DESPITE trying countless diets, fat burner pills and slimming injections, Sarah Kenyon’s craving for daily takeaways left her weighing 19st.
The 33-year-old had a gastric bypass and lost 8th place, but was left with more than a stone of loose skin on her stomach, which she had to tuck into her pants.
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It meant she couldn’t wear the fitted dress of her dreams on her wedding day, but had to opt for a breezy A-line dress to hide the excess.
So far, Sarah has spent £16,000 on her body transformation, including £6,000 on a gastric bypass, £4,500 on a breast lift and augmentation, and £5,500 on a 360 body lift and a Fleur De Lis tummy tuck.
When her husband Anthony Kenyon, 41, saw her after the skin removal, he barely recognized his own wife.
The mother-of-three, from Lancashire, says her weight problems started at the age of 16.
“When I became pregnant with my first child, Roxanne, I was eating for two and gaining a lot of weight,” she says.
“Five years later I had Braydon, and two years later I had my youngest son, Bobby.
“I got bigger with each pregnancy and as a mother of three the scale read 19 and I wore a size 22 to 24.
“After that I became addicted to food and greasy takeaways were my favorite almost every day.
“We ordered the complete works from our favorite Chinese, washed down with sparkling pop.
“We did it every weekend – and most weekdays too. But eating so many greasy takeaways was taking its toll on my waistline.
“As a busy parent, I let my health deteriorate. Every morning I stepped on the scale and watched the numbers steadily increase.
“I even got kicked off an Alton Towers attraction in front of everyone because I was too fat.”
When Sarah’s youngest son Bobby was 18 months old, she met her husband, Anthony.
“He was on the bigger side and knew I wasn’t happy with my body, so he suggested we go to the gym together,” she says.
“He loved training, lost 5th place and started getting into muscle training.
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“Even though I hated the gym, I managed to lose fourth place.”
On Mother’s Day 2020, Sarah, a housing officer, and Anthony, a dog trainer and CAP debt advisor, got engaged.
“The kids ran into the living room and presented me with a Pandora bracelet charm, and Anthony got down on one knee and proposed,” she says.
I was trapped under a large layer of loose skin on my stomach
Sarah Kenion
‘Four days later, Britain went into lockdown. As I stayed home with the refrigerator for company, the weight I had lost piled back on.
“When I started planning my wedding, the idea of walking down the aisle filled me with dread.
“I’ve tried all the diets, T5 fat burner pills and even daily Saxenda injections for weight loss.
“Surgery was my last resort, but in Britain it was too expensive.
“I was too scared of the mortality rates in Turkey to get one there, so I opted for a gastric bypass at a Nordbariatric clinic in Lithuania.”
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The NHS 12-step plan to help you lose weight
FROM faddy diets to dodgy detoxes – most of us have heard it all before when it comes to weight loss.
But burning fat can be easy and usually free.
In fact, the NHS has a whole range of medically approved tips to lose weight and get rid of body fat once and for all…
- Don’t skip breakfast
Skipping breakfast won’t help you lose weight. You could be missing out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you’re hungry. - Eat regular meals
By eating at regular times during the day, you burn calories faster. It also reduces the temptation to eat snacks that are high in fat and sugar. - Eat enough fruits and vegetables
Fruits and vegetables are low in calories and fat, and high in fiber – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain many vitamins and minerals. - Become more active
Being active is the key to weight loss and weight loss. In addition to providing many health benefits, exercise can help burn the excess calories that you can’t lose through diet alone. - Drink plenty of water
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You may end up consuming extra calories when you really need a glass of water. - Eat fiber-rich foods
Foods high in fiber can make you feel full, which is perfect for weight loss. Fiber is only found in plant foods, such as fruits and vegetables, oats, whole wheat bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils. - Read food labels
Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to find out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance in the weight-loss plan. - Use a smaller plate
Using smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you can gradually get used to eating smaller portions without going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain that it is full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full. - Don’t ban food
Don’t ban any foods from your weight-loss plan, especially the foods you enjoy. Forbidding food will only make you crave it more. There’s no reason why you can’t enjoy a treat every now and then, as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. - Don’t keep junk food
To avoid temptation, it is best not to have junk food in the house, such as chocolate, cookies, chips and sugary soft drinks. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn and fruit juice. - Reduce alcohol
A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute to weight gain. - Plan your meals
Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week and make sure you stick to your calorie intake. You may find it helpful to make a weekly shopping list.
In April 2021, Sarah booked in for the procedure, and three months later she flew to Lithuania and underwent the operation.
“After that, being on a liquid diet followed by puree was very tough,” says Sarah, “and cooking food for Anthony and the kids was torture.”
Sarah lost 12 pounds in just two weeks. And after a year she had lost the 8th.
The couple tied the knot in September 2022.
“Before the bypass, I had opted for a poofy size 26 wedding dress with straps that supported my large bust,” says Sarah.
“Now, however, I was wearing a flowing strapless dress in size 14. The lace-up bodice hugged me snugly around the waist and I couldn’t stop grinning at my reflection in the mirror.
“But the thinnest me was still hiding, trapped under a large layer of loose skin on my stomach.
“As soon as I walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with Anthony, all worries disappeared and we had such a wonderful day.”
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SEXY CURVES
In June 2023, Sarah underwent a breast lift and augmentation at the Nordesthetics Clinic in Kaunas, and six months later she had a 360-body lift and a Fleur De Lis tummy tuck.
Also known as vertical abdominoplasty or corset lipectomy, the cosmetic procedure removes excess skin and fat from the abdominal area.
“When I woke up and looked down, I was stunned,” says Sarah.
“Just like Anthony. When he saw me, he looked at me in a way he had never done before.
“Now I have a stable weight of 10st 12lb and wear a size 10 to 12.
‘Not only do I look different, but I feel different too.
“When Anthony took the kids for a walk, I walked around the house waiting for them to come back.
“Now I’m the first to put my shoes on and I encourage Roxanne (17), Braydon (11) and Bobby (10) to join me.
“There’s one last thing on my to-do list, and that’s renewing my vows to Anthony.
“I have already found the long bodycon dress of my dreams.
“But this time the only thing hidden underneath is my sexy curves.”