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Hip Replacement Surgery Helped This Woman Lose 45 Pounds—And Changed Her Life

Debbi Segina was only 55 when chronic hip problems made it impossible for her to do even the simplest of things, including walking. Desperate to regain her life and shed the weight she had gained over the last few years, she decided to undergo hip replacement surgery. Here is her amazing story.

I can't actually remember a time when my left hip didn't bother me. Even when I was a young child, it would ache when I was active. I just figured it was normal and dealt with the pain until I hit my 30s. After having kids, it became almost unbearable. I went to the doctor and discovered that I was born with a congenital hip problem that was causing my pelvis to turn inward, almost like a bowl. Plus, I had now developed arthritis in my left hip due to complications during childbirth. He mentioned that hip replacement was an option, but because I was so young—at that point, I was only 35— he was concerned that I would need another replacement down the road. I knew that it wasn't going to get me very far, so I nixed the surgery.

I managed to deal with the relentless aching until the summer of 2010. At age 55, I couldn't sit, sleep, or stand without my hip causing excruciating pain. I was referred to an orthopedic surgeon. After an MRI, my doctor looked at me and said, "I don't know how the heck you've been living with this. But I can tell you right now, if we don't do surgery and replace your hip, you're less than a month out from being in a wheelchair for life." So, without a second thought I said, "OK, let's do this." (Considering a joint replacement surgery? Read up on it here.)

I fully recovered after 6 months, and my doctor recommended that I continue to walk to stay healthy. (Burn calories and build muscle—all while boosting your mood—with our 21-Day Walk a Little, Lose a Lot Challenge!) I had developed a few health concerns over the years—my blood pressure and cholesterol had gone up. I have a family history of diabetes, and during my recovery I had gained some weight, so I knew I had to do something to get my health back on track.

My good friend decided to start walking with me, and told me about this club called the Adams County Running Club that met every Saturday. They welcome all runners and walkers, but immediately I felt intimated. At that point I wasn't even a good walker, let alone a runner. (Here are the best exercises for new runners.) Honestly, I felt like I had to lose weight before joining this group, and the last thing I wanted to do was be around super-athletic people. But one Saturday, I woke up, grabbed my sneakers and thought, "Why not?"

On that first day, Kim Hines—who started the group—greeted me with a hug, and walked and chatted with me the entire way. I haven't looked back and it's now been almost 5 years. This group is such a big part of my life, and I see them all as my second family. They were the ones who really encouraged me to participate in races. When I first started walking, I was only able to do a 17-minute mile, but today I'm averaging 13- to 14-minute miles. Since I always have to keep one foot on the ground, walking is really my only option when in a race, but I'm always having a great time doing it.

Photograph courtesy of Debbi Segina

I have competed in four sprint triathlons, five half marathons, countless 5Ks and 10Ks, and 2 years ago I completed my first Olympic Distance Triathlon, which was my hardest race ever. Currently, I'm signed up and training for my next half marathon in New York in 2016. I'm meeting up with a great group and I couldn't be more excited! (Check out this 5K walk-run plan.)

Photograph courtesy of Debbi Segina

Since I joined the Adams County Running Club and started competing in races, my health has really improved. I lost 45 pounds in 8 months, and my cholesterol and blood pressure have dropped tremendously. In addition to walking, I make sure to strength train a little bit every day. I'm a big believer in stability and core work, especially as you get older.

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