A woman who battled obesity and binge eating for much of her life has proudly shown off her dramatic transformation after shedding half her body weight with the help of gastric surgery.
When Candace Streich turned 30, she realized she had spent most of her life hiding her 300lb frame from the world – and made the decision to undergo gastric surgery to lose weight.
The Michigan-based 33-year-old had struggled with obesity most of her life, consuming over 3,000 calories a day and admitting she continuously ate for comfort.
Desperately wanted to make some changes to her life, she underwent the vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery in 2022. Since the surgery 15 months ago, she’s lost a whopping 150lbs, showing off her incredible transformation to social media.
It’s been a long journey for Candace, who recalled being bullied from an early age for her size.
Candace Streich, 33, struggled with obesity most of her life, consuming over 3,000 calories a day and indulging in fast food binges
Candace underwent the vertical sleeve gastrectomy surgery in 2022, desperately wanting to make some changes to her life
‘As a kid, I got the “big boned” label and took my fair share of teasing and being picked on for not being small like the other girls,’ she sadly recalled.
‘I’ll never forget that time I tried out for cheerleading, and my solo cheer turned into a giggle fest because I was the “bigger” girl in the tryouts,’ she continued. ‘They even poked fun at my so-called chubby hands with “missing’ knuckles.”‘
Candace said the more she was mocked, the more she turned to food, seeking comfort.
‘In my teens, I was chowing down on a whopping 3,000 plus calories daily,’ the vlogger admitted. ‘I’d go all-in on bags and boxes of food just to see if I could finish all of it. Greasy, salty, and heavily processed foods were my kryptonite.’
The Decatur resident said her go-to McDonald’s order was a double quarter pounder with cheese, a 10-piece nugget, large fries, a sweet tea, and a McChicken.
‘Depression was my constant companion,’ she said. ‘I felt like life had boxed me in, my self-esteem was a no-show, and I was stuck in oversized, frumpy out.’
As she got older. Candace started to reflect on her life and realized how unhappy she was, adding that conditions like sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis, prediabetes, and more had taken a toll.
‘I had turned 30. Others my age were happy and thriving, but here I was, just trying to survive and hiding from the world,’ she shared, recalling being ‘too afraid’ to step on the scale, but knew her weight had crept over 300lbs.
After she turned 30, Candace started to reflect on her life and realized how unhappy she was, adding that conditions like sleep apnea, plantar fasciitis, and prediabetes had taken a toll
Candance said she realized she was ‘just trying to survive and hiding from the world,’ recalling being ‘too afraid’ to step on the scale, but knew her weight had crept over 300lbs
Candace said the more she was mocked, the more she turned to food, seeking comfort
Candace, who now weighs around 150lb less, said she was picked on as a kid for her weight
Candace, admitted it was more than just weight loss, and a huge battle against mental and emotional demons.
‘I had my fair share of ups and downs,’ the content creator reflected.
‘Some days, those changing hormones would bring on tears, and I’d get cravings for comfort food, even though I physically couldn’t indulge,’ she explained.
Candace added she also suffered from body dysmorphia, which made her second-guess her progress.
‘That’s where therapy came in, helping me sort through those emotions and changes,’ she explained.
The stunning red head spoke of the importance of mentally preparing herself for the weight loss journey
‘I had to mentally prepare myself [to] understand that giving up wasn’t an option; it was a lifelong commitment,’ she explained. ‘Once I had mentally prepared myself, I found the strength to trust and follow the process, knowing that setbacks and plateaus are all part of the deal.’
After receiving the surgery, Candace completely overhauled her lifestyle with portion control is key to keeping the weight off.
Candace added she also suffered from body dysmorphia, which made her second-guess her progress and underwent therapy
Although she has a lot of loose skin from her weight loss, Candace says she as no plans to remove it just yet
Candace has also adopted an exercise routine, and goes to the gym four to five times a week.
Now, she meal preps twice a week and makes sure she has plenty of healthy alternatives for snacks and quick meals – listing cottage cheese as a new favorite.
She eats between 85 to 141 grams of food daily, with a goal of consuming 75g-150g protein a day. She then fills her plate up with veggies and complex carbs.
Candace has also adopted an exercise routine, and goes to the gym four to five times a week.
‘If I skip the gym, I make it an active rest day, but I still get my steps in and walk 1 mile (1.6 km),’ she explained. ‘Being active has given me newfound energy. I no longer need to nap during the day and wake up feeling energized every morning.’
Candace also deals with loose skin from her impressive weight loss, although says she has no plans yet to have surgery to remove it, saying it’s not her top priority.
‘My main focus is on taming that relentless inner dialogue about food,’ she admitted. “Even though my weight is now in a healthy range, I recognize the importance of continuously improving my relationship with food.’
Before the surgery, I was already engaged in therapy to develop strategies for avoiding emotional eating, and I still go to therapy to maintain that progress.”
Candace has documented her weight loss journey to Instagram and TikTok, where she’s connected with other people who have had weight loss surgery or who plan on getting it.
Candace says she aims to maintain her weight loss, continue her fitness routine, and embrace a happy and healthy life going forward.
She also encourages anyone to prioritize their health and research the available options when looking at weight loss methods, quipping that your future self will thank you.