THIS WOMAN would HIDE junk food in her bedroom so she didn’t have to share it before she lost over eight stone in a year – and now she is constantly getting hit on.
Public sector worker (36) from Fulham, London, UK, was tiny as a child but as she entered her teenage years, she began to eat junk food and quickly gained weight.
She use to hide junk food bought from the supermarket in her bedroom so that she did not have to share, food was constantly on Pearl’s mind. She could effortlessly finish a large Domino’s pizza all by herself and still feel hungry.
Pearl’s overeating of junk food – including chocolate and crisps – inevitably led to weight gain and she hated the way she looked as a teenager and young adult. She even avoided going out with friends and family as she felt like she was too big to be able to relax and be herself.
When Pearl first floated the idea of weight loss surgery to those close to her, she was met by people telling her to ‘go to the gym instead’ and that ‘weight loss surgery was cheating.’
However, after Pearl discovered that she was unable to walk up more than three steps without feeling completely out of breath, she knew she had to make a drastic change in order to improve her health and feel better about herself.
In August 2019, Pearl decided to fly to Turkey to undergo gastric sleeve surgery in which over 80 per cent of the stomach is removed in order to reduce the capacity for eating.
By the summer of 2020, Pearl managed to lose a remarkable 8st 6lbs and now weighs just 9st 13lbs. She fits comfortably into size eight clothing.
For Pearl, her weight loss has transformed her life in a variety of ways. Previously self-conscious in front of both friends and strangers, Pearl feels confident and beautiful in her own skin. When on the street, Pearl notices that people treat her differently to when she was larger and says that she has never been hit on as many times as she has been since her weight loss.
Pearl is constantly told by friends that she looks amazing and has even been told that she should try modelling. She believes her weight loss has given her more energy and has made her a kinder person as a result.
However, she admits that knowing when to stop eating food is still a challenge, but she is careful to avoid the snacks that led to her weight gain in the first place.
“Throughout my life, I’ve always loved food and hated exercise,” said Pearl.
“I would always buy so much junk food from the supermarkets and hide it in my bedroom so I didn’t have to share it”
“Before I lost weight, I could easily eat a full Domino’s Pizza without even being full.
“Before surgery, I felt like I had a little to no support whatsoever.
“I would get comments like ‘you don’t need to have surgery’ or ‘why don’t you go to the gym and lose weight normally’ or ‘having surgery is cheating.’
“I just ignored these comments because the only person that knew what was best for me, was me.
“The fact that I couldn’t walk up three steps without feeling like I was having an asthma attack, and I don’t even have asthma, was a big moment of realisation that things needed to change.
“I was wearing size twenty clothes and they were so tight on me that I felt as though someone had spray-painted my clothes on.
“So on August 19, 2019, I flew to Turkey for weight loss surgery.
“I now feel absolutely amazing, confident and beautiful.
“I feel as though people on the street treat me differently.
“I feel so much more attractive and have never been hit on so many times in my entire life as I have been since I lost weight.
“More people are definitely attracted to me now than they were before.
Pearl is now happier than she has ever been in her life and only wishes she had looked into weight loss surgery sooner.
“I will say that if someone wanted to go down the weight loss surgery route, they should do it,” said Pearl.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done in my whole entire life. I’m so grateful for the second chance.
“I just wish that I had done it sooner.”
Also read: Anorexia killed my mom and ruined my childhood – Part 1
