A mother-of-two from Wolverhampton who ballooned to over 23 stone while spending £60 every day on fast food has undergone a staggering transformation, shedding 13 stone after life-saving surgery.
A Diet That Brought Her to the Brink
Tammy Jones, 35, was a self-confessed food addict, whose daily calorie intake was largely comprised of takeaways and sugary drinks. At her heaviest, she tipped the scales at 23 stone 10 lbs and wore a size 32. Her mobility was so severely impacted that she needed a walking stick to get around, even in her early thirties.
A typical day's menu paints a stark picture of her addiction. Breakfast often consisted of two double sausage and egg McMuffins, four hash browns and a hot chocolate. Lunch would be four Greggs pasties and two sausage rolls. Dinner was a full Chinese takeaway with extras, all washed down with litres of Coca-Cola.
"I spent £60 a day on takeaways because I was having them for breakfast, lunch and dinner," Tammy admitted. "I’d order £40 of Chinese food with salt and pepper ribs, chow mein, chicken balls and chips, then eat the leftovers the next morning."
The Health Scare That Changed Everything
The physical toll was catastrophic. Tammy was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes. Then, in 2021, she developed pneumonia. Her weight was literally crushing her lungs, leaving her fighting for her life in a terrifying health crisis. "I could have died, and it was petrifying," she recalled.
This near-death experience became the catalyst for change. Supported by her husband and brother, who feared losing her, Tammy made a drastic decision. In September 2022, she flew to Turkey and used the money she would have spent on junk food to pay £3,500 for a gastric sleeve operation, reducing the size of her stomach by 80%.
"The recovery wasn’t easy," she said. "Food is an addiction like alcohol and drugs; it was mentally exhausting. I had no choice but to get past that."
A New Life and a Bikini Body
To aid further weight loss, Tammy started using the medication Mounjaro in August 2024, costing her £150 a month. Her dedication has paid off spectacularly. The stay-at-home mum now weighs a healthy 11 stone 4 lbs and wears a size eight.
She has since invested a further £7,500—again, money saved from her former food budget—on a breast lift and tummy tuck in September 2025 to remove excess skin.
Her approach to food is now meticulously managed. She has swapped bagels for bagel thins, weighs all her portions including condiments, and allows herself controlled treats like a few chocolate buttons from the freezer. Most importantly, she has completely reversed her type 2 diabetes diagnosis.
The weight loss has revolutionised her daily life and confidence. "I can take my kids to the theme park. Before, I wouldn’t have even risked going on a ride," she said. Her newfound confidence will reach a peak in June when she travels to Tunisia for a holiday, planning to wear a bikini for the first time in years.
"Life is so different," Tammy beamed. "My confidence is through the roof. I don’t have to lock myself away. People don’t recognise me... It feels so good."
