A 23-year-old woman who lost 46 kilograms in eight months has revealed how watching her mother undergo gastric sleeve surgery inspired her to change her life.
Jessie Kirk, from Auckland, was called fat from the age of 10, and has been ‘constantly reminded’ of her size throughout her life.
‘Over the years I have made many attempts at trying to lose weight. The most I was able to lose on my own before becoming unmotivated and giving up was 10 kilograms,’ Mrs Kirk told Daily Mail Australia.
Jessie Kirk, from Auckland, was just 10 when she was first called fat and has been ‘constantly reminded’ of her size ever since. Mrs Kirk before her surgery pictured left, after her surgery pictured right
Mrs Kirk, pictured in November 2019, has lost 46 kilograms after she had gastric sleeve surgery in April 2019
Mrs Kirk said her mother Leanne, pictured together post weight-loss, inspired her to have the surgery after she had one of her own
‘It finally got to the point that my weight really starting to impact my health.’
Mrs Kirk, who was 132.2 kilograms at her heaviest, said every time she worked out she was ‘reduced to tears’.
She said the decision to do something about her weight and make the drastic decision to have surgery came after her mother Leanne had the surgery in September 2017.
‘I honestly wouldn’t have done it if it wasn’t for my mum. I saw my mum become a new person,’ she said, revealing her mother lost over 50 kilograms.
A year later – in November 2018 – Mrs Kirk decided she would have her gastric sleeve surgery in Mexico in April 2019.
She chose to go overseas for the procedure because in New Zealand it can cost up to NZD$23,000 – compared to NZD$11,500 in Mexico including the surgery, flights and accommodation.
Mrs Kirk used to cry whenever she worked out and now walks 45 minutes every day
Mrs Kirk’s mother lost 50 kilograms since having her surgery in 2018 – inspiring Mrs Kirk to get her own
‘It’s important to know that I did a lot of research going into this,’ she said, adding she consulted with the doctor and asked him extensive questions before choosing the clinic.
Mrs Kirk said she could write a novel about how her life has changed following the surgery – but there are three key differences.
The biggest change she’s noticed is her every-day health.
‘I was in constant pain prior to surgery, not being able to walk more than five minutes without feeling like my ankle was on fire. A month after the operation I was walking 45 minutes with no pain at all and to this day the pain hasn’t come back,’ she said.
Her confidence levels have also spiked and she ‘loves the way she looks right now’, even though she’s still 18 kilograms from her goal weight.
Mrs Kirk said before her surgery she couldn’t walk more than five minutes without feeling as though her ankle was on fire
Mrs Kirk weighed 132.2kg at her heaviest (pictured left) and now (pictured right) weighs less than 90 kilograms
The 23-year-old, pictured in November, said before her surgery she would constantly hide away from the world
The final dramatic change has been her relationship with her family and friends.
‘Prior to surgery, I got to the point where I wanted to hide,’ Mrs Kirk said.
‘I didn’t want to attend family events, I dreaded going out cause I was fearful of running into someone I hadn’t seen in a while, I even started to hide from my husband. This has all changed.
Mrs Kirk, pictured celebrating a 40-kilogram loss, said she ‘feels sad about her previous self’ because she was sad as a person
‘My relationships are becoming stronger and I’m making new friends. I have honestly never been happier.’
Mrs Kirk said she ‘feels sad about her previous self’ because she was sad as a person.
‘I hate that I felt that way and that I couldn’t embrace my body even being bigger,’ she said.
‘I have met some incredible plus-size women on my journey who share body positivity and self-love and I really do envy them. I only wish I had the confidence that they do when I was bigger because who knows where it could have taken me.
Mrs Kirk said anyone who has decided the surgery is the right call for them shouldn’t listen to others who try to dissuade them unless they are a medical professional
‘Now, I feel a lot of pride. I feel like, finally, the person hiding on the inside all these years is finally glowing on the outside.’
Mrs Kirk said her shift to eating better foods after surgery felt like a natural transition, and she wished she had done the surgery sooner if she had known it would change her life so quickly.
She said her family and friends had been completely supportive of her journey.
Mrs Kirk said anyone who decides the surgery is the right call for them shouldn’t listen to others who try to dissuade them – unless they are a medical professional.
‘I know there will be people out there that won’t agree with weight-loss surgery but I ask those people to think about the benefits that it can bring to someone’s life and how it can ultimately save lives,’ she said.