11/10/2026
“You weren't even that big.”
Long weightloss surgery post incoming...
I've heard this a few times recently and it got me thinking about how much people misunderstand weight loss surgery.
The first photo is me two days after gastric bypass surgery. The second is me last week, having lost over 40kg.
And while the physical difference is visible, what you can't see in these photos is the journey that brought me here.
Before surgery, I was around 109kg at 5'3". But my decision wasn't simply about a number on the scales or how I looked in the mirror. My health, my quality of life and my future were all part of that decision.
So let's talk about what weight loss surgery actually is.
Gastric bypass isn't a magic fix, and it certainly isn't the easy way out.
During a gastric bypass, the surgeon creates a smaller stomach pouch and reroutes part of the small intestine. This means you can eat much smaller portions, and your body absorbs nutrients differently. Changes to gut hormones also influence hunger, fullness and blood sugar regulation.
It is a major operation that requires careful preparation, medical assessment and lifelong follow-up.
After surgery, your entire relationship with food changes.
You have to learn to eat differently, chew thoroughly, eat slowly and recognise when you've had enough. Foods you once enjoyed might no longer agree with you. Eating too quickly or having too much can leave you feeling incredibly unwell.
You have to prioritise protein, take prescribed vitamin and mineral supplements, attend follow-up appointments and have regular blood tests to monitor for deficiencies.
There can be complications, nutritional deficiencies, hair loss, food intolerances and dumping syndrome. Your mental and emotional relationship with food and your changing body can be a journey of its own.
And the weight doesn't tell the whole story. Weight loss is different for everyone, and surgery doesn't guarantee a particular result.
So when someone says, “You weren't even that big,” I think about what that comment misses.
You cannot determine someone's health, medical needs or personal circumstances just by looking at their body.
You don't know their medical history. You don't know what they've tried, what they've struggled with or what their healthcare team has recommended.
And you certainly don't know what it took for them to make that decision.
I didn't have surgery to prove how big I was. I didn't need to reach a certain size to deserve help.
I made a decision about my own body, my own health and my own future.
I'm proud of the over 40kg I've lost, but I'm also proud of the work that goes into looking after myself now. This journey didn't end when I left the hospital. In many ways, that's where the real work began.
Weight loss surgery isn't the easy way out. It's a tool, and learning to live with that tool takes commitment, support and ongoing care.
Please be kind when talking about someone's body or their decision to have surgery. You don't need to understand someone's entire journey to respect it. ❤️
If you got this whole way through let me know below by putting your favourite food emoji, there might be a sneaky reward for you ;)
Emma x
