A 30-year-old woman whose weight spiralled out of control after food became her coping mechanism has dramatically lost half her body weight.
Elizabeth Parker, from Brisbane, tipped the scales at 138.9kg after she lived off an unhealthy diet binging on food to manage her emotions when she became a mother for the first time.
At her heaviest, she wore size 24 clothing, experienced disrupted sleep, would be out of breath walking more than 10 steps – and eventually she became more reclusive.
Speaking to Daily Mail Australia, the social worker said she turned to food for comfort after struggling to adjust to parenthood following the birth of her first child.
Before and after: Elizabeth Parker shed half her body weight after tipping scales at 138.9kg
She tipped the scales at 138.9kg after she lived off an unhealthy diet binging on food to manage her emotions when she became a mother for the first time
But determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, the 30-year-old shed 68.3kg
‘I have always struggled with my weight but I remember there came a point after I gave birth to my first my son, I stopped caring and became comfortable with being isolated and disconnected,’ she recalled.
‘I struggled with the challenges of becoming a first time parent as many do, with depression and anxiety. And so, I turned to food to cope.’
Elizabeth – who documents her weight loss journey on Instagram – described herself as a binge eater, who had an unhealthy relationship with food.
‘I have always been a binge eater. Eating was a very private thing as it was associated with a lot of guilt and shame for me,’ she said.
‘I would eat large amounts and wouldn’t stop until I felt physically ill, it was a continuous cycle of self-loathing and self-destruction.
‘My relationship with food has always been unhealthy, as I got older the negative thoughts and feelings of low self worth only became stronger.
‘I would binge eat to manage emotional distress then I would feel terrible about myself it was a continuous cycle that caused me a great deal of mental anguish.’
Elizabeth described herself as a binge eater, who had an unhealthy relationship with food
The mother said she would avoid mirrors, struggled to sleep and would be out of breath just from walking more than 10 steps
But the mother turned to bariatric surgery in a last-ditch attempt to slim down once and for all
Her weight started to take a toll on her life.
‘Physically I struggled with feeling uncomfortable in general, any type of physical excursion was challenging, my sleep was impacted heavily as well,’ she said.
I avoided mirrors because it was distressing looking at myself and I felt so much guilt and shame
‘I struggled with social anxiety, previously I was quite outgoing and social but as my weight increased I became more reclusive and withdrawn. I became disconnected from friends and hated going out.
‘Mentally I felt disconnected from myself; I avoided mirrors because it was distressing looking at myself and I felt so much guilt and shame.
‘I felt undeserving of love, relationships and happiness and just wanted to isolate away. Physically, I just felt uncomfortable, my mood was always low, I struggled to breathe when I walked further than 10 steps and I had trouble sleeping at night.
For most of her life, Elizabeth said she struggled with her weight.
‘I have distinct memories from as early as seven years old, hearing comments about my physical appearance and weight,’ she said.
‘I can’t recall a time in my life where I felt comfortable in my own skin.’
Her turning point to lose weight came when she was determined to get on top of her weight once and for all
After trying everything imaginable to lose weight, the mother turned to a weight loss surgery
Her turning point to lose weight came when she was determined to get on top of her weight once and for all.
‘I got sick of my life being consumed by food, my thoughts and my every move. At the age of 28, I just had enough, I wanted something different for myself,’ she said.
‘On reflection now, I don’t ever feel like I didn’t deserve love and happiness, it is frustrating the way society works and the expectations that are placed on women.
‘Making people feel bad about who they are or what they look like is not the cure for obesity. What led me to make the choice to change my life around was my decision and my decision alone, no comment from any person in my life or criticism I received influenced me to implement change I made the decision on my own.
‘Although the health benefits were my number one influencer.’
After trying every diet imaginable to lose weight, she turned to a life-saving bariatric surgery in a last-ditch attempt to slim down.
‘”Did you try other diets to lose weight?” This is a question frequently asked to most bariatric patients, and the answer is of course,’ she said.
‘The last 20 years of my life has been consumed by diet fads and attempts of a lifestyle overhaul. What people struggle to understand about bariatric surgery is it is not an easy fix; it is a tool aid in weight loss.
‘There are still foods I can eat in excess amounts without feeling restriction, and without nutritious food and regular exercise I can still gain weight.
‘In addition mentally your mindset doesn’t change, it took a lot of work and the most difficult challenge was not being so hard on myself.’
For those struggling to lose weight, Elizabeth said: ‘Find what works for you, everyone is different there is no blanket advice that fits everyone’
Astonishingly, Elizabeth – who now wears size 10 to 12 – dropped 65kg following the surgery
Astonishingly, Elizabeth – who now wears size 10 to 12 clothing – dropped an impressive 65kg following the procedure.
‘I’m proud of what I have achieved, I am starting to feel comfortable in my own skin and I am grateful for my journey and what it has taught me about myself,’ she said.
‘While I don’t mind the gym, I love outdoor activities. If I can get my two young boys, aged five and two, involved, I enjoy it even more. I love hiking, walks and going for a run. I find this is also a great way to de-stress.’
For those struggling to lose weight, Elizabeth said: ‘Find what works for you, everyone is different there is no blanket advice that fits everyone.
‘The thing that I personally found effective is setting small achievable goals, replacing bad habits with more positive ones.
‘Using exercise was a great way to manage stress and I learnt how to listen to my body and most importantly not be so hard on myself.
‘I still am able to enjoy a cheeky meal and a glass of wine with friends but it’s all about finding the right balance that works for you and everything in moderation.’