CHERYNE Guebbas transformed her life after losing 12 stone, but her success came with an unexpected downside – unwanted catcalls from men.
Growing up, the now 28-year-old was mocked for her weight, with her first memory of bullying happening when she was just six years old and weighed seven stone.
She now eats smaller, balanced meals and no longer craves junk food[/caption]
“At school everyone made fun of me, so I took refuge in food,” she explained.
At her heaviest Cheryne, from Montbéliard, France, reached 25 stone.
Yet, she still considered herself healthy, despite her size and the cruel comments from strangers.
Online, people would ask her, “Aren’t you ashamed to show this picture? How come you’re married with that weight?” or the more familiar “fat cow,” she said.
“I honestly thought I was fine before I lost weight,” she said.
Sometimes it was more subtle, like, “Too bad, you’ve got a beautiful face’, ‘You’d be so beautiful if you were thin,” she said,
It wasn’t until everyday tasks became harder, like getting dressed she realised something needed to change.
The turning point came when she took her six-year-old son, Abdal-Malick, to a soft play centre.
After losing sight of him, she realised she couldn’t climb into the play area to look for him.
Luckily, her son was fine, but the incident “scared”, Cheryne.
The mum decided to have gastric bypass surgery, one of the most common weight loss procedures in the world.
It’s often performed on those for who other forms of weight loss, such as diet and exercise, have not worked.
“It was a tough decision,” she said, but she believed the benefits—better health and mobility – were worth the risk.
During the procedure staples are used to create a small pouch at the top of the stomach.
This means it takes less food to make you feel full and you’ll absorb fewer calories from the food you eat.
Patients must stick to a strict diet and exercise plan after the operation.
Cheryne can walk 20 km a day without feeling tired, and most importantly, she can play with her children like never before[/caption]
Cheryne with her sons Abdal-Malick (6) and Luqman (2)[/caption]
Many people find that they are left with lose folds of skin after they lose weight which can require further surgery to correct.
Gastric bypass surgery also comes with many potentially fatal risks, including internal bleeding and blood clots, according to the NHS.
Since having surgery in 2021, Cheryne has lost 12-and-a-half stone.
Even though she unexpectedly fell pregnant with her son Luqman and separated from her husband, Cheryne stuck to a strict gym routine.
“I went to the gym every day after dropping off my son.
“I worked on my arms on Mondays, my thighs and buttocks on Tuesdays, and my back on Wednesdays,” she explained.
Her eating habits changed too.
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 da
“It’s impossible for me to finish a McDonald’s Menu, even a happy meal,” she said.
She now eats smaller, balanced meals and no longer craves junk food.
Male harassment
With her weight loss, Cheryne has gained confidence, but she’s also faced unwanted attention.
“The only drawback I can think of is that, with the weight loss, men are more attracted to my looks than my personality,” she said.
“They openly say that ‘I’m good’ or they’d like to ‘see me in bed.’”
Cheryne said she will just ignore these outrageous comments and put on her AirPods to show she is not interested.
Today, Cheryne can walk 20 km a day without feeling tired, and most importantly, she can play with her children like never before.
“I can finally play with my children normally,” she said, a testament to the positive weight loss has made to her everyday life.
The mum now has to bat away harassment from men[/caption]
Cheryne Guebbas’s diet: before vs. now
Diet before: Three meals a day plus pizzas, crisps and chocolates as snacks
Diet now: Coffee for breakfast, sandwich with eggs, sun-dried tomatoes, avocado and buratta for lunch, pasta salad for dinner.
