19 year old Holly puts teen obesity years behind her
At 18, Holly Hunt, weighed nearly 19 stones and seemed destined for a life blighted by her weight. Throughout her teens she’d tried all of the weight loss diets and products – and was getting fed up with being teased about her size, especially when the teasing turned to bullying. Holly was so unhappy that she’d comfort eat – and this became a vicious circle.
The turning point was on the way home from a summer holiday. She had a bad flight as she couldn’t fit into the seat comfortably or use the meal tray as it rested against her tummy. At the end of the flight she developed throbbing pains in her legs. Her mother was really concerned that it was deep vein thrombosis (DVT), which can be brought on by excessive weight – and at this stage Holly weighed nearly19 stone.
One of her relatives suggested having a gastric band, which they then researched on the internet. Soon after, Holly had a consultation with Dr David Ashton and later had her procedure with Healthier Weight in Birmingham.
Holly explains that a gastric band is “not a lazy option.” Thanks to the support of her mum and dad, she worked really hard to stick to her 800 calories a day diet, which she had to maintain ahead of having the band fitted. After the operation she had to stick to a diet of soft and pureed foods for two weeks. In the past she never had any particular cravings for particularly calorific foods, it was more the quantities that she ate that gave her the problem.
Since embarking on her weight loss journey, Holly will still use chocolate as a reward – but will choose a lower calories option, such as kitkat or bueno rather than a mars bar! She does love crisps now as well.
She feels she has grown up a lot and prides herself on wanting to be a good person within. She’s determined to lose weight in order to benefit her health in general - but also as revenge on those who bullied her and made hurtful comments like ‘at least I don’t look like Holly’.
Her sister Robin has done some Glamour modelling as well as covers for women’s weeklies, such as Pick Me Up and Take a Break. Holly thinks she might be a little more image conscious now, though it has never been of great importance to her.
On a recent family holiday Holly was able to feel comfortable walking around in a tankini for the first time, because in previous years she’d always covered up in a shirt, shorts and hat. Old school friends who she hasn’t seen for a while have said ‘wow, you’ve changed so much!’
Holly feels that she had the band fitted at the right time in her life – "Any sooner and I wouldn’t have been ready, any later and I probably would have talked myself out of it!" She knows that her weight loss will give her more opportunities.
Holly
September 2011
