“You wanna know the truth? I didn’t do it to look hot. I did it because I couldn’t tie my shoes without crying.” That’s what Sadie, the country music darling who rose to fame with her powerhouse vocals and boot-stompin’ anthems, told me just weeks after stepping back into the spotlight—102 pounds lighter.
Let that number sink in: one hundred and two.
It’s not just a number. It’s freedom. It’s breath. It’s survival.
And yet, it didn’t start pretty. Not even close.
The Breaking Point: “I Couldn’t Breathe. Literally.”
At her heaviest, Sadie weighed over 280 pounds. She tells me that without blinking. No shame. Just honesty. “I was on tour, doing what I loved, but every night I was crying in the hotel room. I’d come off stage, smile for pictures, and then eat in the dark. Always in the dark.”
She remembers one show in particular, when she bent down to pick up a mic pack, and her knees gave out. “I thought, ‘This is it. This is how I go out—collapsed behind a speaker stack in Dallas.’”
She laughs telling it. But it’s that kind of laugh that’s only funny once you’ve made it to the other side.
What Is SADI-S and Why Did Sadie Choose It?
The SADI-S surgery—formally known as Single Anastomosis Duodeno-Ileal bypass with Sleeve gastrectomy—is a relatively new procedure in the bariatric world. Unlike traditional bypass or sleeve alone, SADI-S combines restrictive and malabsorptive elements, which means patients eat less and absorb fewer calories.
According to clinical sources, SADI-S offers an average weight loss of 35% of one’s total body weight. But Sadie? She hit 102 pounds lost in just under 14 months. That’s closer to 40% of her pre-surgery weight.
“I needed something permanent,” she said. “I’d already failed keto, paleo, WW, you name it. This was different. This wasn’t about being skinny. It was about not dying.”
Sadie’s Turning Point: “I Didn’t Recognize Myself—In the Worst Way”
Sadie says the decision to have SADI-S weight loss surgery wasn’t made lightly. It came after a terrifying sleep study showed she stopped breathing 43 times an hour. That’s nearly every 60 seconds.
“My doctor said, ‘You’ve got early signs of heart failure.’ I went numb.”
But what really snapped her into action? Her 6-year-old niece.
“She asked why I didn’t want to play tag with her anymore. I couldn’t even explain it. I was too ashamed.”
That night, she Googled “weight loss surgery options” for the hundredth time. Only this time, she didn’t talk herself out of it.
The Surgery, the Silence, the Stigma
Sadie kept the procedure private. For months.
“I didn’t want the headlines. I didn’t want ‘Sadie cheats with surgery!’ I wanted results. Quiet results.”
She flew to North Carolina and underwent the laparoscopic SADI-S procedure, known for having lower complication rates compared to older options like the traditional duodenal switch. The surgery lasted just under two hours.
“It was the first thing I’d done for myself in years,” she says. “And honestly? The hardest part came after.”
Recovery Isn’t Glamorous—But It’s Worth It
You don’t get to lose 100+ pounds without struggle. Sadie was brutally honest about that.
“You puke. You cry. You mourn the comfort food gave you. There were days I screamed at steamed broccoli.”
The post-op diet is strict—protein-focused, low sugar, and almost no carbs early on. “No more biscuits and gravy,” she jokes, though the sadness in her eyes is real.
“But then one day you walk past a mirror, and your knees don’t hurt. Your back doesn’t scream. And you think—damn, maybe I can run again.”
What Sadie Eats Now (Spoiler: It’s Not Air and Ice Cubes)
These days, her meals are protein-packed and portion-controlled. She starts the day with a hard-boiled egg and turkey sausage, snacks on cheese sticks or almonds, and sips a shocking amount of water.
“No more bingeing in the dark,” she says. “Now I cook. I like cooking. I made spaghetti squash last week and didn’t cry once.”
She also trains three times a week with a coach who specializes in post-bariatric fitness.
Sadie’s Message to Fans: “You Can Start Over at Rock Bottom”
“I know people will say it’s the ‘easy way out.’ That I ‘took a shortcut.’ But let me be clear—there is nothing easy about watching your body detox from decades of bad choices.”
She wants fans to know she didn’t just lose weight—she gained years.
“I can breathe. I can walk through an airport without sweating through my jeans. I can sing a full song without gasping.”
And maybe most importantly? She’s happy again.
Not Instagram-happy. Real, deep, belly-laugh, sun-in-your-face happy.
FAQ: Sadie Weight Loss Surgery
1. What weight loss surgery did Sadie have?
Sadie underwent SADI-S surgery, a combination of sleeve gastrectomy and a single intestinal bypass that restricts both food intake and absorption. It’s considered effective for people with severe obesity or failed prior bariatric procedures.
2. How much weight did Sadie lose after surgery?
Sadie lost a total of 102 pounds within 14 months post-surgery—far exceeding the average 35% total body weight loss expected from SADI-S.
3. Why did Sadie choose SADI-S over gastric sleeve or bypass?
Sadie had previously tried every diet without sustainable success. She chose SADI-S because it combines the benefits of both gastric sleeve and bypass, but with fewer complications and better long-term outcomes.
4. Is SADI-S surgery safe?
Yes. Studies from Duke Health and Atrium Health report lower complication rates than older duodenal switch surgeries. However, lifelong vitamin supplementation is required, and diet must be monitored strictly.
5. What is Sadie eating now after her surgery?
Sadie follows a high-protein, low-carb diet. She avoids sugar, drinks a lot of water, and incorporates exercise into her routine. Her focus now? Health, not appearance.
