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I'm a kindergarten teacher and lost 87 pounds to keep up with my students. I wasn't expecting my family to be proud of me.

Aug 29, 2023, 02:00 IST
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Abby Smith before and after she lost 87 pounds.Courtesy of Abby Smith
  • Abby Smith felt like a "bad teacher." Her weight stopped her from keeping active with her class.
  • She was diagnosed with fatty-liver disease, and her doctors said it could develop into cirrhosis.
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This as-told-to essay is based on a conversation with Abby Smith. It has been edited for length and clarity.

I always tried to hide my weight behind baggy outfits — usually black clothes. I once talked to the parent of a child in my kindergarten class who said, "You always look like you're dressed for a funeral."

At the time, I laughed it off. But I was hurt. A similar thing happened when one of my kids was climbing a tree in the playground. "You can't climb a tree because you have too much right here," he said, pointing to my stomach.

"Wow," I thought. "Kids are so honest." This little boy certainly was. I weighed 256 pounds at the time. At 5-foot-4, I was dangerously overweight.

I gained between 40 and 50 pounds during my 2nd pregnancy

I had a lot of health problems, including high blood pressure.

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My weight issues began when I was at college. I stopped playing the sports I did at school, including basketball and soccer. I started eating poorly — college food and fast food from places such as McDonalds. I got heavier every year.

I tried dieting before my wedding but didn't have much success. During my second pregnancy, I gained 40 to 50 pounds. They wouldn't come off.

Smith with her husband, Joshua, before her bariatric surgery.Courtesy of Abby Smith

Diets came and went. I did everything from paleo to Beachbody. I tried every fad diet. But I'd get discouraged because I'd lose fewer than 10 pounds every time. "They're not working," I'd tell my husband, Joshua.

It was getting me down. I went on a field trip to a farm with my students. I was huffing and puffing. It was hard to keep up. I felt a lot of guilt. It made me feel like a bad teacher because I wanted to do active things with my class. The stress made me eat more. I was an emotional eater.

It was the same deal at home. I was tired all the time. My bad moods affected my relationship with my husband and children.

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My older daughter, Aubrey, started playing soccer. I couldn't even kick a ball with her without being winded. Next, I was diagnosed with fatty-liver disease. The doctor said it could eventually lead to cirrhosis. He said that I could prevent it from happening by losing weight. Something had to change.

I had gastric surgery in November and have lost an average 3 pounds a week

We researched bariatric surgery last summer. It seemed like a good option. I met with Dr. Jason Balette, a bariatric surgeon at Memorial Hermann in Houston. "You need to make sure you're 100% on this," he told me. I had to show him I could maintain my weight before the operation.

He performed my gastric-sleeve surgery in November. It took about three hours. My health insurance covered the cost of the operation because my body-mass index was over 40.

Now that she's lost weight, Smith can cheerlead with her daughter Aubrey.Courtesy of Abby Smith

Afterward, I followed the instructions. There was a liquid stage, a puree stage, and a soft-food stage. Then, I could eat small portions of regular food, such as half a cup of chicken. The weight came off quickly — about 2 to 3 pounds a week. I'm down to 169 pounds. I've lost 87 pounds. My goal is to lose a total of 100 pounds. I have a different mindset toward portions and healthy eating.

My family is very proud of me for losing weight

My family loves the change in me. I can join in with soccer and cheerleading with the kids. The biggest aha moment came a couple of months ago. I hugged my younger daughter, Scarlett.

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"Mom, I'm so proud of you," she said. "I can put my arms all the way around you now."

As for the new school year, I'm ready to keep up with my brand-new kindergarten class.

Do you have a powerful story to share with Insider? Please send details to jridley@insider.com.

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