When a woman from California was told by doctors that she suffered from health complications at the age of 19 due to her bad eating habits, she decided enough was enough. Now, after dropping over 196 pounds (approx. 89 kg), she has re-created a photo of herself and looks unrecognizable.
Tannen Ordunev, 23, a package handler, weighed a staggering 336 pounds (approx. 152 kg) after years of eating a fast food meal every single day.
However, now that she weighs an impressive 142 pounds (approx. 64 kg) after a weight loss surgery, Tannen has re-created a photo donning a size 6 outfit instead of an 8XL “as a reminder of how far I have come.”
“I don’t ever want to get to that size again—I was so unhealthy and miserable,“ Tannen told Caters News Agency. “But now I feel and look like a completely different person.”
Tannen admits that she has been overweight since her school days and yo-yo dieted pretty much her whole life. As she wasn’t surrounded by many friends, Tannen would eat for enjoyment.
After she graduated from high school, the teen further went into a downward spiral of unhealthy eating as she would snack and eat takeaways daily.
“I would eat McDonalds for lunch and a Chinese for dinner daily,” Tannen recalled.
However, the turning point in her life occurred when she was told that she was prediabetic with high blood pressure.
“I knew I had to change my bad eating habits when the doctor gave me a health warning in January 2017,” Tannen said. “It is quite scary being told you have caused yourself health complications at 19.”
After this realization, Tannen went into a year of dieting and exercising but still wasn’t able to achieve her goal. Thus she decided to undergo gastric bypass surgery.
The procedure, which involves surgical staples, is used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach.
Tannen credits this surgery for saving her life.
“I am now a sociable person who is completely healthy,” Tannen told Caters News Agency. “I have completely changed my lifestyle and I have made a promise to myself to make sure I stick to it.”
Prior to the surgery, Tannen’s diet consisted of a Big Mac, large fries, 10 nuggets, and a large Dr.Pepper that she had only for lunch and sometimes would leave some leftovers for her mom. Meanwhile, for dinner, Tannen would eat chow mein, orange chicken, a side of teriyaki chicken, and a veg spring roll, and she would drink Dr. Pepper.
However, now after the surgery, Tannen has made healthy choices for her diet. She shared her breakfast includes a toast with avocado and eggs, and her lunch and dinner options now include chicken with brown rice and vegetables and dinner that consists of pasta with homemade sauce.
After undergoing this amazing transformation, Tannen feels motivated and wants to help others by sharing her story.
“It is hard at the start but completely worth it,” Tannen concluded. “My life seemed pointless before but now I feel like a new person who wants to help other people change their lives for the better.”
