A mother-of-two who was spending an astonishing £420 every week on takeaways has completely transformed her life after undergoing weight loss surgery, shedding a remarkable 13 stone.
From Food Addiction to Health Crisis
At her heaviest, 35-year-old Tammy Jones from Wolverhampton weighed 23 stone 10lbs, wore a size 32, and was forced to use a walking stick to get around. A self-confessed food addict, her daily diet was a relentless cycle of junk food.
Her typical day began with two double sausage and egg McMuffins, four hash browns and a hot chocolate. Lunch consisted of four Greggs pasties and two sausage rolls. Dinner was a full Chinese takeaway, and she would wash it all down with a staggering 10 litres of Coca-Cola daily.
"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 and eat the leftovers the next morning."
The dire consequences of her lifestyle soon manifested. She was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and, in 2021, developed a severe case of pneumonia. Her weight was literally crushing her lungs, leaving her fighting for her life. "I could have died, and it was petrifying," she recalled.
The Turning Point: Surgery in Turkey
Faced with this life-or-death scare, Tammy knew she had to make a drastic change. In September 2022, she made the decision to fly to Turkey for a gastric sleeve procedure, which cost £3,500. She funded the surgery using the money she would have otherwise spent on her relentless takeaway habit, with additional financial help from her husband and brother who feared losing her.
"The recovery wasn't easy," Tammy said. "Food is an addiction like alcohol and drugs; it was mentally exhausting. I had no choice but to get past that because my stomach was 20% smaller than before."
To aid further weight loss, she began using the medication Mounjaro in August 2024, costing her £150 a month for a year and helping her lose an additional four stone.
A Life Reclaimed: Confidence and Health Restored
The results have been extraordinary. Tammy now weighs 11 stone 4lbs and wears a size eight. She has since spent a further £7,500—again, money saved from junk food—on a breast lift and tummy tuck to remove excess skin.
Most importantly, her health has been revolutionised. She has successfully reversed her type 2 diabetes diagnosis. Her daily diet is now a world apart from her old habits, featuring meals like chicken satay, bagel thins with tuna, and sweet chilli salmon.
"Life is so different," Tammy beamed. "I can take my kids to the theme park and queue for rides with confidence. My confidence is through the roof." She is now eagerly planning a holiday to Tunisia, where she will wear a bikini for the first time in years, something she would never have contemplated before.
Her transformation is so complete that people often don't recognise her. "I was in the supermarket and bumped into a woman I grew up with," Tammy shared. "Her daughter said, 'Mum, it's Tammy'. She replied, 'Oh my God, I didn't recognise you at all'. It feels so good."
Tammy's Diet - Before and After:
Before:
- Breakfast: Two double sausage & egg McMuffins, four hash browns, hot chocolate.
- Lunch: Four Greggs pasties, two sausage rolls.
- Dinner: Large Chinese takeaway.
- Drinks: 10 litres of Coke.
After:
- Breakfast: Chicken satay.
- Lunch: Bagel thin with light mayo, tuna and sweetcorn.
- Dinner: Sweet chilli salmon, half a packet of microwave rice, quarter tin of sweetcorn.
