From Fat to Fabulous !!

I was addicted to eating.

It made me feel better. Made me happy... at the time. Then I'd feel terrible again.



I couldn't get ski boots to fit around my giant legs. My hips had bursitis. My back ached all the time. I was in pain all day. I couldn't sleep properly. Id feel anxious if i was asked to go somewhere.



What if i didn't fit into the chairs.. my plane seat seatbelt had an extender.. yep.. I was that person.



I lived my whole 37 years as a fat person. My relationships struggled as I accepted the bottom of the barrel because that is all this "fat person deserved. Who would want me?



My work life struggled as I couldn't stand up for long periods of time without being in excruciating pain.



I had always thought about weight loss surgery as an easy way out. The cheats way. I'll just try another diet I thought. And of course I failed.. again.



I was first on a diet when I was 7

Being dragged to humiliating weigh ins. Not being able to eat what my friends ate. It was always a battle.

My first personal trainer was when I was 16. It was so hard. I ended up sneaking food. Buying chocolates and stuffing my face in secret. Food had become my happy place.



The turning point!!

What made me snap and realise i was slowly killing myself with abusing my body.


I saw the photos my mum had taken of me on the sly when we were on a family holiday in 2019. Who was that.. what had I become... I didn't recognise myself.. when did this happen.



I couldn't believe that was me. When I returned from holidays iI booked into see Dr Maani. This is it I needed help. I couldn't do this alone. I felt ashamed. After speaking with him I felt so much reassurance and he said we could achieve the best version of myself together.



I left that first appointment feeling focussed and knew i had made a great decision. There was so much information about the procedure including nutrition advice as well as continual support and i ticked all the boxes to be a candidate to achieve great results.



Let's do this!!

The surgery Day

Still feeling confident. I was going to become a new me. The thought of this made me feel like I could fly. I was actually excited about something for the first time in my life.


Recovery

What a piece of cake that was. Pun intended. The recovery was a lot easier than I expected. I didn't think about food. I wasn't craving junk food. I didn't feel like eating till i was bursting. There was next to no pain or discomfort. I had to remind myself to take it easy at first and not over do it.



Weight Loss

As I watched the weight melt off me and i was seeing my clothes feel looser i started feeling happy. I felt my confidence return little by little. I started to enjoy creating small tasty nutrition filled meals. I felt like for the first time ever in my life that I had control. I was in charge.



My body needed fuel instead of binge eating rubbish I was learning so much about nutrition. I was falling in love with healthy food. Instead of getting that food coma from eating so much you just want to lay down i found i had so much more energy and felt great when putting healthy things in my body.



From a size 20 to an 8

10 months post sleeve today.

Where am I at.. 47 kilos down. Which for me is 6 dress sizes. From a size 20 to an 8


Mentally I feel like a different person on the inside. I feel happy to look in a mirror, to catch a glimpse of my reflection in a shop window.



I want to be in every photo, but at the front and centre. I no longer feel like hiding. I'm confident. I feel happy. Shopping for clothes is no longer something I avoid.



I can talk to the retail assistant without feeling like she's thinking in her mind she's too fat for our clothes. I order lunch without feeling like they are thinking I'm just a fat mess who needs to go on a diet.



Of course I choose much healthier options now. I look at food in such a different way. I no longer feel depressed. I broke up with junk food and overeating and i feel amazing for it.



Physically my body has thanked me for the changes I've made. I no longer have pain. My bursitis has gone. My back pain has gone. I can reach my shoelaces without being out of breath. I can chase after my 2 year old. I have so much energy. I can go to the gym and not feel embarrassed by being there.



I can run and not be out of breath and feel like i might die.



I wish i had done this sooner.

I have made the best decision I've ever made. I wish i had done this sooner. I feel younger, fresher, fitter. I'm not going to lie the compliments from everyone feels amazing . I bought my first pair of knee high boots today.


I absolutely feel as though I've gone from fat to fabulous.