Sabrina Silveira takes back control of her life

Sabrina Silveira is a first-generation Brazilian-American woman who was born in Salem. She lives in Peabody and graduated from Veterans Memorial High School in 2015. She attended North Shore Community College and Salem State University, where she received a graduate degree in social work, and is now a licensed clinical social worker. Outside of her professional life, Silveira enjoys reading, working out, cooking, and spending time with loved ones. After struggling with serious health problems for a while, she realized she needed a major change in her life and started taking the steps to improve it.

Left, Sabrina Silveira does a seated cable row as Eddie Dosanjos, of Lynn, assists her. Right, Silveira does a lat pulldown during her workout session. Item Photos: Matteo Valente

What were the beginning steps of your journey?

Recognizing I needed major change to combat all of the illnesses I procured was the very first step. Self-acceptance is the second, and it’s a hell of a step to get over. The third is taking action on said necessity of major change. I just decided to do it. I was tired and ready to live my life on an easier mode.

Why do you want to lose weight, and what makes you confident you can do it?

Losing weight was the next step on my long journey to health. I am confident in myself because I have already overcome the biggest obstacle in my way, which was my brain and the incessant thoughts of despair and food noise.

What changes are you willing to make to your lifestyle in order to achieve those goals?

I’ll do you better and tell you about the changes I have implemented that have gotten me to lose more than 130 pounds. At the end of 2018, I began seeing a new physician. This doctor walked into a piping hot mess of a 21-year-old woman who burst into tears as soon as she began getting into her needs. At this time, I was so accustomed to hearing the same ideology from multiple providers surrounding my health concerns and it all led to the same treatment — lose weight.

While I did not necessarily disagree with these providers, they were missing the key components that were causing this rapid weight gain and this doctor was my saving grace. This doctor kickstarted the beginning of my journey that led me to receiving multiple diagnoses: Severe sleep apnea, where I found out I stopped breathing 124 times in a three- to four-hour time frame of difficult sleep; hypertension; Type 2 diabetes, and binge-eating disorder. The changes I made included working with a registered dietician who specializes in eating disorders for two years, attending individual psychotherapy on a weekly basis, attending tri-monthly A1C checkups at the doctor’s office, and reframing my mindset to acquire the necessary knowledge to manage my new diagnoses and change my life.

Ultimately, this allowed me to develop the skill set to lower my blood sugars, blood pressure, and be mentally disciplined enough to prepare myself for a bariatric procedure called a sleeve gastrectomy in October of 2023 at 402 pounds. This surgical procedure is when they remove 80 to 85% of your stomach and leave about the size of a banana as your stomach. This required me to relearn how to eat, drink, and manage what is essentially a “new” stomach and lifestyle change to get accustomed to. Good thing I’m a soup fanatic! There was a lot of soup…

Are there any roadblocks that you feel you’re up against, and how do you think you can overcome them?

No, the only roadblock that was ever in my way was myself. I’ve dug myself out of my hole and I will do it time and time again if necessary.

What healthy eating habits have you incorporated into your lifestyle that fit your preferences?

As a bariatric patient, my “healthy” looks a little different than the average person but follows the same general guidelines with the understanding that protein, fluids, and your supplements are at the forefront of your daily goals. One thing I have incorporated for healthy eating habits is avoiding putting moral value on food. I’m not going to fight with myself on whether a sweet potato is better than a russet potato. I respect the food for the nutrition it will give me and take into consideration the entirety of my plate for balance.

From the beginning of your journey to this current point in time, how much weight have you lost?

I have lost 134 pounds in total so far, but the most weight I lost was when I pushed myself to be vulnerable and honest with myself at the start of my journey. This weight off my shoulders allowed me to rewire my brain and accept myself entirely with the help of my care team and support system.

How have you been tracking your progress?

I utilize a specific app that was introduced to me from Salem Hospital called Baritastic, as it is geared towards bariatric patients.

What support system do you have in place to help you stay motivated and accountable?

My support system consists of my wonderful family and great group of friends. I am extremely fortunate to have people who check in on me and ensure I am doing ok.

What can you do to stay motivated and prevent burnout?

Take it day by day. Respect and honor your body’s needs as well as your mind. It is essentially a machine that supports you to the best of its ability, but the only way it can do so is with proper nutrition for fuel. Talk to your friends and seek the resources you need for healthy daily functioning.

What does your end goal look like?

I am not sure. This has been a rapid moving change with many things I did not expect to happen. I would like to be happy and healthy so I can focus on honing in on travel and falling in love!

How will you celebrate your successes?

I honestly celebrate each little victory by sharing with friends and family. They come so quick and I am in a weird limbo that most bariatric patients experience right now. I’m just taking each day as it comes and enjoying life with my loved ones.

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