A woman lost an incredible 11 stone when she got too excited to fasten her seatbelt on a flight, only to discover she was now treated like a ‘normal person’ after losing the weight.
Sarah Speight, who tipped the scales at 25st and 1lb at a size 28, indulged in a diet of fast food favorites such as pizza, chocolate cake and McDonald’s, while avoiding exercise.
The turning point for Sarah came when she was too embarrassed to ask for a seat belt extender on a plane, instead pretending her seat belt was securely fastened.
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After trying ‘every diet’ without success, Sarah opted to have a gastric band fitted, spending £11,000 to avoid NHS waiting times.
Now weighing 13st 8lb and a size 14, Sarah, from Stalybridge, says she feels “amazing” but has also noticed a dramatic change in how others perceive her. The 35-year-old fraud investigator shared. “I felt like people were walking past me and saying, ‘Look at his size.’ It pops into your head.
“People would just look at you and not say hello or anything. It was like I was in some kind of freak show. People are more likely to smile at you now. They say hello, I feel like you’re being treated that way. normal person
“I find people relate to me a lot more. They will talk to you, let you in, and smile at you when no one batted an eyelid before.
“The more people notice, it just makes you feel so good about yourself. And that’s something I’m not used to because I’ve never had it.”
Sarah admitted she has struggled with her weight throughout her life and “always knew” she was “big”, but her weight increased when she reached her 20s.
Despite many attempts at dieting over the years, nothing seemed to work for her.
He admitted. “Vegetables weren’t really my thing, they were always junk and I just couldn’t stop. It was a huge addiction that I had. In most cases, I could probably quite happily eat a full pizza in one go and still not be full.
“I’ve never been a gym person, the thought of working out terrified me. I hated the thought of going out or shopping. I prefer to stay on my own.
“I had to look online at stores that carry plus sizes and I didn’t have much choice in what I wore. I had to go with what I was comfortable with as opposed to what I loved. I didn’t really have a life. To be honest, I hated going out, I would avoid all social situations.”
“I lost a lot of friends because of it because I never had time to bother with anyone. I was literally sitting alone in my room at home, avoiding contact with anyone.”
Sarah decided to change her lifestyle in January 2023 while vacationing in Iceland.
He remembered. “I was going to Iceland and had to sit by the window because I was too embarrassed to ask for a seat belt extender. I had to pretend my seat belt was on when it wasn’t.
“I had to hold it on me and pretend it was on when the flight attendant walked by. It was absolutely terrifying because I thought I was the only one squeezed into my seat. I couldn’t move my legs. I was spilling. sat in the seat of the person next to me, and I just remember thinking, this is so embarrassing, I can’t do this anymore.”
Sarah was also told she needed to take blood pressure pills at age 34 and decided to have surgery.
“I’ve been saving up for surgery,” she said. “I paid half of it with my own money and the rest was funded by the hospital, so I paid them back every month.
“I could probably get it on the NHS but the waiting list in my area was at least five years. You have to lose weight beforehand, which I couldn’t do, and you also have to attend weekly appointments, which I have. I couldn’t commit.”
She underwent gastric band surgery in February 2023 at Alexandra Hospital, Stockport, and lost 11st 7kg in a year. He changed his diet to a balanced one and goes to the gym twice a day.
Sarah is now 13st 8lb and a size 14 and feels “amazing” and “much more confident”.
“It completely changed my life,” she said.
“I now have new friends and a new love for the gym that I never thought I would say. My confidence is now through the roof. Everything is just amazing.
“It’s the best money I’ve ever spent. And I would still really recommend it. If anyone is in the same situation as me, it’s 100% the best thing I’ve ever done and I don’t regret a single thing.”
Before Diet – Breakfast – Bacon sandwiches, bread Lunch – Pizza, ice cream cake Dinner – Macdonald’s, chocolate cake, crisps Snacks – Crisps, cookies, cheese, chocolate drink – Full fat Coca Cola, lemonade.
Diet – After breakfast – Cheerios, Weetabix or blueberry porridge Lunch – Small tuna sandwich Dinner – Chicken and vegetables Snacks – Low-fat yogurt, one slice of cheese Drinks – Protein shake, water.
Exercise Regimen – Three hours of exercise every day. In the morning, one hour of “free style”. stairlifter, rowing machine, treadmill and cross training evening, two hour classes.