I was too fat to fit behind my steering wheel at size 32 & could barely drive kids to school, now I' -

A MUM who was too big to fit behind the steering wheel of her car has shed six stone after "life changing" weight loss surgery.

Charlotte Graves, 29, was tipping the scales at 27st when she could ''barely'' drive her kids to school in her Peugeot.

The snack enthusiast had piled on the pounds after gorging on three tubs of mint ice cream per week and indulging in packets of share bag crisps.

As well as constantly snacking she was helping herself to ''massive portions'' at mealtimes.

After having twins in August 2022, mum-of-three, Charlotte found she weighed a staggering 27st and was a dress size 32.

Charlotte's frame left her "exhausted" and when she found herself no longer able to do the school run she knew ''something had to change''.

LIFE CHANGING DECISION

In June 2023, Charlotte, from Cambridge, took to TikTok and came across a private hospital in Turkey that could offer gastric sleeve surgery- costing £3,400.

Just two weeks later, Charlotte flew to Izmir, Turkey, where she had the procedure on 26 June and after a successful surgery, she dropped 4st 7lbs in three months.

She has now lost 6st 10lbs in total - and easily squeezes into a size 18.

Charlotte, a hairdresser and content creator, said: "I've always been aware of being bigger but after having my children it kept creeping on.

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"Being a mum is exhausting enough but being 27st was extreme.

"The steering wheel digging into my stomach on the school run, paired with feeling tired all the time, I knew something had to change.

"After having the twins, it dawned on me that if I didn't do something about my weight, my kids would be left without their mum.

"The surgery had great reviews and when I got there I felt in the safest hands.

"That sleeve hasn't just changed my life but also my kids.

"I've still got a way to go but I'm able to be much more hands-on with the children- we even go on 6m bike rides!

"Before, food controlled me but now I feel free."

ENDLESS STRUGGLE

Charlotte, who lives with her husband, Tom Graves, 36, who works in construction, says she's always struggled with weight which left her turning to emotional eating.

Her turbulent relationship with food continued into her twenties and saw her turn to yo-yo dieting, weight loss groups and even hypnotherapy- but none of them made a long-term impact.

She said: "When I became a mum to my two-year-old, Hadley, I got into home cooking but I'd make huge portions.

It dawned on me that if I didn't do something about my weight, my kids would be left without their mum.

Charlotte Graves

"I thought because it was homemade it was healthy but I'd eat for two and never felt satisfied.

"I'd find myself late night snacking on tubs of Carte D'or mint chocolate ice cream, share bags of Walkers' Thai sweet chilli crisps and big bars of Cadbury's dairy milk

"When I fell pregnant with the twins, my weight went up even more and I was 28st, the heaviest I'd ever been."

PHYSICAL IMPACT

By June 2023 she had given birth to her twin boy and girl, Everley and Oakley, now one, and was desperate for a change after finding she could no longer fit into her car.

She opted for a sleeve gastrectomy, which is where a large part of the stomach is removed to help decrease the amount a person can eat.

After a successful two-hour surgery, she remained in hospital for three nights before flying back to the UK to continue her weight loss journey.

With a reduced stomach and only able to eat three saucer-sized small meals a day, Charlotte soon saw the weight drop off.

SLIMMING DOWN

In her first month, she lost three stone and by September 2023 she weighed 23st 7lbs.

Now, 7st down and sporting a size 18, Charlotte is over the moon with her progress and more motivated than ever to continue through healthier choices and joining the gym.

"The surgery has literally saved my life," Charlotte said.

"The way I was going, I wasn't going to be around to see my kids grow up, let alone be able to run around after them.

The surgery has literally saved my life

Charlotte Graves

"I've got three under three - they need a mum who's hands-on and I want to do everything with them.

"Losing weight hasn't just changed how I look but my relationship with food.

"I'm no longer putting away massive portions and turning to late-night fatty snacks but fueling my body with nutritious foods.

"I'm able to take Hadley on long bike rides - I think I enjoy it more than him!

"I've still got a way to go but I'm no longer squeezing myself behind the wheel."

I was too fat to fit behind my steering wheel at size 32 & could barely drive kids to school, now I'

Read More in Weight Loss

LIFE CHANGING DECISION

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ENDLESS STRUGGLE

PHYSICAL IMPACT

SLIMMING DOWN

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CHARLOTTE'S BEFORE AND AFTER DIET MEAL PLANS