A woman who drank nearly 5.5 liters of soda a day has managed to lose a staggering 280lbs.
Student Erika Olson, 26, from Clearfield in Utah, weighed 420lbs at her heaviest after gorging on a diet of fast food and pastries, all washed down with sugary soft drinks.
But, after undergoing a gastric bypass, Erika now tips the scales at a svelte 147lbs and finally has the body and healthy lifestyle she has always wanted.
Erika said: ‘When I was bigger I usually skipped breakfast. Lunch and dinner were very similar.
Erika Olson, 26, (pictured before her weight loss) from Clearfield in Utah, managed to lose a staggering 280lbs
After undergoing a gastric bypass, Erika now tips the scales at a svelte 147lbs (pictured after the weight loss)
She weighed 420lbs at her heaviest (left) after gorging on a diet of fast food and pastries, all washed down with sugary soft drinks. Pictured right after losing the weight
‘Little Caesars was my favourite. I would usually eat a whole large pepperoni pizza to myself. I’d also eat a lot of McDonald’s.
‘My order was a Big Mac Meal with large fries and a Dr. Pepper. Any time I’d get something I would double up on the portion or I’d get the largest size they had with fries and drinks and stuff.
‘I’d also always have something sweet with my meals whether it be soda or cookies or cake. I’d drink a lot of soda. I would always drink the largest gas station soda which is 64 ounces. I’d drink two or three of those a day easily.’
Now Erika (pictured after the weight loss) finally has the body and healthy lifestyle she has always wanted
In August of 2018, Erika received gastric bypass surgery in order to shrink her stomach. She is pictured in hospital
In 2018, Erika (pictured at her heaviest) found out she was prediabetic and committed to making a change
In 2018, Erika found out she was prediabetic and committed to making a change.
She added: ‘My grandma died from diabetes complications when I was born and my grandpa had died from diabetes-related issues a few months before I started my weight loss.
‘I just thought: “I’m 24. I’m too young to have these kinds of issues”. I was just too big. I would try every once in a while to start an exercise routine, but my knees hurt and my feet hurt. My mom was also a huge motivation for me.
‘She lost 150lbs years ago and has maintained her weight ever since.’
Now, two-and-a-half years later, Erika has a daily diet packed with protein and nutrients (pictured after her weight loss)
In August of 2018, Erika received gastric bypass surgery in order to shrink her stomach and help curb her unhealthy habits.
During the preparation for the op, she subsisted on a liquid diet for two weeks in order to shrink her liver.
Now, two-and-a-half years later, Erika has a daily diet packed with protein and nutrients.
Erika added: ‘I eat about 1,800 calories a day. For breakfast, I’ll have coffee and scrambled eggs with some cheese and turkey sausage.
Erika says that her mother was also a huge motivation for her after she too lost a huge amount of weight when she was younger
Erika (pictured at her heaviest) lost a staggering 280lbs after having gastric bypass surgery
‘I’ll usually have a slice of toast too. Mid-morning I typically have a protein bar. For lunch, I like to have a wrap with lunch meat on a low-carb tortilla with sliced apples and peanut butter.
‘Dinner is usually some sort of meat with veggies and rice. I pretty much eat the same thing every day.’
Despite her strict diet, Erika does still allow herself to enjoy some of her favorite foods.
Despite her strict diet, Erika does still allow herself to enjoy some of her favorite foods (pictured after the weight loss)
She said: ‘Every once in a while I’ll allow myself to have something outside my normal diet.
‘I do indulge every once in a while. But it’s always a very small amount. I hate that feeling when I’ve eaten too much sugar.’
As for the future, Erika is now exploring her options regarding skin removal surgery.
‘I do definitely want to get the skin surgery eventually, but I kind of want to give myself some time to level out at my weight.
‘I’m going to figure out where my weight is, so I won’t be getting the surgery for a few more years.’