Nikki is a Streamline gastric bypass surgery patient who has lost over 13 stone. “I always thought I was quite happy being a larger person actually now I’m at smaller person it’s so much better, so much happier, full of energy.”
“The reason I had the weight loss surgery is because I’d tried everything. I’d tried all sorts of diets. Yes, they work initially, but they never lasted, over time the weight just keeps building up and up. It got to a stage where I was a size 28/ 30 and couldn’t enjoy life with my young children as well as I wanted to. Surgery for me was my last resort.
“I’ve tried the normal weight loss clubs that you go to. I had tried just doing it myself through apps on my phone. I’d tried hypnosis, I tried all the silly shakes and things that you do, starve yourself. They all work but only for a short time and then you put the weight back on again.
“I think for me the turning point was seeing myself in a picture and realising that I was like two, three times the size of everyone else in the photo, that was a real eye opener for me. Seeing my children being quite young and seeing myself being huge in the picture that made me change my mind and think surgery is the only option.
“Life now is amazing because I can do things. I can do all sorts of activities with my daughters. When we go to the theme parks, before I had the surgery, I was too big to go on the ride so I was always holding the bags but now I actually take part with them. The harness is on the ride they go down and I can enjoy it with them.
“Everyday life, at work is so much better. I now can buy normal clothes from normal shops, normal catalogues, I don’t have to go to specific plus size shops. Everything has changed for the better.
“Before I would be constantly worried like before I went on the aeroplane I was in fear about if the seatbelt would go round or if I have somebody big sat next to me, so we’re all going to be squashed in or will my suitcase get lost if my suitcase gets lost, I’ve got no other clothes to wear, because you’re not going to be able to buy obese plus size clothes when you’re on holiday. Now I don’t have that worry at all.
“Before I had the surgery, I did lots and lots of research, so much research. I visited various weight loss companies spoke to various people, but Streamline were the ones who I felt most at ease with. As soon as I walked in and I met Mr. Somers, I felt instantly at ease, like he knew exactly what he was on about and he wasn’t just saying yes, you’re big you’re a obese. He genuinely cared and it felt like he genuinely wanted to help me as a person rather than as a business.
“I always did activities, but I always did like the obese persons version of it. I would always be the one just standing back and I’m not enjoying it to its fullest but now I’m there I’m doing exactly whatever I want to because I can.
“We’re going on holiday in a few weeks and I’ve got a suitcase full of clothes because I can and I’ve not got the worry of the aeroplane or the seatbelt or anything. It’s this amazing.
“Since having the surgery I’ve got my life back. Before surgery you know I probably wouldn’t live very long, I’ve had the surgery and I’ve now got a future with my girls. I always thought I was quite happy being a larger person actually now I’m at smaller person it’s so much better, so much happier, full of energy.
“No regrets whatsoever about it. My only issue would be that I should have done it sooner. I should have done it years ago rather than waiting.”