After the realization that her health was in jeopardy, Natasha Yeste-Dulaney bravely began a journey to health in April of 2021. Two years later, she is 190 pounds lighter and so much wiser about how to fuel her body in a healthy way. But it’s not just her physical body that has undergone a healing process; Natasha said she has been lifted emotionally and spiritually, as well.

 

“Through this journey, my life has been restored! I no longer feel trapped inside by body and understand the feeling of self-love,” she said. “Though this journey was started for my children and family, it helped in discovering me!”

 

Natasha embarked on her health journey when she hit her highest weight of 417 pounds.

 

“I knew that if something didn’t change that my life span would be limited,” she said. “My children and my sister’s children had already lost so much, and I didn’t want to be another tragic loss in their young lives.”

 

The tragedy she speaks of was the death of her sister Vanessa in 2018. She had relapsed with leukemia in April, underwent a stem cell transplant in May and passed away at age 33 in June. Natasha had been a warrior for her sister’s fight and she ultimately did the same for her own battle.

 

“My quality of life wasn’t the best. I often felt trapped in my own body and would have difficulty in doing daily activities,” she said. “I hurt all over and was losing out on the opportunity to make valuable memories with my children.”

 

Adamant to make a plan, Natasha began research about healthy living and reached out to the WVU Medicine Bariatric team for consultation.

 

“The WVU Medicine program offered me so much support through the whole process,” she said. “They offer monthly nutrition classes to discuss healthy food options, meal planning and mindful eating. It really helps to evaluate your habits and examine what and why you are putting certain foods in your body.”

 

She began by decreasing her daily caloric intake to 1600-1800 calories. She learned about habits to include – and exclude – to make her journey more successful. She always included protein in her meals, she ate slowly and mindfully, she drank water after her meals – not during, avoided stress and boredom grazing – and didn’t eat past 8 p.m.

 

She also implemented small bits of exercise, such as parking further away from the store, taking the stairs instead of the elevator, and walking during her son’s athletic practices, rather than sitting in the car or bleachers.

 

Little habits lead to big victories. By February of 2022, she had lost 70 pounds.

 

“But I was till having some health-related issues of reflux disease due to the excess weight I had carried for so long,” she said. “With my reflux causing severe inflammation and erosion to my esophagus, there were concerns of precancerous cellular changes requiring intervention.”

 

As a solution, her medical team recommended gastric bypass surgery, which Natasha underwent on Feb. 17, 2022. Following the surgery, she retrained her body to eat and process food, starting with a liuid diet, then progressing to pureed, soft and eventually hard foods.

 

“Currently, I take a regular diet, however, my intake is much smaller at about 800-1000 calories per day,” she said. “I still select whole foods and use the same principles of mindful eating. I  make exercise a priority and encourage my children to join me in increasing our daily activity. Taking walks in our beautiful city is one of our favorite things to do!”

 

Natasha is a full-time hospice nurse at Louis A. Johnson Veterans' Administration Medical Center. Her children attend Simpson Elementary, Bridgeport Middle School, United High School and Doddridge County High School. They are members of Salt and Light Southern Baptist Church where Natasha serves as the coordinator for the Operation Christmas Child shoebox ministry. 

 

"And I am a sports momma which takes up lots of time. My boys play football, baseball, and wrestle for the Bridgeport youth groups, and my daughter dances at In-Step Dance and Fitness," she said. 

 

Natasha’s journey is not a temporary fix; it’s a lifestyle change.

 

“I continue to set daily goals with my ultimate goal not necessarily being a set number, but instead a maintenance of a healthy lifestyle and weight,” she said. “Now, I get to cherish new accomplishments – such as having a lap for my children to sit on or being able to have their little arms wrap completely around me in a hug, and most of all, for being the momma that they deserve – who can keep up with them as they go!”