WHEN Gemma Newman received a message from a friend saying she’d spotted her husband in Tesco with a “younger, gorgeous blonde woman” – she was taken aback.
But the 38-year-old had no reason at all to doubt Danny, 43, her partner of over 10 years, and when the pair realised what had happened they fell about laughing.
Gemma was a size 24 and battled one problem after another[/caption]
After trying countless diets and exercise, Gemma opted to have a gastric bypass[/caption]
After the surgery, Gemma lost 10st 6lbs and her PCOS cleared up[/caption]
The mystery blonde walking around the supermarket on Danny’s arm was in fact, Gemma – just 10 stone lighter.
“My friend messaged me to say she’d seen Danny with a gorgeous, blonde woman in Tesco. But once she had checked out my recent pictures on Facebook, she realised it was me,” Gemma said,
“We hadn’t seen each other for a while and I was unrecognisable due to losing so much weight.
“People I know well still walk straight past me in the street.”
Gemma had been warned by doctors that she was heading towards a diabetes diagnosis, due to her weight.
At 21 stone she was plagued by sleep apnoea, sciatica, back, knee and hip pain, asthma and infertility – to list a few.
Taking matters into her own hands, Gemma decided to opt for weight loss surgery, and her life – and look – has been transformed as a result.
Her health problems have disappeared, she’s had a baby, and she was even mistaken for being ‘the other woman’ when her friend didn’t recognise her.
Before having a gastric bypass, nurse Gemma was a size 24 and was battling one health problem after another.
“When I was 19, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome,” she said. “From that point on, I found it impossible to shift the pounds. And having a big appetite and a love of takeaways certainly didn’t help.”
Husband and wife Danny and Gemma, who live in Cumbria, became a couple after 10 years of friendship.
“Danny was amazing at helping me raise my daughter Ellie from a previous relationship. It seemed like a miracle I’d even had her.
“During my PCOS diagnosis, the doctor had told me I’d never conceive without IVF.
“Fast forward a few years and Danny and I really wanted a sibling for Ellie, but I didn’t have periods and never got a positive ovulation test.
“We just couldn’t conceive a baby, and I knew it was because of my weight and PCOS.”
PROPOSAL JOY TURNED TO FEAR
In 2019, Danny proposed and though Gemma was excited, she was also dreading walking down the aisle with everyone’s eyes on her.
She had tried countless diets, including Slimming World, Atkins and Slimfast, but never lost more than a few pounds.
She also tried gym classes, training at home and running. But her aching body made exercising agony.
“I had so many health problems that I felt like I was falling apart,” she said.
“I was suffering with hernias, sciatica, back, knee and hip pain, uncontrolled asthma, gastric reflux, and I was borderline diabetic.
“I had to wear a CPAP mask in bed for my sleep apnoea and often stopped breathing at night, leaving Danny in a panic.
“Broken sleep meant I was too tired after work to even take Ellie to the park, and I usually fell asleep before dinner.
“I was existing not living, and I needed to do something. That’s when I started researching weight loss surgery.
When she told me she’d seen Danny holding hands with another woman in Tesco, I was so confused. I’d been with him all day.
Gemma Newman
“My GP told me there was a huge waiting list for a gastric bypass and to have one privately in the UK would cost £12,000.
“So, I found a reputable clinic abroad that offered the same thing for half the price.”
In May 2021, Gemma flew to Nordbariatric Clinic in Lithuania for a £6,000 gastric bypass.
“The clinic had instructed me to follow a calorie-controlled diet to make the surgery safer and I got down to 19st 14lbs, then I was ready – and excited – for the surgery.”
In the weeks following the operation, Gemma was only allowed water, broth, then baby food and yoghurt, before moving onto solid foods.
Two months after the surgery, Gemma and Danny’s big day arrived.
“When we got married, I’d lost almost three stone already and had my size 24 wedding dress taken in four sizes.
“As I walked towards Danny in my princess gown, I felt lighter – physically and emotionally.”
NEWFOUND CONFIDENCE
By March 2022, Gemma had lost 10st 6lbs and swapping baggy tops and leggings for bodysuits, dresses and skirts gave her a newfound confidence.
Losing half her body weight also meant saying goodbye to her long list of health issues and the CPAP machine. Even her PCOS cleared up.
In April 2022, Gemma received an unexpected message from an old friend on Facebook.
“When she told me she’d seen Danny holding hands with another woman in Tesco, I was so confused. I’d been with him all day.
Danny’s mates tell him he’s punching and now, when he tells me I look beautiful, I actually believe him.
Gemma Newman
“Then I realised that the last time my friend had seen me was pre-op, and we weren’t friends on Facebook, so she thought I was still big.
“I added her and as soon as she saw my recent photos, she clocked that the woman in the supermarket had been me!
“The case of mistaken identity really made me and Danny laugh, and it still happens now.
“People I know often walk straight past me in the street, before doubling back and taking in my new look.”
In 2023, Gemma discovered she was pregnant and in December, the couple welcomed their daughter, Evie Grace, now 10 months, making Ellie, now six, a proud big sister.
“We were just about to begin the IVF process before I had the gastric bypass, but amazingly, thanks to losing weight, we conceived naturally.
“I only gained 7lb during the pregnancy and I’m now 11st 1lb and wear a size 10-12. I can eat pretty much what I like, just small portions.
“Danny’s mates tell him he’s punching and now, when he tells me I look beautiful, I actually believe him.
“I can no longer gorge on an all-you-can-eat Chinese, but that’s a small price to pay for my health.
“There’s such a stigma to weight loss surgery, but it gave me a longer life expectancy, a baby with Danny and the energy to be a better mum. I’m finally who I’m meant to be.”
How to lose weight without surgery
There are various other ways to lose weight without going under the knife.
According to the NHS, to get the best possible start on its weight loss plan, there are the seven steps you should follow.
- Get active for 150 minutes a week – you can break this up into shorter sessions
- Aim to get your 5 A Day – 80g of fresh, canned or frozen fruit or vegetables count as 1 portion
- Aim to lose 1 to 2lbs, or 0.5 to 1kg, a week
- Read food labels – products with more green colour coding than amber and red are often a healthier option
- Swap sugary drinks for water – if you do not like the taste, add slices of lemon or lime for flavour
- Cut down on food that’s high in sugar and fat – start by swapping sugary cereal for wholegrain alternatives
- Share your weight loss plan with someone you trust – they can help motivate you when you have a bad day
Gemma’s weight meant she suffered with hernias, sciatica, back, knee and hip pain, uncontrolled asthma, gastric reflux, and she was borderline diabetic[/caption]
Having previously struggled to conceive, after her surgery Gemma was able to conceive naturally[/caption]
