by DESPITE trying countless diets, fat burner pills and weight loss injections, Sarah Kenyon’s craving for a daily flatbread has left her weighing 19st.
The 33-year-old had a gastric bypass and lost 8st – but was left with more than a stone of loose skin on her stomach, which she had to tuck into her trousers.
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It meant she couldn’t wear the fitted dress of her dreams on her wedding day but had to choose an A-line dress to hide too much.
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 Fleur De Lis bulb.
When her husband Anthony Kenyon, 41, saw her after the skin was removed, he hardly recognized his own wife.
The mother-of-three, from Lancashire, says her weight struggle began at the age of 16.
“When I fell pregnant with my first child, Roxanne, I was eating for two and piled on loads resulting in 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 scales showed 19st and I wore sizes 22 to 24.
“After that, I became addicted to food and preferred greasy takeaways almost every day.
“We’ll order the full works of our favorite Chinese, washed down with sparkling pop music.
“We did it every weekend – and most days of the week too. But eating so much greasy takeaway was taking its toll on my waistline.
“As a busy parent, I let my health slip. Every morning, I stood on the bathroom scales to see the digits steadily increasing.
“I even got kicked off the Alton Towers tour 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 I knew I wasn’t happy with my body, so he suggested we hit the gym together,” she says.
“He loved working out, lost 5st and got into muscle training.
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“Even though I hated the gym, I managed to lose 4st place.”
On Mother’s Day 2020, Sarah, a housing needs officer, and Anthony, a dog trainer and CBT debt counsellor, got engaged.
“The kids ran into the living room and presented me with a Pandora bracelet, then Anthony dropped to one knee and proposed,” she says.
I was trapped under a large layer of loose skin on my stomach
Sarah Kenyon
“Four days later, the UK went into lockdown. Stuck at home with the fridge for company, the weight I had lost set in again.
“When I started planning a wedding, the thought of walking down the aisle fascinated me.
“I tried all diets, T5 fat burner pills and even daily Saxenda weight loss injections.
“Surgery was my last resort, but it was too expensive in the UK.
“I was too scared by Turkey’s death rates to have one, so I opted for a gastric bypass at the 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 mostly free.
In fact, there’s a whole load of NHS approved medical tips for weight loss and shedding body fat once and for all…
- Do not skip breakfast
skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you could be snacking more during the day because you feel hungry. - Eat regular meals
Eating at regular times throughout the day helps burn calories at a faster rate. It also reduces the temptation to snack on foods high in fat and sugar. - Eat plenty of fruit 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 key to losing weight and keeping it off. In addition to providing many health benefits, exercise can help burn off the extra calories you can’t lose through diet alone. - Drink a lot of water
Sometimes people mistake thirst for hunger. You can eat extra calories when all you need is a glass of water. - Eat foods high in fiber
Foods high in fiber can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for weight loss. Fiber is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and vegetables, oats, whole grain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils. - Read food labels
Knowing how to read food labels can help you make healthier choices. Use the calorie information to find out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan. - Use a smaller plate
Smaller plates can help you eat smaller portions. By using smaller plates and bowls, you may be able to 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. - Do not ban foods
Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banned foods will only make you crave them more. There’s no reason you can’t enjoy it once in a while as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. - Do not stock junk food
To avoid temptation, don’t stock up on junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sugary drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, fat-free rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice. - Download alcohol
A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily lead to weight gain. - Plan your meals
Try to plan your breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks for the week, making sure you stick to your calorie allowance. 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 had the operation.
“After that, it was all very difficult after a liquid diet, followed by purees,” says Sarah, “and it was torture to cook food for Anthony and the kids.”
Sarah lost 12 pounds in two weeks. And after one year, she had lost 8th.
The couple tied the knot in September 2022.
“Before the bypass, I had settled on a poofy size 26 wedding dress with straps that supported my bust,” says Sarah.
“Now, however, I wore a strapless floaty dress in a size 14. The laced bodice lifted me up at the waist and I couldn’t stop laughing at the thought.
“But the skinniest me was still hidden, trapped under a large layer of loose skin on my stomach.
“As soon as I walked down the aisle and exchanged my money with Anthony, however, any worries I had were gone and we had a great day.”
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SEXY COURSES
In June 2023, Sarah had a breast lift and breast augmentation at Nordesthetics Clinic in Kaunas, and six months later, she had a 360 body lift and Fleur De Lis bulb.
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.
“Anthony was like that. When he saw me, he looked at me in a way he never had before.
“Now I’m at a stable weight of 10 pounds 12 and wearing sizes 10 to 12.
“Not only am I different, but I also feel different.
“When Anthony used to take the children for a walk, I would potter around the house waiting for them to return.
“Now I’m the first to wear my shoes, encouraging Roxanne, 17, Braydon, 11, and Bobby, 10, to join me.
“There is only one last thing left on my to-do list, and that is to renew my vows to Antoine.
“I have already found the full length bodycon dress of my dreams.
“This time, however, the only thing hidden under it will be my sexy curves.”
