Size XXXL woman who gorged on 5,000 calories a day drops 10st after almost drowning because she was too fat to be rescued
Dominique Montgomery, 22, ballooned until she hit 21st 4lb, surviving on a diet of greasy fast food and fizzy drinks
A SIZE XXXL woman finally ditched her 5,000 calorie-a-day diet and shedding nearly 10st after almost drowning because she was too heavy to be lifted to safety.
Dominique Montgomery, 22, ballooned until she hit 21st 4lb, surviving on a diet of greasy fast food and fizzy drinks, despite trying numerous fad diets over the years.
Now, through diet and exercise alone, Dominique had shed almost 10st, and wears a UK size 8-10.
Dominique, from Los Angeles, said her turning point came in early 2015, when she became trapped in a rapidly rising tide.
Dominique, who is studying kinesiology, the science of movement, explained: “I was swimming around at the beach with some friends, feeling great, when all of a sudden, the tide got high.
“Everyone managed to push themselves out of the water onto some rocks, but I was stuck, because I wasn’t physically able to lift myself out. Everyone tried to help, but I was too heavy.
“I thought I was going to die and had no idea what to do. I was terrified.”
Thankfully, the water soon calmed and Dominique was able to get back to shore, but was left shaken by the incident and determined to change her life round.
She continued: “If I couldn’t even help myself out the water, then what was I doing with my life?
“There were strong feelings of shame and disappointment, after realising how terribly out of shape I was. I completely changed everything after that day.”
Speaking candidly, Dominique admitted she has struggled to maintain a healthy weight throughout her life, going on her first diet when she was just five years old.
As a youngster, she’d had to get specially made school uniforms, or shop in the boys’ section, where sizes were larger and would check weight limits on chairs and bicycles.
At her heaviest, Dominique mostly survived on fast food and takeaways.
Portion size was also an issue, as her average orders would include things like fried chicken with double chips and two biscuits – a scone-like buttermilk bake – or a burrito “as big as her head” with two large tacos on the side.
She said: “I would eat at least 5,000 calories a day. Sometimes, I would eat large shakes for dessert that were about 1,000 calories by themselves.
“People stared wherever I went. I felt like a zoo animal. Someone once even threw a burrito at me at a football game.”
But, following her July 2015 wake up call, Dominique’s life has completely transformed.
She began by building up her stamina, going on walks, which turned to hikes, then progressing to jogs, also has ditched the fast food and fizzy drinks.
Despite shedding 10st, her transformation has left her with aprons of excess skin hanging from her stomach, back, arms, thighs and bottom, which she is desperate to have removed.
Her procedure is classed as cosmetic, so she will have to pay around $15,000 (£10,548) for the operation, and has set up a crowdfunding page to help her raise the money she needs.
She said: “I still can’t wear all the clothes I dreamed of. I’m big on fashion and don’t feel as if I can truly express myself how I’ve wanted.”
As she waits for surgery, Dominique is hoping that, by sharing her story, she will inspire others hoping to lose weight, showing them that is it possible through sheer hard work.
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Offering advice, she said: “Don’t track your progress by how long it takes, but by how far you’ve come physically, mentally and emotionally.
“You will have ups and downs – there have been days where I messed up, but I didn’t lose sight of the overall goal. Belief, acceptance, patience and willpower – they really get you somewhere.”
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