Tammy Jones’ mornings used to start with a mountain of fast food—two double sausage and egg McMuffins, four hash browns, and a hot chocolate.
For the 35-year-old Wolverhampton mother-of-two, these breakfasts weren’t just indulgent—they were part of a daily routine that was draining her bank account and her health.
At her heaviest, Tammy weighed 23st 10lbs (332lbs/150kg), wore a size 32, and relied on a walking stick to get around.
“I was spending around £60 a day on takeaways because I had them for breakfast, lunch, and dinner,” she recalls.
“I’d order £40 of Chinese food—salt and pepper ribs, chow mein, chicken balls, and chips—and eat the leftovers the next morning.
I was also drinking double the recommended amount of calories in Coke. I couldn’t even leave the house confidently, and at 31, I was walking with a stick.”
A Wake-Up Call from Health Scares
Tammy’s turning point came after a series of frightening health incidents.
Diagnosed with type 2 diabetes and later struck with pneumonia, her weight was literally pressing down on her lungs.
“When I got pneumonia, my lungs were being crushed by my weight. I could have died, and it was petrifying,” she said.
Realizing something had to change, Tammy decided to take action—and flew to Turkey in September 2022 for a £3,500 gastric sleeve surgery, funded with the money she had previously spent on takeaways and with the help of her husband and brother.
Gastric sleeve surgery, a type of bariatric weight-loss operation, reduces the size of the stomach.
Patients feel full sooner and eat far fewer calories, which can result in dramatic weight loss.
For Tammy, just cutting out her daily McMuffins alone eliminated over 1,000 calories a day.
Life Before the Surgery: A Cycle of Food Addiction
Before the surgery, Tammy admits she was a self-confessed “food addict,” constantly thinking about her next meal and spending around £420 a week on food.
Her typical day involved:
- Breakfast: Two double sausage and egg McMuffins, four hash browns, hot chocolate
- Lunch: Four Greggs pasties, two sausage rolls
- Dinner: Chinese takeaway
- Snacks: M&Ms, peanuts, a share bag of Doritos, 20 packs of Walkers
- Drinks: Up to 10 litres of Coke
Her weight struggles had started early, following the birth of her first child at 17.
“I’ve always been a yo-yo dieter and a big girl. I tried everything—Slimming World, Weight Watchers, Cambridge diets. I’d lose a stone, then treat myself.”
The Road to Recovery
The surgery wasn’t a magic fix.
“Food is an addiction like alcohol or drugs; it was mentally exhausting,” Tammy says.
“I had no choice but to push through because my stomach was 20% smaller than before.”
Since the operation, she has shed 13 stone (182lbs/82kg), dropping to 11st 4lbs and a size eight.
She has reinvested her previous junk food spending into her health, including £150-a-month Mounjaro jabs starting in August 2024, which helped her lose an additional four stone.
She also spent £7,500 on cosmetic surgery, including a breast lift and tummy tuck, in September 2025.
A Healthier Lifestyle and Balanced Diet
Tammy’s new diet reflects her focus on health:
- Breakfast: Chicken satay
- Lunch: Bagel thin with light mayo, tuna, and sweetcorn
- Dinner: Sweet chili salmon, half a packet of microwave rice, a quarter of a tin of sweetcorn
She now measures portions carefully and substitutes high-calorie foods with lighter alternatives.
“I’ll buy a treat bag of chocolate buttons, put them in a freezer bag, and limit myself to six if I crave sweets.
I weigh everything, including condiments, and I only eat light mayo because I love mayo.”
Rediscovering Confidence and Joy
The transformation has gone beyond pounds and clothing sizes—it has completely changed Tammy’s life.
She has reversed her diabetes diagnosis and feels confident engaging in everyday activities.
“Life is so different. I can take my kids to the theme park and actually enjoy it.
I can queue for rides without worrying about whether I’ll fit or feel safe,” she says.
She’s also enjoying social interactions she once avoided.
“People don’t recognize me anymore. I bumped into a woman I grew up with in the supermarket, and she didn’t even realize it was me. It feels incredible.”
With a holiday to Tunisia planned for June, Tammy is excited to wear a bikini for the first time in years.
“Before, I used to dread summer and cancel family parties. Now, I look forward to them. My confidence is through the roof, and I can finally enjoy life fully.”
Tammy’s story is a powerful reminder of how determination, support, and the right medical intervention can transform not just a body, but an entire life.
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