinner do sound tasty but not ideal for everyday consumption.
This cycle of mindless eating turned into a method of coping from the ridicule he gets at school. The more he felt alone and rejected, the more he held tight to his poor eating habits.
Prom Is Coming
As with every high school, prom can be the highlight of the year. Will it be the same for Anthony? When he heard about the news, he was quick to dismiss the idea of attending and thought that was not his thing. He could still feel the exciting vibe though in the corridors as everyone was frantic about looking for a partner for the prom.
Again, he told himself he is never going to go. Something unexpected happened a short while later. The high school Ms. Popular, Molly, suddenly approached him during math class. Puzzled, he wondered what she could possibly want from him.
Beauty That Dazzles
Molly was the typical popular girl in high school. He felt blood rushing to his cheeks when she started to talk to him. Butterflies filled his stomach. When she opened her mouth, everything felt like slow motion for Anthony.
She just asked him if he would go to prom with her! At loss for words, he could only utter, “Yeah sure.” Anthony for the first time was filled with excitement and happiness in school. Young Anthony was thrilled to think about what could possibly happen next.
Prom Night
Days went by so quickly that it was already prom night. Anthony went all out, trying to look and feel his best. He rented a very fancy suit and even went another level by renting a limousine to impress beautiful Molly. He still could not believe that he was asked out by the prettiest girl in school.
All prepped up, he kissed his parents goodbye for the night and hopped into the fancy vehicle to pick up Molly. He had no idea what was in store for him.
Ready to Pick Up His Prom Date
The dashing Anthony ticked off all the boxes to complete the perfect prom date checklist. Confident but still with a racing heartbeat, he walked towards Molly’s porch and rang the doorbell. He could still feel his shaking hands as he released the doorbell button.
The only thing he could do was take a very deep breath while waiting for Molly to open the door. What the supposed high school sweetheart did next would leave young Anthony traumatized for the rest of his life.
He Became a Laughingstock
Young Anthony had no premonition at all on what was about to happen. Molly soon appeared and as expected, she looked stunning in her prom gown. However, her reaction upon seeing Anthony was rather bizarre. She started to laugh at him. A split second later, a group of people behind Molly joined in and laughed all together.
Confused, Anthony wondered if he had cookie crumbs on him or even a shaving cream on his face. It soon dawned on him the reason for the laughter with reasons that are worse than what he initially thought.
Shamed
Molly uttered the meanest words towards Anthony while pointing a finger straight to his face. “You’re just a big joke,” Molly cruelly said. Upon hearing that line, he suddenly felt pale in disbelief. His whole being was crushed in the blink of an eye. Tears went gushing into his cheeks.
He instantly ran towards the limousine and hurried to get home. He felt shattered and so wronged. In his young life, never did he receive such a cruel act. All the hurtful comments at school became so little compared to what Molly did that night.
Trying to Feel Safe at Home
Anthony rushed home and the very first thing he went for was the fridge. The young man suffered so much inner turmoil, and confused as he was before that night happened, he immediately went for the only thing that has been giving him comfort—food. He tried to eat everything that he can more in the hopes of calming his nerves down than actually filling his stomach.
Nobody was able to stop him as his parents went out that night too. While swallowing all the food, he could not help but think about the next day’s bigger mockery in school. He was sure that news of the prank would spread, and he would be the talk of the town.
The Embarrassment Keeps Building Up
He knew he still needed to go back to school and face his bully schoolmates. The next Monday morning, he could see everyone was laughing at him in school and the news of the awful prank just kept spreading on the campus. His public rejection appeared to be a source of humor for his cruel schoolmates.
Despite being swallowed up in embarrassment and still using his unhealthy coping mechanisms, Anthony was blessed to have the awareness that high school was just about to finish and that his life will go on. All these cruel people would soon get what was coming to them...
Still Using Unhealthy Eating Habits
Trying to ease down the emotional effects of his recent nightmare, he continued with his bad eating. He was now finding it more and more difficult to slow down and actually feel full. Large pizzas, chocolate cake, meatball subs, KFC burger meal, a bottle of coke, and a packet of Magnum ice-creams continued to be his daily munchies.
All in all, he consumed around 10,000 calories per day which is an extreme caloric intake. Anthony still did not see the downside of his ways.
Heavier and Heavier
It was not long before his weight doubled and tripled. His relentless poor eating habits were now taking a toll on his body. He even reached almost 300 pounds on the scale. He grew more obese and attracted more hurtful remarks around him. More than the bullying, his deteriorating health was tapping him on the back for some real attention.
All the scornful looks and rumors are now slowly fading in the background as he became more and more aware of what is actually happening in his body.
Health Issues on the Rise
Teenagers are not typically bombarded with health issues. Overall health is usually good as a young person. Anthony, although young, is in an atypical situation. Being overweight, he is at high risk for developing type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, gallstones, high cholesterol, stroke, coronary artery disease, and sleep apnea.
These are major health issues that are not normally present in one’s teenage years. He might potentially develop liver issues and bone issues. Anthony took a while to wake up and realize his situation.
Out of Control
Anthony confessed he fell into a deep depression after that incident in high school. He was extremely affected that it went on for a couple of years after graduating. His self-esteem was at its lowest and he thought he could never be with someone else. The cycle of seeking comfort in food continued on together with his depression.
He let his food addiction run the show for many years. He claimed he never knew how to eat properly already and that he could not even bother to care about it.
Lost Self Conviction
At some point years later, he thought of trying the gym, However, he was too weight conscious that he could not bear walking inside the gym and be looked at and possibly be ridiculed again. Deep inside, he knew he should go.
Similar to a hungry person, they have every right to be inside a restaurant to eat. A little help from the doctor was about to give him the nudge he needed to change his life for the better.
Hello Doctor
A supposed regular visit to the doctor turned out to be the best thing that has happened to him in the last couple of years. It became the wake-up call that he badly needed. His doctor performed some tests, and the results were causing a loud bell in his ears that made him wake up to his reality.
He was on the verge of developing diabetes. The result scared him, and he panicked. He knew he needed to make some changes right away or he will be on the losing end very soon.
Changes Must Be Made Right Away
The trip to the doctor pushed him to do better for his own welfare. He felt that he could die if he did not make any necessary changes in his lifestyle soon. His very first step inside the gym soon happened, and also, he made some much needed alterations in his eating habits.
Eating healthy became his priority. Young Anthony did struggle at first. After all, greatness does not always happen in one’s comfort zone. He knew he was on the right track and giving up is not in his vision at all.
Lifestyle Makeover
Anthony eventually learned to cut down on unhealthy foodstuff and stick only with nutritious ones. Gone are the pizza days for Anthony. He was becoming more aware of food variety and moderation. Whole grains, fruits, carbohydrates, proteins, and vegetables filled his daily routine.
With dietary changes, he was able to boost his metabolism. His cravings were greatly cut down due to his high protein meals. He also learned to cut down on sugar to minimize his predisposition towards diabetes. Fast foods are now gone with the wind for the new and improved Anthony!
Positive Transformations
When he was extremely overweight, Anthony recalled how poor his self-esteem was. He was full of hate for himself and even thought nobody could ever love him. Finding the right help came at just the right time, and his desire for a life partner and family of his own helped him create a healthier future.
He could already feel the difference physically and emotionally. He was liking the changes that were happening and stopping now was not an option.
New Life
Going to the gym and eating healthy became his new coping mechanisms for stress. His motivation to become a better version of himself only became stronger every day. The scales are slowly showing his progress. His path towards fitness was long and exhausting, but his motivation was greater than anything else.
His confidence kept rising. He soon realized he had become so much happier. In the midst of all these positive changes, little did he know that someone from his ugly past is about to show up.
In Better Shape Inside and Out
Five long years have now passed since that unfortunate prom night happened. Anthony now was nowhere near the 17-year old Anthony physically, mentally, and emotionally. He is in his best shape so far. He even started a YouTube channel with the sole purpose of inspiring people to be better.
He knew he had a lot to share and he could relate to the dilemmas of young people with health issues. Being more physically fit, it was not long before he started to get attention from girls. Dating applications got him over 1000 matches. Things were now so much better for him. However, he still had no idea what or who he had to face again.
An Unexpected Message
After a routine session in the local gym one afternoon, Anthony was ready to go home and call it a day. As he parked his car in the driveway, his phone suddenly made a little beeping noise. Who could it be? As he reached out for his mobile phone, he saw the message notification.
He opened it and when he saw who the sender was, he felt nothing but disgust. His initial hyped vibe after a gym work out was suddenly replaced with repulsion.
From Molly
He was trembling when he saw her name on the screen. Molly. That cruel girl from five years ago is now texting Anthony. Aside from disgust, he was also filled with questions. He could not figure out how she got his number, nor what she is up to now.
The hurtful past is coming back in flashbacks in his mind. Why is she reaching out to him now? With what she had done before, Anthony could not believe how she got the nerve to even text him.
Speechless
The message gave Anthony a great sense of disbelief and disgust. Although she expressed her apology for the act she had done years ago, the remaining part of the message was just out of this world and totally unbelievable. With the pain she has caused for young Anthony, will one simple apology through text and a date invitation be enough to erase everything?
Anthony could not believe what he just read. Was she up to her same creul shenanigans from all those years ago? Could it be that she was really into him now?
Turning the Tables
The unexpected message from Molly allowed Anthony to relive all those awful memories on prom night. She was an extreme bully and caused him pain that lasted for years. He knew he would not give her any portion of time at all. Anthony, later on, thought of something to turn the tables, or at least make everything fair and square at least.
What he did afterward was something Molly never expected him to do. This time she was the one who was clueless and about to get a taste of her own medicine.
To Forgive Is One Thing, to Forget Is Another Thing
If you thought Anthony was going to prank for Molly, you got it wrong. Anthony actually thought of completely ignoring her text. She would be left hanging in the process and eventually will feel rejected by the man she mocked before. But would that be enough?
Anthony was keen to move forward and let go of all the bad things in his life. He does not need to do low acts to get even. With his head up high, he knew he already got the last laugh.
Realization
At a later interview, Anthony revealed that realizations in life take time, and for him it took years. It also took a dip in his health before he woke to the reality that his health is already in danger. Being told that he was pre-diabetic made him so scared and afraid for his life. The need to change for the better should come from within. Being wide aware of the situation and what you should do helps pull out a person from the depths of possible harm.
Anthony claimed he eventually stopped going for fast food and relied on his own home cooking skills. The gym has been his second home since 2014. Perhaps his struggles in life did play a big role in helping him change for the better, but no one should have to experience such cruel behavior. Anthony took the opportunity to be a better version of himself, despite the ridicule he endured all those years ago.
After Being Bullied and Cheated On, This Single Mother Achieves the Ultimate Revenge Body
Samantha Rawley is a 30-year-old mother who lives in Orange County, California. As a single mother of one, she always has her 11-year-old daughter, Alexis, in mind.
When she became a single mother, she knew she needed a new way to make money. So, she followed in her family’s footsteps and entered real estate. Rawley had struggled with her weight for the majority of her childhood. She was always bullied for her weight and her boyfriend... well, you would want to give him a piece of your mind after reading what he allowed himself to do. That’s why, as her daughter grew older, she knew she had to make a change.
A Long Journey
Since Rawley had been struggling with her weight for many years, she was already pretty confident in her own body. In fact, she considered herself very confident for a “big girl.”
When reflecting on her journey, she realized that even though she is much happier now that she has lost weight, she was never really sad or upset before. She just knew that she needed to improve her health so she could be around for her daughter as she got older. Rawley also says that it’s important to love yourself wherever you are in your weight loss journey because reaching a certain number on the scale isn’t going to magically make everything click into place. Of course, given the world we live in today, things wouldn't be so simple as far as love life goes...
No Luck in Dating
Rawley said that dating was no picnic when she was at her largest. In fact, her last boyfriend before her dramatic transformation is what inspired her to get the ultimate revenge body.
She had been dating a guy for about a year and a half in secret. No one, not even friends, knew they were dating. He even went as far as to hide her from his family. Rawley said, “It was hard because I felt like I was always trying to make him happy and never living for myself.” There was one final thing that was just too much...
The Final Straw
Rawley’s final straw with this relationship came in 2018 when her secret boyfriend started publicly dating another woman while they were still a couple.
He didn’t keep this woman a secret and would even post pictures of her all over his social media. It was only then that Rawley realized that something needed to change and she finally got the confidence to make a big change in her life. “That's when I realized I could finally do this for myself,” she said. And like all personal journeys, the most important thing is your mindset...
The Right Mindset
Even though it took a bad relationship to give Rawley the confidence to finally lose weight, she was more than ready to hit the ground running with a good attitude.
She said that she was just emotionally exhausted after being kept a secret from his family for so long because of her weight. Rawley said, “I was always a pretty confident big girl, but deep down I wasn't living to my highest potential. I felt like I reached my 'ceiling' and I didn't have anywhere else to go.” So, how did Rawley begin her journey?
Starting With Her Diet
Now that she was ready to get the ultimate revenge body, she had to start somewhere. So, she chose to start with her diet.
Before she decided to lose weight, her diet was far from healthy. Her go-to order was two cheeseburgers and a 10 piece box of chicken nuggets from McDonald’s. Rawley said that she could eat all that food by herself in just one sitting. She would even sometimes go all day without eating just to binge eat fast food in the evening. Diet wouldn't be enough for Rawley, so it was time to add something to the process...
The Gastric Sleeve
Next, Rawley chose to undergo surgery and get a gastric sleeve in September of 2018 to aid in her weight loss. Her mother had gastric bypass surgery in 2002 and Rawley saw the complications her mother had and knew it wasn’t for her.
She chose the gastric sleeve because it was less invasive and she could use it as an extra tool in her weight loss journey. Even so, there were other complications that Rawley eventually ran into with a gastric sleeve, and perhaps she should have been better informed...
Before the Storm
To get her gastric sleeve surgery, Rawley had to meet with a psychiatrist to get approved. It only took her one 20 minute appointment, which she thinks isn’t enough.
She had to deal with quite a bit after her surgery and she wishes she had been better prepared for the aftermath. Rawley thinks more therapy can better prepare patients for their surgery. The only complication she was made aware of was eating solid food immediately after surgery. The doctors told her about a man who ate a burrito right after his surgery which made his stomach rupture. Rawley's stomach didn't rupture, but there was something else!
After the Surgery
After Rawley had her gastric sleeve surgery, she could only eat liquids for three whole weeks afterward.
Abstaining for food wasn’t hard as she said nothing was appetizing to her while she was recovering. She even had a hard time keeping water down for a while. In fact, Rawley got to the point that she was drinking so little water because of how it made her stomach feel that she developed a kidney stone! She said that the pain was worse than being in labor for 22 hours!
Complications and Back to Hospital
After developing a kidney stone after her gastric sleeve surgery, Rawley had to go to the hospital. Her kidney stone ended up lasting nine days and she had to go back to the hospital twice more before getting it under control.
Rawley was throwing up between 20 and 30 times a day, even though there was nothing in her stomach to throw up. She felt so bad that she started writing a will for her daughter because she thought she was going to die.
What Else Could Go Wrong?
Besides the kidney stone, Rawley had another complication: she was starting to go numb from the waist down.
One day, when shaving her legs before a doctor’s appointment, she realized that she couldn’t feel the razor on her skin. The numbness soon began creeping up her chest and she really began to worry. At the time, Rawley had been smoking cannabis to settle her stomach so she wouldn’t throw up everything she ate or drank. But, the doctors blamed her numbness on the cannabis.
A Work in Progress
However, with a couple of extra blood work panels, it became clear that Rawley was not experiencing numbness from smoking cannabis. She had a thiamine deficiency and her B1 was dangerously low.
Rawley had to start going to the doctor to get shots in her butt three times a week. Even so, it took her body a year to get back to normal. She was so sick during this time, that she lost a whopping 67 pounds in one month!
A Tragic Realization
After her almost dangerous vitamin deficiency following her surgery, Rawley started spreading awareness of the complication. No doctors had warned her of it and she came to find out that many doctors didn’t even think to check for it.
Rawley found a post in a Facebook group for gastric surgery patients where a 23-year-old woman listed the same issues Rawley had been having. When she reached out to provide help, she tragically found out that the woman had died. Now, she tries even harder to warn people of this potential side effect.
A Healthier Diet
When Rawley’s life returned to normal after fixing the complications from her surgery, she was able to get back to making lifestyle changes to help her continue to lose weight. She started by making sure she ate nutritious and wholesome foods all day long instead of waiting to binge eat fast food at night.
After her surgery, Rawley noted that it hasn’t affected her appetite as much. She stays pretty hungry, but now she knows what and how to eat. She starts by eating all the protein on her plate before moving on to her veggies and then her carbs.
Daily Routine
While she was losing weight, Rawley’s breakfast consisted of one egg white, half of a piece of toast, and some fruit.
For lunch, she would eat a chicken wrap with spinach and buffalo sauce on a low carb tortilla. And for dinner, she would eat either salmon or chicken with a side of sauteed vegetables. Rawley also began taking walks around her neighborhood for exercise and eventually, she began to incorporate weight training by going to the gym several times a week.
Lots of Changes
Rawley went from 326.6 pounds to 156.6 pounds. That’s a total loss of 203 pounds!
She said all of her friends and family have been very supportive of her on her weight loss journey. It has been very different when it comes to going out to eat or going on dates, but she said that she has adjusted easily. And Rawley says she still recommends the gastric sleeve surgery to people, even after all of her complications. She even said she would do it all over again if need be because it made her a stronger person.
Final Touches
After she had lost all that weight, Rawley spent $20,000 on reconstructive plastic surgery to help her get rid of all that loose skin and tone her arms, legs, and stomach.
Overall, she said the arms were the easiest to recover from and the pain was about three out of ten. Her tummy tuck was just as easy at a four out of ten and the breast lift was about a five out of ten. However, Rawley said that her thighs were the most painful at an eight out of ten. She even said it felt like her thighs were ripping with every step she took. It was the largest incision, so it took the longest to recover from.
Mind Over Matter
After finally completing her revenge body, Rawley said that her mindset has been the biggest change of all. Once she made the changes, she realized just how dissatisfied she had been the whole time.
She said, “My mindset has shifted 100 percent and I'm much happier and positive now, because at this point, I feel like I have broken through my ceiling and it's only up from here!” Rawley even said she didn’t think she’d be able to lose all the weight that she wanted to at first. She said, “I was bullied in high school, and of course the random remarks from people, but I think my biggest obstacle was myself and the mindset behind the scenes.”
The Best Result
The best result from Rawley’s weight loss has been everything she can now do with her daughter, Alexis. She can now go to Disneyland and get on rides that she couldn’t before because of her weight. She even coaches Alexis’s softball team!
Rawley said, “My daughter and I have always been very close but I feel like her watching my transition and seeing me go through everything has made us closer.” She also said Alexis has been so sweet and helpful to her during her weight loss journey, supporting her every step of the way!
Happier Than Ever
Now, Rawley happily admits that she is the happiest she has ever been!
She said, “I can't even put into words how grateful I am for these kinds of experiences and what this journey has provided and taught me.” Even though she got a lot of flack for “taking the easy way out” and worries about gaining the weight back like a lot of gastric surgery patients, she is still happy that she got the surgery because she used it as a tool, not a quick fix.
What’s Next?
Next, Rawley is taking on spreading awareness of VSG surgery and the complications that could arise from it. She already has 27,200 followers on Instagram under the handle @therealslimsammii and posts videos with her friend on the account @VSGTea giving information and answering questions about her gastric sleeve surgery.
She started her Instagram after being inspired by other peoples' progress and started sharing her own before and after photos. Soon, she will also be a part of a confidence panel at a conference for people who have had gastric surgery. Rawley said, “I would love to make a difference in the weight loss community regarding mental health. So, that's my main focus right now and educating the community!”
Rawley achieved the ultimate revenge body and you can rest assured that her ex-boyfriend is kicking himself, and rightfully so.
Rawley achieved the ultimate revenge body and you can rest assured that her ex-boyfriend is kicking himself, and rightfully so.