Dr. Agha Knows His Stuff - Orange County, CA

Hi Kirsty! Well as for the weight loss, it wasn't easy! I tried and failed so many times. And then one day I just woke up and was tired of the way I was living my life. I was fed up with using my weight to hide from the world so I decided to get up and get moving. At the time I felt like the gym was all about "looking good" and I just wanted to start "feeling good" so I decided to exercise outdoors. Looking back, this was the best thing I could have ever done for myself. At first I simply started with walking. Then I started jogging ever-so slowly. Eventually, when I got faster and stronger, I entered a 5k. Finishing (even as slow as I did) was the best feeling in the world and I just kept chasing that feeling. I started hiking and mountain biking and the pounds just kept rolling off. I lost the first 80 pounds simply by eating better and getting physically active, but the rest of the weight loss I think is directly associated with my mountain biking. I didn't care how I looked out there, I just cared about being able to bike up the hill that I couldn't bike up the week before. As for the surgery... the recovery was long and -- let's face it -- not a walk in a park. My first surgery (lower body lift, fat transfer to my bottom, liposuction, and more) was in August of 2012. The second surgery (upper body lift, breast augmentation, arm lift, and more) was in November 2012. It is now March 2013 and I am just now feeling somewhat back to normal. The amount of surgery I had was extensive and I actually suffered from a few post-op open wounds along various suture lines. That was VERY unpleasant, however it had nothing to do with the doctor's skill. This is simply one of those complications people need to be aware of and accept as a possibility. The open wounds I got after surgery #2 took 3 months to heal. As for pain, oddly enough, the only consistent pain I remember having had to do with the open wounds. I had one large one on my lower back which made sitting and sleeping practically impossible. Many tears were shed regarding that. But it did get better and, like I said, it did heal eventually. The recovery period immediately after surgeries like this is not fun by any means, but you have a great deal of pain medicine that helps you along. I remember being more sore than anything else. But believe me, when I say "sore"... this is a soreness unlike anything you have ever felt. Also, with all the surgeries I had, I am practically sewn together at every joint. This means I'm not as flexible as I used to be, but but that will come in time I'm sure. And I should also say that as of this point (3+ months post-op) I still cannot run or jump rope. I can hike and bike, but for some reason, when my butt bounces up and down, as will happen with these exercises, it becomes too uncomfortable to proceed. I think that has to do with my body's slow attempt to accept the fat transfer into my bottom. Again, I am more than sure that will change given some time. As you can hopefully tell by my response, there were complications and hard times, but I don't regret either surgery in the slightest. If you have any other questions for me, please feel free to ask away!!!

Thanks for your very detailed update, that's so awesome!

It's clear that you've worked really hard to get to where you are, which is a huge achievement. I would love to see some before/after photos, if you have any you feel comfortable sharing!

I'm in the process of trying to lose a large amount of weight myself, so stories like yours are very inspiring and educational for people like me. I think exercise is definitely the key. It's hard to start exercising, when you have a large amount to lose, but it's something I have to begin doing.

If you don't mind me asking. What was your starting weight, before the 170lb loss?

I'd love to put together before and after pictures for you. I'll do that soon. So I'm 5'10" and was 330 lbs at my heaviest, but to be honest, I may have been heavier than that because my scale stopped registering after 330 lbs... Now I am comfortable at 160lbs. But you're right. Exercise is key. Once you start doing that, you become more aware of what you're eating. I promise you, just start with 20-30 minutes of walking outside and that will help immensely. Pick up the pace when you're ready. And soon you'll be adding more and more to your work out because you'll be feeling stronger. Don't expect change overnight. Just be patient and keep at it! You can do it!