Despite trying countless diets, fat-burning pills and slimming shots, Sarah Kenyon’s cravings for daily takeaways have seen her drop to 19st stone.
The 33-year-old had a gastric bypass and lost the 8th, but was left with more than a piece of loose skin on his stomach and had to tuck it into his trousers.
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This meant that she couldn’t wear the form-fitting dress of her dreams on her wedding day, but had to opt for a flowy A-line dress to hide the excess.
To date Sarah has spent £16,000 on her body transformation; this includes £6,000 for gastric bypass, £4,500 for breast lift and augmentation and £5,500 for 360 body lift and Fleur De Lis tummy tuck.
Her husband, Anthony Kenyon, 41, barely recognized his own wife when he saw her after her skin was removed.
The mother-of-three from Lancashire says her weight struggle started when she was 16.
“When I got pregnant with my first child, Roxanne, I was eating for two and gaining a lot of weight,” she says.
“Five years later I gave birth to Braydon, and two years later I gave birth to my youngest son, Bobby.
“I grew a little bigger with each pregnancy, and as a mother of three, the scales showed 19 and I was wearing a size 22-24.
“After that, I became addicted to food and greasy packets became my favorite almost every day.
“We would order all the works from our favorite Chinese with soda pop.
“We did this every weekend and most weekdays, but eating too many fatty takeaways was taking a toll on my waistline.
“As a busy parent, I let my health slide. Every morning I stepped on the bathroom scale and saw the numbers gradually increasing.
“I even got kicked out of Alton Towers in front of everyone because I was too fat.”
Sarah’s youngest son Bobby met her husband Anthony when he was 18 months old.
“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 exercising, lost fifth place and got stronger with muscle training.
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“Even though I hated the gym, I managed to place fourth.”
On Mother’s Day 2020, housing needs officer Sarah and dog trainer and CAP debt advisor Anthony got engaged.
“The kids ran into the living room and presented me with the Pandora bracelet charm, then Anthony got down on one knee and proposed,” she says.
I’m trapped under a large sheet of loose skin on my stomach
Sarah Kenyon
“Four days later the UK went into lockdown. And as I was stuck at home with a fridge to keep me company, the weight I had lost piled on again.
“When I started wedding planning, I was terrified at the idea of walking down the aisle.
“I have tried all the diets, T5 fat burner pills and even daily Saxenda weight loss injections.
“Surgery was my last resort but it was very expensive in the UK.
“I was so afraid of the death rates in Turkey that I opted for gastric bypass at a Nordbariatric clinic in Lithuania.”
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NHS’s 12-step plan to help you lose weight
From fad diets to dangerous detoxes, most of us have heard about weight loss before.
But burning fat can be easy and often free.
In fact, there are loads of medically approved tips on the NHS for losing weight and getting rid of body fat permanently…
- Don’t skip breakfast
Skipping breakfast won’t help you lose weight. You may miss out on essential nutrients and have to snack more throughout the day because you feel hungry. - Eat regularly
Eating at regular times during the day helps burn calories faster. It also reduces the desire to snack on foods high in fat and sugar. - Eat plenty of 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 plenty of vitamins and minerals. - Be more active
Being active is the key to losing weight and keeping it off. In addition to providing many health benefits, exercise can also help you burn 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 all you really need is a glass of water. - Eat high fiber foods
Foods with lots of fiber can help you stay full, which is great for losing weight. Fiber is only found in foods derived from plants, such as fruits and vegetables, oats, whole grain bread, brown rice and pasta, beans, peas and lentils. - Read food labels
Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use calorie information to find out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on a 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 feeling 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 foods
Don’t ban any foods in your weight loss plan, especially foods you love. Banning foods will only make you want them more. As long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance, there’s no reason you can’t enjoy the occasional treat. - Don’t stock up on junk food
To avoid temptation, do not stock up on junk food such as chocolate, biscuits, chips and sweet fizzy drinks at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks like fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oatcakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and juice. - reduce alcohol
A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Drinking too much over time can easily contribute to weight gain. - Plan your meals
Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner, and snacks throughout the week, making sure you stick to your calorie count. It may be helpful to prepare a weekly shopping list.
In April 2021, Sarah applied for the procedure and three months later, she flew to Lithuania to have the surgery.
“Then it was seriously difficult to follow the liquid diet followed by purees,” says Sarah. “Cooking for Anthony and the kids was torture.”
Sarah lost 12 kilos in just two weeks. And a year later he lost the 8th.
The couple got married in September 2022.
“Before the bypass, I had decided on a size 26 puffy wedding dress with straps that supported my large breasts,” says Sarah.
“But now I was wearing a loose, strapless dress, size 14. The lace-up bodice cinched me in at the waist, and I couldn’t stop grinning at my reflection.
“But the skinniest me was still hiding under the big layer of loose skin on my belly.
“When I walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with Anthony, all my worries disappeared and we had 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 underwent 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.
“So did Anthony. When he saw me, he looked at me in a way he had never looked at me before.
“I now weigh 10st 12lbs and wear a size 10 to 12.
“Not only do I look different, I feel different too.
“When Anthony took the kids for a walk, I would wait around the house for their return.
“Now I’m the first one to put on their shoes and I’m encouraging 17-year-old Roxanne, 11-year-old Braydon and 10-year-old Bobby to join me.
“There’s one last thing left on my to-do list and that is to renew my vows to Anthony.
“I’ve already found the full-length bodycon dress of my dreams.
“But this time the only thing hiding underneath it will be my sexy curves.”