A nanny who weighed 170 kilos after she fell into a vicious cycle of binge eating has dropped more than half her body weight in an astonishing unrecognisable transformation.
Claire Burt, from New Zealand, said she was ‘on the verge’ of ‘eating herself to death’ after she developed a crippling binge eating disorder that saw her live off an unhealthy diet of copious amounts of food.
At her worst, the 28-year-old – who wore sizes 26-28 clothing – forked out $1,860 (NZ$2,000) on takeout meals within two months, binging as much as four times a day, which included 10 burgers or two large pizzas with sides in one sitting.
But determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, Claire – who’s 182cm tall (six feet) – shed an incredible 87 kilos after she had no choice but to turn to gastric sleeve surgery in a last-ditch attempt to save her own life.
Before and after: Claire Burt, from New Zealand, shed an incredible 87 kilos after she had no choice but to turn to gastric sleeve surgery in a last-ditch attempt to save her own life
What a transformation! The 28-year-old weighed 170 kilos at her heaviest after she fell into a cycle of binge eating. But she turned her life around in April last year
She dropped more than half her body weight in an astonishing unrecognisable transformation
‘The weight loss surgery was my saviour… If I didn’t have the surgery, I would have kept spiralling to a deeper place to the point where I would have eaten myself to death,’ Claire told Daily Mail Australia.
‘I know in my heart that it wasn’t the easy way out, but it was the best thing I ever did for myself and my health – I finally have my life back.’
Growing up, Claire said she was relentlessly bullied throughout her school years, which eventually triggered her eating disorders.
‘I was taller than the average child so I struggled with bullying. I went from having bulimia to anorexia, and then binge eating,’ she explained.
‘I was suffering from eating disorders at both ends of the spectrum… Binge eating disorder was the main destruction on my life.’
The young woman had 80 per cent of her stomach removed, which ultimately saved her life
Claire showed off her ‘oversized’ red dress (right after losing weight), in which she once wore at her heaviest (left)
Before her weight loss, Claire said she had ‘sunken’ into a dark depression after years of yo-yo dieting where she was constantly losing or gaining weight (before and after)
She said she had ‘sunken’ into a dark depression after years of yo-yo dieting where she was constantly losing or gaining weight.
At her heaviest, she found herself struggling with the simplest tasks.
‘I couldn’t do everyday things like putting on my underwear without a struggle, cleaning myself, walking small distances and going out in public,’ she explained.
I wasn’t living, I was just surviving. I felt ashamed, I was in pain physically and mentally. I hated myself and did not feel worthy of being alive
‘I wasn’t living, I was just surviving. I felt ashamed, I was in pain physically and mentally. I hated myself and did not feel worthy of being alive. I hid away from the world because I was so disgusted in myself. I felt like a monster.’
And so in April last year, she underwent the procedure to have 80 per cent of her stomach removed, which ultimately saved her life.
It took her about seven months to slim down to a size 14 after she lost 97.3 kilos.
‘I have had to cut out foods like pizza, bread and rice, foods high in sugar and salt and fizzy drinks,’ Claire said.
‘I have six small meals a day which all have to be high-protein based. Because of the rapid weight loss, I need as much protein as possible so I do not lose muscle.’
Growing up, Claire said she suffered anorexia and bulimia before binge eating took control most of her life, which saw her weight spiral to 170 kilos (pictured before and after)
By sharing her extraordinary story, Claire said she wanted to break the stigma surrounding weight loss surgery (pictured left in hospital after her surgery and right after losing weight)
Determined to get on top of her weight once and for all, Claire shed 87 kilos after she had no choice but to turn to gastric sleeve surgery in a last-ditch attempt to save her own life
She said her meals are ‘super basic’, which includes a lot of fish and vegetables, ‘sometimes chicken’, and she would snack on Cruskits and hummus.
Since surgery, Claire said she hasn’t felt any temptation to treat herself to sugary snacks, junk food or takeaway meals.
‘I haven’t had to indulge or even had a single thought of wanting to eat the foods I used to before surgery. This is the first time in my life that food hasn’t controlled me or my every thought. My brain is at peace. I only eat to fuel my body now,’ she said.
Claire said her fitness routine now includes walking, running and going to the gym three to four times a week.
‘I am now able to run freely and go to the gym and move my body like I’ve never been able to before. I feel so fit and healthy in myself, it’s been a complete life change,’ she said.
While she’s a completely different person leading a healthier lifestyle, Claire said she still reminds every day herself she lost the weight
Claire said she now feels happier and healthier since losing more than half her body weight
Before and after: Claire has been putting on old dresses to remind herself how far she’s come
Before and after: And while she’s a completely different person leading a healthier lifestyle, Claire pointed out her dramatic weight loss still feels surreal
And while she’s a completely different person leading a healthier lifestyle, Claire pointed out her dramatic weight loss still feels surreal.
‘Sometimes I have to remind myself that I have lost the weight and that I’m not the big girl that I used to be,’ she said.
By sharing her extraordinary story, Claire – who documents her inspirational weight loss journey on her Instagram page called Life of a Binge Eater – said she wanted to break the stigma surrounding weight loss surgery.
Weight loss surgery was my last resort or else I would have eaten myself to death
‘After surgery I suffered rare complications where I nearly died. But I got through it all and came out the other side. I would 100 per cent go through it again to get to where I am today because I believe I wouldn’t have been able to lose the weight naturally,’ she said.
‘The stigma comes from a lack of education around eating disorders and the actual operation itself, and how it can help someone better their life.
‘I would rather have had the surgery and have my life back than listen to anyone that thinks I’ve taken the easy way out.
‘Weight loss surgery was my last resort or else I would have eaten myself to death.’
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