An overweight single mom whose knees constantly ached has lost nearly half of her weight after she was told she needed to lose weight or face a knee replacement.
28-year-old Elizabeth Hittinger from Allentown, Pennsylvania, is an inspirational young mom who used to weigh nearly 260 pounds and wear size 18 clothes.
For years, Elizabeth hated her own body and got stuck in a dangerous cycle of depression and medical problems including knee pain.
“I tried so much to lose weight the usual ways. I dieted and went to the gym constantly. I had no confidence about how I looked or my weight and in 2019, I had a lot of wake up calls with my health,” the mother-of-one revealed.
Besides suffering from knee pain caused by obesity, Elizabeth was also diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome which contributed to her weight gain.
“My orthopedic doctor told me that I would probably need a knee replacement in my 40s if I did not get my weight into check,” the 28-year-old explained.
“My depression was out of control because I was just not happy with how I looked. Having so many health issues, I knew it was time to change.’
As the mother recalled, she decided to make a change for the better after feeling “embarrassed and ashamed” for not being able to enjoy a ride at an amusement park due to her size.
In the summer of 2019, Elizabeth embarked on a brave weight loss mission as she started preparing for gastric sleeve surgery.
“Planning for surgery came with a lot of hurdles, including three months of nutrition visits, doctor appointments, and I had to meet with a therapist to make sure I was ready, but I powered through all of them,” the mother said.
Following the November surgery, the 28-year-old lost fifty pounds in a matter of months, whereas she now weighs just over 150 pounds and fits in size 6 dresses.
“My knee pains are gone. I can go to the gym and run and actually enjoy it. I can wear a bathing suit and feel sexy and confident in it. I now have the energy to keep up with my nine-year-old daughter’s activities and am healthier to be around longer for her,” Elizabeth added.
Not only is she now healthier and feels better in her own body but she has also met the love of her life, 29-year-old Peter, after deciding to turn her life around.
“It is absolutely amazing to love myself and be able to feel loved by him. I finally had the confidence to put myself out there again. I was so excited. Peter was my first date after I had surgery and I was so ready for it,” the mom concluded.
“I no longer have any health issues. I love myself, but the biggest benefit is having my daughter have a happy and healthy mom.”
Replaced!