Rosalie Bradford
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Rosalie Bradford holds the Guinness World Record for the heaviest woman and for most weight lost.
Ever since childhood Rosalie has been what she terms a foodaholic, having become that way as a result of depression. Rosalie was in foster care, and after the death of her foster mother used food as a way to cope. As the years passed Rosalie continued to gain weight. At age 14, she weighed 92 kg (202 lb). At 15, she weighed 140 kg (309 lb). [link] In her twenties she met a man who did not mind her weight, and they were married. The couple eventually had a son. Rosalie found herself staying home with their son and cooking a lot. Her weight continued to climb. She eventually tried several diets and even joined Weight Watchers to minimal success.
Finally, after a blood infection landed her in the hospital, Rosalie gave up on exercise altogether when the necessary bed rest allowed for her weight gain to accelerate. She remained immobile for 8 years. Her health and spirits continued to dwindle. Rosalie reached a peak weight of 544 kg (1,199 lb) in January of 1987. In 1988 Rosalie became so depressed and frustrated that she attempted to take her life using painkillers. Her weight absorbed the potentially lethal dose and caused her only to sleep for two days.
A concerned friend contacted Richard Simmons, a familiar face in the weight loss industry. Simmons then contacted Rosalie and spoke to her at length. Rosalie recalled Simmons saying "God doesn't make junk and you are worth the effort." After the phone call Rosalie received a package from Simmons containing some exercise tapes and an eating plan. Rosalie ignored the tapes and plan for a couple of weeks but eventually decided that she had nothing to lose.
She started small by clapping her hands along to the videos. "It was the only movement I could do," explained Rosalie. She focused in on her diet and stuck to Simmons' plan. After just a year she had dropped 190 kg (420 lb). Eventually she got some more outside help from a physiotherapist and soon her weight dropped to an astounding 227 kg (500 lb), a total weight loss of 362 kg (799 lb). Rosalie persisted with her weight loss plan and currently weighs 91 kg (200 lb). The difficulties Rosalie face now concern the lymphatic system in her legs, which was damaged in one of 5 sessions of surgery to remove excess skin during her weight loss.
Rosalie Bradford holds the world record for losing the most weight.
Rosalie's Words
"I know others suffer the way I did and I've got one message for them - if I can do it then anyone can. It's about taking small steps towards your goal. You can do it if you really try. I'm living proof of that."See also
- Jon Brower Minnoch, who holds the world record for being the heaviest man ever.
- Dimensions Magazine states that Carol Yager, who weighed 1600 pounds at her peak, was the heaviest woman who ever lived, but Guinness still recognizes Bradford as the one who holds that distinction.
External links
Sources
- [Mirror.co.uk]
- [Reference.com]
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