A mum-of-two who felt 'embarrassed' by her weight dropped 51kg in just seven months in time for her big 30th birthday.
Self-confessed secret snacker, Nancy Fawehimi, 30, weighed 122kg at her heaviest despite having a gastric band.
The business owner told Caters the gastric band surgery - which involved a silicone band decreasing her stomach size - was the "biggest regret" of her life as it failed and she continued to fill up on chocolate, crisps and three blocks of cheese per week.
"The only things I could eat were slider foods which are foods that are able to slide through the stomach pouch quickly," she explained.
"I am a foodie and I love to cook so I would often recreate the food I had seen on Instagram such as burgers dripping with cheese or loaded fries...I would never have a normal dish; it was always super indulgent and high calories.
"I would easily get through three blocks of cheese a week by adding extra to every meal I ate."
But everything changed when Fawehimi had her gastric band removed in October 2018 and replaced with a gastric bypass.
Within seven months, she dropped to a healthy 71kg and was able to wear a size 10 dress for her 30th birthday earlier this month.
"I didn't think I would ever look and feel this good - the best part was being able to purchase a nice outfit without the fear of it not fitting," she says.
"I absolutely love clothes shopping now as I can buy something from any shop rather than searching for a size 22/24."
Fawehimi says she's also a better mum to her young sons.
"I would usually opt to take them to soft play so I can sit down and watch them but now I love to bring them to the park to run around in the fresh outdoors.
"Before everything was a chore but now I have so much more energy.
She shared a glimpse into her daily menu before the surgery, and after.
Food diary before:
BREAKFAST - Brie and bacon panini with cranberry sauce
LUNCH - Dauphinoise potatoes with extra cheese or large cheese pizza
DINNER - Large portion of loaded fries with cheese and bacon, or a beef burger with cheese
SNACKS - Chocolate and crisps
Food diary after:
BREAKFAST - Smoothie with oats, frozen berries and protein powder
LUNCH - Chicken salad
DINNER - Grilled salmon with vegetables and potatoes or prawn salad
SNACKS - Fruit
