Karen Sharpe was 350 pounds at her heaviest.
“I’ve always been big,” she told Daily Mail. “I had a tough childhood and food was where I found solace. Some people turn to drink, some people turn to drugs—I turned to food."
When she was in school, she was always made fun of.
“I kept my circle of friends quite small to try and avoid being teased as much as possible, so I don’t think I got as badly bullied as some people do, but it was still tough.”
She tried many diets, but none of them stuck. Soon, she resigned herself to a life of instant ramen, Chinese takeout, and chocolate.
By 2009, her weight wasn’t just affecting her confidence. She now found It difficult to walk anywhere, due to the pain that it caused in her legs.
“It got to the point where I didn’t want to leave the house because it was too painful to walk,” she said.
At this point, she knew her unhealthy lifestyle had to stop. Her doctor recommended that she join the waiting list for a gastric band.
But before she went in for her operation, she wanted to lose some preliminary weight first.
“I was told the wait list for gastric surgery could take up to two years,” said Karen. “I didn’t want to be the way I was for another two years. My children were growing up, and I just felt like I’d miss so much waiting.”
After joining Weight Watchers and slowly beginning an exercise routine, she decided she didn’t even need the surgery, and wanted to lose it naturally instead.
“I know people who’ve had surgery and, while they did lose weight, they never addressed the reasons they were big in the first place,” said Karen. “I also met a lot of people whilst on the waiting list who cheated the bad, doing things like melting down Mars Bars so they could still indulge.”
By early 2015, she was down 140 pounds. Then, she joined a new plan, Smart Points, and lost another 30 pounds in 8 weeks.
Now, she’s only 9 pounds away from her goal weight, 180 pounds.
She eats fresh, healthy meals instead of processed foods. She works out three times a week. Now, she’s a Weight Watchers leader.
“My life is unrecognizable now. I can play football and run around after my children instead of sitting on a bench watching them…I wear things I’d never have dreamed of before.”
She still has issues with confidence, but she says it’s better now.
“I used to hate myself. I didn’t like mixing with people or going out. I still struggle with my confidence but I’ll get there, in time.”
