Price plans delivered by
Excess weight loss recorded
Mini Gastric Bypass
Total weight loss recorded
I had been dieting since I was 14, so that’s nearly 15 years, and it had a cumulative effect. The main turning point for me was a moment when I realized that several people in my immediate family had become very ill as a result of being overweight.
And I knew that, approaching the size and weight I was at the time, that could very well become my reality. Another reason was the amount of pain I was in. I experienced daily pain because carrying a lot of weight puts significant pressure on your joints and bones, among other things.
I had previously tried things like Slimming World and Weight Watchers, and while I initially lost weight, I found it really hard to maintain, and I would just revert to my old eating habits.
In the last year when I was very overweight, it was during COVID, but even before that, I wouldn’t go out. I would avoid social situations because I was so embarrassed, and I was in so much pain. I was constantly worrying about how we’d get to places. It’s the little things like whether you can fit in a seat on the tube, how out of breath you’re going to be while walking, or if I’d have to stop. So it’s all those things that you have to consider.
It’s like night and day. It’s been completely transformative, and I always say that it’s the best thing I ever did, which it really is.
It was an incredibly scary decision in many ways. There was a lot to weigh up and a lot to consider. However, I think if I had continued on that trajectory, I would have still been very unhappy, almost certainly depressed, in pain, and miserable. I just wasn’t living my life.
Now, I have all of those things back. I don’t have to think about whether I’m going to fit in a chair or whether I’m going to get out of breath on a walk. I even completed a 5k run and walk last weekend. I could barely walk five minutes down the road this time last year.
It’s really lovely to walk into any clothes shop and know that I can fit into whatever I want. I’ve been enjoying trying out different types of fashion and experimenting with different styles. It’s been really nice to develop my own style rather than having to wear whatever fits.
Every time family or friends see me, they’re still surprised. One of my best friends, for nearly 20 years, actually walked past me the other day, and I had to wave to her and say hello!
They have been so supportive—all of my friends and family. I was really upfront and honest, especially with my close group of friends, because I think it’s incredibly important to have that support network around you. Being as public and not being ashamed of anything is crucial. I think there can sometimes be a stigma around weight loss surgery, unfortunately, but by being as open as possible, I hope it will help other people make the decision they need to make.
I’ve gotten my life back and feel like a 28-year-old rather than someone in their mid to late 60s. I’ve just regained my life. That’s been the best thing for me.
The minute that I found and had a couple of conversations with various people, I just felt instantly at ease. I felt that I was being treated as a real person rather than just someone else who was being churned through the process.
I have to say, from the start until now, they have been incredibly supportive. Knowing that if there’s ever an issue or even a worry, especially in those first couple of weeks and months post-op when you’re feeling really anxious about things like, “Am I supposed to be eating this?” or “Is that healing the way it’s meant to be?” having someone at the end of the phone means a lot. I think that’s a real strength of Streamline’s—there are people who truly understand what you’re going through. That’s been invaluable to me, and they’ve been incredibly supportive.