A nurse who tipped the scales at 17 stone has dropped five dress sizes after she became scared of catching Covid-19 at hospital.
Sarah Wynter, 39, has told how she struggled to work 12 hour shifts in full PPE, saying she would have to change her sweat-drenched clothing during rare breaks.
After seeing first-hand the devastating impact the virus had on overweight people - and with her 40th birthday approaching - Sarah said she decided something had to change.
She told how she knew her weight put her at risk as she battled to save lives as a front-line intensive care nurse.
So the mum-of-two joined Slimming World in September last year - and has lost an impressive five-and-a-half stone in 12 months.
At her heaviest Sarah tipped the scales at 17st 6.5lbs, despite being just 5ft 6ins tall.
Now she weighs a healthier 12 stone.
She has replaced gorging on takeaways and chips for lunch with a diet of fruit, pasta salad and homemade stir-fry recipes.
Sarah, who lives with husband John, 49, a farmer, and their children Alfie, 18, and Maisey, 14, in Hereford, works in the ICU at Hereford County Hospital.
She said the pandemic had been the 'eye-opener' she needed.
And she revealed she also wanted to set a better example to her patients by being a healthier weight.
Sharing her story to inspire others Sarah, who now walks up to ten miles on her days off, said: "Last September I realised I needed to do something. As an intensive care nurse during the pandemic, that was a real eye opener to me.
"I saw first-hand what Covid did to patients with an increased BMI and I thought if I ever got Covid, I would be the person in that bed.
"Also, if I was going to be giving anybody some sort of health advice about eating and I'm overweight, it's a bit pot kettle black.
"Not only was I going through the pandemic, but I was 17-and-half stone wearing full PPE for 12-and-a-half hours a day.
"That was a real struggle. It was so hot and I was sweating all day long. My feet ached and my legs ached.
"Everything hurt.
“Every time I had a break, I would have to get changed because I would sweat that much. The pandemic and struggling to do my job were both turning points for me."
Sarah said she was also motivated by her upcoming 40th birthday next February.
"I wanted to have a completely different outlook on life at 40." she added.
"Also, both my children row and when we would go to events pre-pandemic, some of the parents would run while their children were rowing and cheer.
"But I couldn't do that. I felt I was losing out hugely. I would never see my children at the finish line.
"I would always be 25 minutes late because I would still be walking.
"I wasn't really active at all.
"I would have things like croissants and pastries and biscuits in the morning and then maybe for lunch baguette and chips.
"And then quite often I would stop at a chip shop on the way home from work."
Sarah credited weekly Slimming World classes with her incredible transformation and said she can now complete a shift at work without being 'completely knackered'.
"I can now run the length of my children's 2km races cheering and meet them at the end," she said.
"It's literally changed my life.
"Although I have had to change my wardrobe quite a few times, much to the detriment of my husband's bank balance."
SARAH'S AVERAGE DIET BEFORE HER WEIGHT LOSS:
Breakfast – Croissants, pastries, biscuits (approx. 400-500 calories)
Lunch – Baguette, chips (530 calories)
Dinner – Takeaway / chips (approx. 900 calories)
WHAT SHE EATS NOW:
Breakfast – Fruit and yoghurt or overnight oats (50-200 calories)
Lunch – Pasta salad (170 calories)
Dinner – Curry / stir fry (250 calories)
