Sarah's Story - Before - 111 kg  After 9 months - 68 kg

I've always been the "fat" one.

As a kid, I was constantly teased for having thunder thighs, the ones my friends liked to go out with so they could look like supermodels next to me.

Guys would come up to me and ask for my hot friends' numbers, ask if "this seat was taken" - to pick up the seat and move it away. I was always the one taking the photos, not being in them unless I was hiding at the back, behind everyone.

I suffered from depression.

I ate because I was depressed, and I was depressed because I ate.

I always had my hair and makeup done nicely to try to mask my fat face. I wore drapey black clothes and scarves to try to hide my body. Clothing shopping was always depressing, limited to the plus-size section. Oh, goodie, I thought another black cardigan.

The shoes looked great till I couldn't squeeze my feet into them. Boots were a big no-no.
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.

Mounting Health Issues

My hips had bursitis. My back ached all the time. I was in pain all day. I couldn't sleep properly. I'd feel anxious if I were asked to go somewhere.

What if I didn't fit into the chairs? My plane 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 was first on a diet when I was 7

I had always thought about weight loss surgery as an easy way out—the cheat's way. I'll try another diet, I thought. And of course I failed.. again.

Being dragged to humiliating weigh-ins and 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 by abusing my body.

I saw the photos my mum had taken of me on the sly during 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.

This is it, I needed help.

I booked to see Dr Maani. This is it, I needed help. I couldn't do this alone. I felt ashamed. After speaking with him, I felt such reassurance, and he said we could become the best version of me together.

I left that first appointment feeling focused and knew I had made a great decision. There was so much information about the procedure, including nutrition advice and ongoing support, and I ticked all the boxes to be a candidate for 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 overdo it.

I watched the weight melt off me.

My clothes feel looser, and I start to feel happy. I felt my confidence return gradually. I began to enjoy creating small, tasty, nutrition-filled meals. I felt like, for the first time 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 want to lie down. I found I had so much more energy and felt great when I put healthy things into my body.

From a size 20 to an 8 in ten months

47 kilos down, which, for me, is six dress sizes. From a size 20 to an 8

Mentally, I feel like a different person on the inside. I feel happy looking in a mirror or catching 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 that 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.

I choose much healthier options now.

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.