Olga Hernandez, 41, from Tucson, Arizona, has lost half her body weight—going from 405lbs to 13st 7lbs—after swapping fast food for home-cooked meals and undergoing a gastric sleeve surgery.
Her incredible transformation helped her drop seven dress sizes, but left her with 17lbs of excess saggy skin. Olga, a mum-of-three and palliative nurse, had the skin surgically removed and shared the footage to inspire others. Despite the pain, she says it was “worth it” and is now excited to wear her dream wedding dress when she marries her fiancé, Daryl Auclair, in April.
Olga struggled with weight since her teens, using food as comfort after trauma and depression. At her heaviest, she consumed large portions of KFC, snacks, and hoarded food. Doctors warned of serious health risks, prompting her to take action in 2013. Since then, she’s had multiple surgeries costing $24,000, including liposuction and skin removal from her arms and stomach.
Now wearing a size medium for the first time, Olga says the changes are “life-changing,” and she’s looking forward to the future—healthier, more confident, and ready to walk down the aisle.