Desiree Alexis-Kae Mize as told to Aryelle Siclait

At 8 years old, when I was <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/health/g19683170/thyroid-symptoms-in-women/" id="8980f91b-3fd3-3945-a218-17223b047cd2"> diagnosed with hypothyroidism </a> (a condition which slowed my metabolism), I wasn't surprised. I had been through child health bootcamps and never lost weight from them, so my hypothyroidism diagnosis just confirmed that losing weight was extra hard for me.

After my diagnosis, I thew myself into as many sports as possible, and tried as many diets as I could, in an effort to do more to lose weight. Sometimes, it worked; I'd lose 20 pounds, but then I'd plateau, and gain it back. I also have four sisters-including my twin-who are all thin and tall, so I constantly compared myself to them, which didn't help with my self esteem.

<h1> At 21, I weighed 260 pounds, so my doctor suggested surgery. </h1>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvNy-CuBiDQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="d042f1d7-e71a-3c67-a303-36f4185e4bf9"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BvNy-CuBiDQ/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="7933b952-357b-3310-a675-206c0da694c2"> A post shared by Desiree Alexis-Kae Mize (@wokeuplikedez) </a> on Mar 19, 2019 at 8:47pm PDT

At that point, I had been gaining weight steadily every year. With no end to my weight gain in sight, my doctor told me about gastric bypass surgery. He explained that the procedure would reduce the size of my stomach from the size of a football to the size of an egg and restrict the amount of food I could eat.

I wanted to get the surgery that year, but skepticism from my family and friends about <a href="https://www.womenshealthmag.com/weight-loss/a19975367/bariatric-surgery/" id="9714fcbb-1dc2-39d3-ae78-00f7014fc962"> weight-loss surgeries </a> being the easy way out on top of my own fears about surgical complications held me back.

I spent the next three years closely following the experiences of women who'd had gastric bypass surgery and shared their stories on YouTube and Instagram.

I also learned that the surgery would help me with portion control, but my weight-loss would still require the discipline that Id been working on my entire life. The only difference was this time, Id actually see results.

<h1> I knew I had to finally get surgery when my ankles started getting so swollen at the end of the day. </h1>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuudaO0hiyH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="30347463-8443-3a19-ae96-adb4194e2e24"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuudaO0hiyH/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="ba251bc3-cf8f-3c83-ad6a-d104eaf8c147"> Lately I have been feeling really down on myself because of my loose skin. I was just telling my sister how I am stressing over our trip to Mexico next month because I need to go swimsuit shopping And that has never been an easy chore for me. During this time last year, I went swimsuit shopping and my experience was pretty amazing! I felt like I could wear way more swimsuit styles but I always wore them with a skirt! Yesterday at target, I picked up a couple swimsuit skirts but my sister encouraged me to try some actual bikini bottoms! Luckily, I found some high-waisted ones and to my surprise I fell in love with them!!! One of my biggest goals has always been to wear a bikini!! Sure, this is high-waisted but it is a two piece and Im not hiding everything under a skirt for once! It definitely feels weird to put this on and know that I will be prancing around in public in it, but it wasnt as uncomfortable as I imagined! Swimsuits dont have to be all that bad, luckily for me even when I was heavy I found more flattering styles with longer tops and high-waisted, flowy skirts! Now I am on the hunt for more high waisted bottoms that are cute but give me the coverage that make me comfortable! #wls #wlscommunity #gastricbypass #gastricbypasssurgery #gastricbypassjourney #weightloss #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #fitness #fitnessmotivation #transformation #motivation #cardio #treadmill #progress #progressnotperfection #girlswholift #girlswhosquat #fitfam #fitspiration #fitspo #fitstagram #fitspire #fitgirlsguide #fitnesslife #fitlife </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wokeuplikedez/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="3f4e23ae-4d6d-30da-a259-65f84430e01d"> Desiree Alexis-Kae Mize </a> (@wokeuplikedez) on Mar 7, 2019 at 3:42pm PST

The swelling happened because my body and mostly my legs had to support my weight all day. I came home crying one day and immediately went to my doctor for another gastric bypass surgery referral-this time at 298 pounds.

Three months later, I went under the knife, and it turned out to be the best decision I've ever made.

<h1> After surgery, my diet was extremely restricted, because my stomach couldn't hold a lot of food. </h1>

I also had to eat a lot of bland food, just so my stomach wouldn't feel irritated-so I ate small portions of soft foods like rice and eggs.

But now, a year post-op, Im reintroducing my stomach to my favorite foods. Before surgery, while I never binge ate, I frequently ate Mexican food, I snacked a lot, and served myself large portions. But now, so that my stomach doesnt stretch back out, I dont eat meals larger than the palm of my hand.

I also track my macronutrients using MyFitnessPal, I meal prep, and Ive found alternatives to my favorite foods, such as burrito bowls made with lean ground turkey and zoodles. But still, Ill have a few bites of cake for dessert of Im craving it.

When I eat at home, a day of meals might look like this:

<ul><li> Breakfast : Chobani flips or cottage cheese and fruit with coffee </li><li> Lunch : Salad with either chicken or ground turkey or lettuce wraps </li><li> Snack : A ONE Almond Bliss protein bar or hummus and vegetables </li><li> Dinner : Zucchini pizza </li></ul>

<h1> Since my gastric bypass surgery, I've lost 150 pounds. </h1>

<a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuncuuGBmW-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="87407b38-424d-3fe3-a0b1-58d88bf70b86"> View this post on Instagram </a> <a href="https://www.instagram.com/p/BuncuuGBmW-/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="59e81d70-1941-3df3-a4af-e2a5de7b1d28"> So following up on one of my last posts where I talked about some of my new goals for this year and one of them is BUILDING MUSCLE Im officially one month into @mad.4.fitness Ladies Hypertrophy program and Im LOVING IT! Im already starting to see a little muscle definition (finally!!) and having each gym day planned out for me has helped soo much with staying on track, motivated, and committed and Im continually challenging myself with lifting heavier! So thankful for Maddies advice and knowledge and willingness to share it with me and so many others #wls #wlscommunity #gastricbypass #gastricbypasssurgery #gastricbypassjourney #weightloss #weightlossjourney #weightlosstransformation #fitness #fitnessmotivation #transformation #motivation #cardio #treadmill #progress #progressnotperfection #girlswholift #girlswhosquat #fitfam #fitspiration #fitspo #fitstagram #fitspire #fitgirlsguide #fitnesslife #fitlife #hypertrophy #hypertrophytraining </a> A post shared by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/wokeuplikedez/?utm_source=ig_embed&amp;utm_medium=loading" id="3f4e23ae-4d6d-30da-a259-65f84430e01d"> Desiree Alexis-Kae Mize </a> (@wokeuplikedez) on Mar 4, 2019 at 10:21pm PST

While I'm proud of my weight loss, my next goal is to build more muscle to fill out the loose skin I now have because of my rapid drop in weight. I go to the gym five days a week and try to incorporate a mix of cardio and strength training (I also spent some time in the sauna after every workout to relax).

Now, I feel like Im finally happy and confident with myself and my body. I know gastric bypass surgery isn't the best choice for everyone, but it was the right choice for me, and it definitely wasn't the "easy way out." It not only helped me see results I never thought were possible because of my health condition-but it has also helped me stay healthier by keeping my weight in check.

I can't remember a time when I wasn't overweight. In preschool, at just 5 years old, I weighed 90 pounds.

'I Lost 150 Pounds After Being Diagnosed With Hypothyroidism.'

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Desiree Alexis-Kae Mize as told to Aryelle Siclait

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'I Lost 150 Pounds After Being Diagnosed With Hypothyroidism.'