A WOMAN who has been cruelly mocked for her weight has revealed how she lost 100lbs after gastric sleeve surgery.
Becka Gil, 32, from Cheshire, had tried almost every diet around with no luck before the surgery in Turkey.
At her biggest, she weighed 19st 3lbs and was battling anxiety and depression.
However, there was a turning point for her when she decided she was sick of being the “big girl” and looked into gastric sleeves.
The primary school teacher said: “When I was at my biggest it was also the lowest moment in my life.
“There were times I would sob in the shower because I couldn’t touch my own body because I was so ashamed of myself.
“I cut off most of my friends and my social life became non-existent.
“I would constantly cancel plans because it was always such an ordeal trying to find something to wear to even feel slightly comfortable.
“In the summer I was still wearing long sleeves because I didn’t like showing my body. I’ve had men on nights out calling me fat.
“I’ve had people make comments like ‘How could you let yourself get that way’, I’ve been called disgusting, fat, hippo the lot.
“One night I was lying in bed and I knew I had to do something.”
Around a third of Brits are overweight, while a further 25 per cent are obese.
Carrying too much weight can increase your risk of a range of deadly health problems, including heart disease, diabetes, stroke and several types of cancer.
Gastric sleeve surgery involves removing a large part of the stomach and sealing up what’s left to create a new much smaller stomach.
It means that patients feel full sooner and cannot eat as much, often leading to significant weight loss.
The surgery is available on the NHS for obese people with a BMI of over 40 or if it is over 35 if they also have a serious health condition that would improve if they lost weight.
There were times I would sob in the shower because I couldn’t touch my own body because I was so ashamed of myself
It is also available privately in the UK, with cheaper — but sometimes more dangerous — options also on offer abroad, particularly in Turkey.
Becka researched gastric surgery clinics, doctors and surgeons, and in June 2022, found somewhere in the country.
She said: “I spent six months researching places and decided to go with an English owned company abroad.
“I contacted them and five weeks later I flew out for surgery.”
Becka flew to Turkey for gastric sleeve surgery and had the procedure on 26 July 2022, which cost her £2,900.
She said: “It was a scary time at first but also at the same time I felt such a calmness and positive mindset around it because I knew that I was making the right decision for me.
“I had accepted everything in my head. I was with an amazing company who looked after me so well and I had the best care I’ve ever experienced.
“Recovery for me was really easy and smooth. I had a little gas pain but no other pains and I was back on my feet living my normal life two weeks later.”
Now, she is 17 months post-surgery and so far Becka has lost 7st 2lbs.
She said: “I would like to maybe lose a little more, however, my new focus is in the gym and working on strength training and body composition.
“I was so lucky throughout my journey that I didn’t have any side effects. My life is completely different now.
“My relationship with food is healthy, I eat a healthy balanced diet, I work out, I enjoy life again.
“I have a great social life and no issues buying clothes anymore.”
And to anyone looking to do the same, Becka says to have a big think about it before doing anything drastic.
She added: “Weight loss surgery isn’t an easy decision.
“It’s a last resort and shouldn’t be done unless you have done your research and are mentally truly ready to accept it.
“But for me, going to Turkey was the best decision I ever made. I had the most incredible care and the best experience I could have out there.
“I’m so grateful for my new lease of life.”
The criteria for weight loss surgery on the NHS can vary across England.
National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidelines on obesity recommend that surgery should be provided on the NHS if you meet all of the following criteria:
Source: The NHS
