14 DAY TRIAL // Speaking at a Go Red luncheon sponsored by the American Heart Association in Detroit on Friday, Rosie O'Donnell admitted to having vertical gastric sleeve surgery as a means of dropping weight fast, and thus saving her life in the process.
People quotes O'Donnell, who said that “I did it to save my life.” Rosie had the procedure in July 2013, and for her it meant a 40 pound (18.1 kg) drop in weight that turned out to save her life.
The 51-year-old suffered a life-threatening attack in 2012, when 99% of her LAD artery was blocked. This translated into a heart attack, which is often lethal, but O'Donnell claims herself lucky to have survived the ordeal.
Understandably, after she got through it, she underwent drastic changes in her lifestyle, including regular exercise and a healthy diet. That meant reducing her red meat intake, as well as processed sugars and refined carbohydrates.
In addition to being overweight and suffering a stroke, Rosie also suffered from high blood pressure, high cholesterol and was on the verge of becoming a diabetic.
She also started a workout regime that started out with her taking daily short walks with her wife Michelle Rounds. The final goal was to achieve a body weight under 200lbs (90.7 kg).
Since her health did not improve, despite her best efforts, Rosie finally opted for surgery. Her spokesperson, Cindi Berger, confirms, “She tried to lose weight on her own but it wasn't working. It was a life saving surgery. But it's only a tool, not a cure.”
The surgical procedure known as vertical gastric sleeve entails an 80% removal of the patient's stomach and creates a small sleeve-shaped stomach about the size of a banana. Since she's undergone the procedure, O'Donell's weight has dropped from 230 lbs (104kg) to 190 lbs (86kg).