We lost 13st between us

If you want to shift pounds and get to your dream dress size, there may be a way for you. Read how three women used very different ways to get new bodies they love…>

‘I had a gastric band fitted’

KarenBaker, a 51-year-old hairdressing lecturer from Middlesex, opted for a drastic solution

‘From my early teens right up to my late 40s, I struggled with my weight. A real savory girl, my biggest diet downfall were bags of cashew nuts, crisps and Bombay mix. I went on my first diet at the age of 13 and over the years tried every diet under the sun. But while I found it relatively easy to lose the pounds, it was always a struggle to keep them off afterwards.

‘At my heaviest I weighed 16st and wore a dress size 22. I felt huge and never looked at myself in the mirror. Even worse, my job as a hairdresser meant standing on my feet all day, both knees swollen with excess fluid.
‘Although being large made me feel low, it was nothing compared to the health problem I went through. I’ve had breast cancer three times and, although doctors never said it outright, I’m sure that being overweight had something to do with it.

‘As my 50th birthday approached, I knew I couldn’t face entering a new decade overweight, and that’s when a friend suggested my having a gastric band. It would involve keyhole surgery to have an adjustable band placed around the top of my stomach to restrict the amount of food I could eat. It seemed a drastic step but for around £6,000 I’d be able to solve my eating problems and become slim forever. My husband, Russell, was understandably anxious. But he knew how much I longed to be fit and healthy and saw how this extreme solution could be the answer.

‘I chose Streamline Surgical (www.streamline-surgical.com 0800 157 7033) and the operation in January 2009 went smoothly. I had an overnight stay in hospital, then came home the next day. The only discomfort was wind trapped in my shoulders. Then came the challenging part: re-educating myself about food. But I quickly discovered hat, thanks to the band, I now didn’t need to have a lot to feel totally full. ‘I’d still eating the same type of food, just a lot less. And I stopped snacking. My size dropped from a 22 to a 16 and I’ve since lost another stone, taking me down to a size 14. That’s 5st I’ve lost in total. I’m now 10st 10lb.

‘Inside there’s still someone overweight who wants to eat and eat, but my band stop me. Although I know the operation is completely reversible, If I had the band taken out I’d probably put the weight back on. ‘I’m now brimming with self-confidence. Not bad for someone who dreaded being fat and 50.’