A MUM who piled on the pounds after having nightly dinner dates in the “newlywed phase” lost almost 14 stone with the help of three diet changes.
Chandra Pearce, 36, found herself gaining weight after marrying her husband Chad, 36.
The pair would treat themselves to restaurant meals most nights but after stepping on the scales and seeing her heaviest weight – 387lbs – Chandra knew something had to give.
She got Chad, a university security worker, to take photos to hold her accountable before losing 97lbs through a strict diet.
Chandra was later prescribed Ozempic after being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes.
She but collapsing from anaphylactic shock three times when her son was just a few weeks old, so she decided to look into a vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) – a type of weight loss surgery where a large section of the stomach is “cut off”.
The operation allowed the mum-of-one to lose a further 105lbs – and she is now a slender 189lbs.
Now she is “healthier” for her son Crew, one, and has more energy to play at the park with him.
Chandra, a childcare director from Burleson, Texas, US, said: “It was kind of the newlywed phase of going out to dinner almost every night.
“We didn't have kids, so we were just going to work and then going to dinner.
“You're just happy, with your best friend having fun and it wasn't until six months after we got married that I noticed my weight.”
Chandra and Chad tied the knot in March 2015 and the new bride didn't realise just how much weight she had put on until she stepped on the scales in October of the same year.
She said: “It's weird because they say it doesn't come on overnight.
“I see the same person I saw then, and I know that doesn't make sense but there was just one day where it caught my attention.
“I thought, ‘I'm going to get my weight', and it was such a shock because I'd never seen that weight before.
“I got off the scales and back on and saw the number again and I was overwhelmed.
“I thought ‘I'm taking control'. I said to my husband, please take these photos of me because I never want to be here again. “
Chandra was then diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, and was put on metaformin to help treat it.
She started a strict diet, implementing three key changes – she swore off junk food, sugary snacks and fizzy drinks, switched to home cooked meals, or ate grilled chicken and vegetables if she went out.
She said: “I lost 100lbs by myself. During that time is when we were trying to get pregnant”.
Chandra's diet before and after her weight loss
Chandra indulged in lavish date night dinners when she first married her husband, but she also enjoyed fast food breakfasts, fizzy drinks and sweets.
Here's what her diet consisted of before her weight loss:
- Breakfast: Fast food on the way to work. A breakfast meal from McDonald's with a large sugary coffee.
- Lunch: Fried chicken wrap with crisps and Dr Pepper. A slice of cheesecake for dessert.
- Dinner: Olive garden's chicken gnocchi soup and chicken alfredo pasta with breadsticks. Ice cream or cookies for dessert
- Snacks: Crisps, sweets, pretzels
To lose weight, Chandra cut down on takeouts and restaurant meals, sticking to home-cooked meals consisting of lean protein and veggies.
- Breakfast: Protein coffee (a protein shake poured in a cold brew) sometimes with low-carb yoghurt
- Lunch: Grilled chicken or lean ground meat with taco seasoning
- Dinner: Grilled chicken with shredded cheese at a Taco restaurant
- Snacks: String cheese, Legendary protein chips, fresh berries, protein bar
After suffering through multiple operations – including having her fallopian tubes unblocked – and different rounds of intrauterine insemination, the couple decided to try adoption.
Chandra then fell pregnant naturally but sadly lost the baby, as it had implanted itself into her cervix.
She said: “It was the hardest part of my whole life. I had everything I ever dreamed of, and it was gone.”
Despite their heartbreak, Chandra and Chad went back down the adoption route in August 2022 and became parents to Crew, now aged one, in May 2023 .
Just weeks after bringing their newest addition home, Chandra suffered a health scare.
She had recently been prescribed Ozempic to help continue treating her diabetes and aid weight loss.
She said: “It was probably when my son was around four or five weeks old that I had my first anaphylactic episode.
“Doctors sent me to have allergy and immunology testing, but everything came back clear.
“All three times I collapsed my doctor had changed my dosage of Ozempic.
“I don't know if it wasn't latching in my system, or if it was something I ate with it maybe.
“I just thought ‘I've got to get off of this'. I was content with my size where I was, and I didn't want to have to rely on anything.”
New lease of life
A friend recommended Chandra to Dr Cribbins, a specialist in bariatric surgery, for a VSG.
She underwent the surgery in August 2024. Since then, she's lost another 100lbs and hasn't had anymore episodes.
Chandra said: “I have a lot more energy now to crawl on the floor and go on the slides at the park with him.
“My interests are working out and being healthier for him.”
With her new lease of life, Chandra's diet has completely changed.
She said: “Before I ate a lot of fast food, sandwiches and fries.
“We had a lot of pasta, me and Chad loved Olive Garden.
“Now I don't eat a tonne.
“I have protein shakes and snacks, but I don't even crave any of the bad stuff.”
The NHS 12-step plan to help you lose weight
FROM faddy diets to dodgy detoxes - most of us have heard it all before when it comes to weight loss.
But burning fat can be easy and mostly free.
In fact, the NHS has a whole load of medically-approved tips for weight loss and shedding body fat once and for all…
- Don't skip breakfast
Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you feel hungry. - Eat regular meals
Eating at regular times during the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar. - Eat plenty of fruit and veg
Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fibre – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. - Get more active
Being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing lots of health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone. - Drink lots of water
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need. - Eat high fibre foods
Foods containing lots of fibre can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fibre is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils. - Read food labels
Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan. - Use a smaller plate
Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you may be able to gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it's full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full. - Don't ban foods
Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There's no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. - Don't stock junk food
To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice. - Cut down on alcohol
A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain. - Plan your meals
Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list.
