Smith talked about her weight loss journey and a frightening occurrence that made her reevaluate some unhealthy eating behaviors in a recent episode of the Jst Us podcast with hosts Amber Wagner and Jacob Willis. Smith said she did this to live a healthier, more contented life.

Smith shared her story of struggling with her health when she was 18. She explained that she was planning a show for her friends in 2020 who wanted to showcase their talents, which was supposed to be an enjoyable event, but she claimed she started acting “crazy” without apparent cause.

“I was so irritated, I was so tired, it was just terrible,” she shared. Later, Smith, then 18 years old, collapsed from exhaustion after climbing a flight of stairs.
Her cousins were present and were anxiously trying to figure out what was wrong with her before hurrying her to the emergency room, where she revealed that she had had a frightening medical experience. Her cousins insisted that she get it together because the incident had shaken them.

Fearing for her life, Smith made the progressive decision to alter her diet, outlook and lifestyle. She said in the interview that she “cut out everything” that didn’t fit with her new healthy routine. Smith elaborated on why she decided to make positive changes in her life, saying she wasn’t motivated by vanity. Instead, her life was at risk because she was only 18 years old and in poor health.

“It wasn’t ever for vanity reasons, or I wanted to fit into this or anything like that because I was so confident the way I was, but it was just so scary to be told at 18 that you could die at any moment,” she told the podcasters.

“I was pre-diabetic, I had sleep apnea, I was severely anemic, I had like a couple of blood transfusions,” Smith articulated. “It was crazy how unhealthy I was, and it was because of my weight,” she added.
Thanks to the efforts of her doctors and encouragement from her mother and friends, Smith’s health improved. She has adopted a healthier regimen, but it can be challenging to stick to it. Smith emphasized how she has been able to stick to her new diet and exercise routine in the face of tempting foods like cake, cookies and Doritos.

Atlanta Black Star shared some recent statistics about obesity in children. About one-fifth of American children were overweight or obese in 2022, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. All across the United States, parents are grappling with the question of teaching their children to eat healthily from a young age and encouraging those practices as they mature into adults.

Sy’rai Smith looks radiant, and we are glad to see her happy and in excellent health. Props to you, sis!