A woman revealed how a broken heart caused her to gain weight, before a cruel comment prompted her to turm things around.
Make-up artist Harriet Southan, 31, from Cheltenham, first started gaining weight as a teenager when her first boyfriend cheated on her with her best friend.
She turned to food for comfort, and tried weight loss groups seven times – but ultimately found herself at 20st 5lbs by the time of 2020’s pandemic lockdown.
Her downfall was fast food, eating McDonald’s at lunchtime and takeaways for dinner, after starting the day with a chocolate croissant.
But thanks to gastric surgery and cleaning up her diet, Harriet is proud of the fact she lost 7st in just eight months.
Harriet Southan revealed how a heartbreak in her teenage years led to a cycle of overeating, before a cruel comment led her to lose weight years later. Pictured before and after her surgery and diet change
Sick of not being happy with how she looked, Harriet decided to have a VSG surgery – a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, in which part of the stomach is removed
Harriet is now just 13-stone nine-pounds, and has dropped from a dress size 20 to a size 12 and finds shopping for ‘pretty’ clothes much easier
‘I was a comfort eater, I ate to distract me from my feelings,’ said Harriet.
‘I knew I needed to lose several stone, and it seemed impossible on all the fad diets I had tried.
‘In lockdown I couldn’t cope with what I saw facing me in the mirror. This girl was lost.
‘I had always been confident, but would easily feel hurt inside if people looked at me or were whispering around me, assuming it was about me.
Harriet found herself at a weight of 20-stone and five-pounds by the time of 2020’s pandemic lockdown
At her heaviest, Harriet felt unworthy, depressed, and saddened that she had let her weight get so out of control
While her operation was a success, Harriet says that she feels there is some stigma around this method of weight loss. Pictured after surgery and weight loss
‘I knew I was in there somewhere under all the weight. I felt unworthy, depressed, and very saddened that I had let myself get into such a state.
‘I knew I had to do something about it, lockdown was here, and I couldn’t stand how I looked.
‘I wanted to wear pretty clothes, and was fed up with wearing a pair of my 23 pairs of black leggings.
‘I wanted to wear jeans, I wanted my feet to not hurt so much when I went out in heels because of my weight.
At her current weight Harriet is much happier, saying it’s the best thing she’s ever done and she wishes she’d lost weight sooner
Before her weight loss, Harriet found that wearing heels would be a painful experience because of her weight
‘I wanted to feel better, look better. I would get out of breath, hated stairs, would get hot and bothered especially in summer.’
Harriet also noticed the reactions of other people, and was sometimes hurt by their comments and behaviour.
‘I remember being on holiday in the Dominican Republic, and the temperature was in the forties,’ she said.
‘I loved it, but couldn’t help wish I was one of the many girls in their little skimpy bikinis. I walked past a family and I heard them laugh at me.
Harriet was hurt by comments strangers would make about her body before losing weight, and heard a whole family laugh at her while on holiday in the Dominican Republic
Before and after her weight loss and surgery. Harriet was inspired to change her life after wanting to feel better, look better and not get out of breath using the stairs
‘I actually turned to them and said, “What’s funny, have you never seen a fat person in a swimsuit before?”.
‘On nights out, my friends would get attention and I would be the wingman friend who got stuck with their friends – who were never interested.
‘One guy even said he’d take one for the team by being with me. I felt like these were very cruel comments as I have a really big heart, and consider myself a very giving loving person. I felt like I was never good enough. It would upset me deep down.
‘Another time, I went to see live auditions for Britain’s Got Talent and there were some drunk people behind us and they were swearing.
Since her surgery, the mum can only handle a small amount of food but still get the satisfied feeling after eating
To maintain her current weight, Harriet eat off a small side plate to control her portions and avoid overeating
‘I looked around and the next thing I heard was ‘fat c***’. I was so upset and wanted to go home as I felt so uncomfortable.’
Sick of not being happy with how she looked, Harriet decided to have a VSG surgery – a vertical sleeve gastrectomy, in which part of the stomach is removed.
Harriet is now 13st 9lbs and has dropped from a dress size 20 to a size 12.
While the operation was a success, Harriet says that she feels there is some stigma around this method of weight loss.
As well as finding it difficult to keep up with the hectic lifestyle of being a mother, Harriet also discovered men at events would take no interest in her and often make rude comments
Harriet revealed that weight loss surgery requires much more work than simply having the operation and found the restrictive diet to be a big change
‘Some friends told me I could do it myself and I didn’t need an operation,’ she said.
‘Funnily enough these are the friends who never comment on my new appearance, never tell me how proud they are of me, or ever tell me I look great.
‘I didn’t make the fact I had my surgery public, but I often get asked at school on the playground at pick-up time how I’ve done it and I never know what to say – I think I just freeze.’
What many people don’t know about weight loss surgery is that it requires a lot more work than having the operation – and there is a big change in diet.
Before losing weight and having surgery, Harriet wanted to wear pretty clothes, and was fed up with wearing one of her 23 pairs of black leggings
The mum now goes to the gym three times a week, does classes and Zumba and wants to look into pole dancing to strengthen and tone her core
Before deciding to lose weight, Harriet’s typical diet consisted of a bowl of cereal, chocolate croissants and crumpets with butter and jam for breakfast, a McDonald’s or sandwich, crisps and chocolate for lunch, and takeaways for dinner – with Diet Coke as the only drink throughout the day.
‘I now eat a high protein diet,’ said Harriet.
‘I start my morning with a protein shake, for lunch I graze on cheese and cold meats, and for dinner I have a home cooked meal usually consisting of meat to keep my protein levels high.
‘I eat off a small side plate to control my portions – I can only handle a small amount of food now but still get the satisfied feeling I’ve eaten.
Harriet is now more confident, content and happy in life and has even decreased her antidepressants dosage as a result of the weight loss
Losing weight has meant Harriet can run around more with her child and has allowed her fashion sense to bloom
‘I hardly ever feel hungry, and I drink lots of water, something I never used to do.
‘I go to the gym three times a week, I do classes and Zumba and want to look into pole dancing to strengthen and tone my core.’
She added that she is much happier now.
‘It’s the best thing I’ve ever done,’ said Harriet.
‘I wish I had known more about it in my twenties as I probably would have taken the plunge sooner.
‘I am so much more confident, content and happy in life. I’ve decreased my antidepressants dosage as I don’t need to depend on them now.
‘I can run around with my energetic six year old who has ADHD. I can fit into small clothes, and have started sharing my friends’ clothes- it’s such a lovely feeling.’