Mum, 33, who had to tuck 1 STONE of loose skin into her trousers after 8st weight loss shares dramatic transformation
DESPITE trying countless diets, fat burner pills and weight loss injections, Sarah Kenyon’s weakness for daily takeaways 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.
It meant that on her wedding day, she couldn’t wear the fitted dress of her dreams but had to opt for a floaty A-line gown to hide the excess.
To date, Sarah has spent £16,000 on her body transformation, including £6,000 on a gastric bypass, £4,500 on a breast lift and enlargement, and £5,500 on a 360-body lift and Fleur De Lis tummy tuck.
When her husband Anthony Kenyon, 41, saw her after the skin removal, he barely recognised his own wife.
The mum-of-three, from Lancashire, says her weight struggles started at 16.
“When I fell pregnant with my first child, Roxanne, I was eating for two and piled on loads of weight,” she says.
“Five years later I had Braydon, and two years later I had my youngest son, Bobby.
“I got bigger with every pregnancy and as a mum-of-three, the scales showed 19st and I wore a size 22 to 24.
“After that, I became addicted to food and almost daily greasy takeaways were my favourite.
“We’d order the full works from our favourite Chinese, washed down with fizzy pop.
“We did it every weekend – and most weekdays too. But eating so many greasy takeaways was taking its toll on my waistline.
“As a busy parent, I let my health slide. Every morning, I stepped on the bathroom scales to see the digits steadily increasing.
“I even got kicked off an Alton Towers ride 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 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 bulked up with muscle training.
“While I hated the gym, I managed to lose 4st.”
On Mother’s Day 2020, Sarah, a housing needs officer, and Anthony, a dog trainer and CAP debt advisor, got engaged.
“The kids ran into the living room and presented me with a Pandora bracelet charm, then Anthony dropped to one knee and proposed,” she says.
I was trapped under a big layer of loose skin on my stomach
Sarah Kenyon
“Four days later, the UK went into lockdown. And stuck at home with the fridge for company, the weight I’d lost piled back on.
“When I started wedding planning, the idea of walking down the aisle filled me with dread.
“I tried all the 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 of Turkey’s death rates to have one there, so I opted for a gastric bypass at a Nordbariatric clinic in Lithuania.”
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, the NHS has a whole load of medically-approved tips for weight loss and shedding body fat once and for all…
- Don’t skip breakfast
Skipping breakfast will not help you lose weight. You could miss out on essential nutrients and you may end up snacking more throughout the day because you feel hungry. - Eat regular meals
Eating at regular times during 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 veg
Fruit and veg are low in calories and fat, and high in fibre – 3 essential ingredients for successful weight loss. They also contain plenty of vitamins and minerals. - Get more active
Being active is key to losing weight and keeping it off. As well as providing lots of health benefits, exercise can help burn off the excess calories you cannot lose through diet alone. - Drink lots of water
People sometimes confuse thirst with hunger. You can end up consuming extra calories when a glass of water is really what you need. - Eat high fibre foods
Foods containing lots of fibre can help keep you feeling full, which is perfect for losing weight. Fibre is only found in food from plants, such as fruit and veg, oats, wholegrain bread, brown rice and pasta, and beans, peas and lentils. - Read food labels
Knowing how to read food labels can help you choose healthier options. Use the calorie information to work out how a particular food fits into your daily calorie allowance on the weight loss plan. - Use a smaller plate
Using 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 going hungry. It takes about 20 minutes for the stomach to tell the brain it’s full, so eat slowly and stop eating before you feel full. - Don’t ban foods
Do not ban any foods from your weight loss plan, especially the ones you like. Banning foods will only make you crave them more. There’s no reason you cannot enjoy the occasional treat as long as you stay within your daily calorie allowance. - Don’t stock junk food
To avoid temptation, do not stock junk food – such as chocolate, biscuits, crisps and sweet fizzy drinks – at home. Instead, opt for healthy snacks, such as fruit, unsalted rice cakes, oat cakes, unsalted or unsweetened popcorn, and fruit juice. - Cut down on alcohol
A standard glass of wine can contain as many calories as a piece of chocolate. Over time, drinking too much can easily contribute 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 surgery.
“Afterwards, following a liquid diet, followed by purees, was seriously tough,” Sarah says, “and cooking food for Anthony and the kids was torture.”
Sarah shed 12lbs in just two weeks. And after one year, she had lost 8st.
The couple tied the knot in September 2022.
“Before the bypass, I’d settled on a poofy size 26 wedding dress with straps that supported my big bust,” says Sarah.
“Now though, I wore a floaty strapless dress in a size 14. The laced-up bodice cinched me in at the waist and I couldn’t stop grinning at my reflection.
“But the skinniest me was still hiding, trapped under a big layer of loose skin on my stomach.
“As soon as I walked down the aisle and exchanged vows with Anthony though, any worries I had disappeared and we had such an amazing day.”
SEXY CURVES
In June 2023, Sarah had a breast uplift and enlargement at Nordesthetics Clinic in Kaunas, and six months later, had a 360-body lift and 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 was Anthony. When he saw me, he looked at me in a way he never had before.
“Now I’m at a stable weight of 10st 12lb and wear a size 10 to 12.
“Not only do I look different, but I feel different too.
“When Anthony used to take the kids on a hike, I’d potter around the house waiting for their return.
“Now I’m the first to have my shoes on, encouraging Roxanne, 17, Braydon, 11, and Bobby, 10, to join me.
“There’s just one last thing left on my to-do list, and that’s to renew my vows to Anthony.
“I’ve already found the full-length bodycon dress of my dreams.
“This time though, the only thing hiding under it will be my sexy curves.”