Chantelle, who works administration and sales support, said: ‘I was experiencing a lack of self-confidence within my body whether it be in my relationship or how I could wear clothes.
‘I was at the gym five to six days a week and following an eating plan which was within my calorie range, but it didn’t matter how hard I pushed myself, the skin would just not reduce.
‘I needed femininity back in my life, I needed to be selfish and do something for me.
‘But now I’m so proud of my body, I’m so happy with how it looks and that I can see all the hard work I had put into myself and my lifestyle over three years.’
Chantelle believes her diet during childhood led her to swell to such a large size, when she kept a locker full of chocolate, lollies, other sugary snacks and chips.
By the time she was walking down the aisle to marry husband Grant, 35, in 2014, she was wearing a dress size 30 and had a body mass index of 63.8 – the highest category for obesity.
It was only after consulting a doctor, following her falling asleep from the exhaustion of carrying her bodyweight that her she was told she would die if she didn’t lose weight.
It spurred Chantelle into action, getting a gastric sleeve in March 2015 as well as going to the gym up to five times a week and switching fast food for smoothies and shakes.
But after losing weight, the loose skin on her body left her battling mental and physical problems.
Chantelle said: ‘I was having severe medical issues with my skin, Rubbing and Chaffing. I was also prone to skin infections between the folds of my skin.
‘I was tucking skin in places I shouldn’t have been. I felt I couldn’t show my whole story or journey off and the skin was holding me back.’
She was left a changed woman following her surgery and now with a body she’s proud of – weighing 79kg and fitting a dress size 12.
She said: ‘To go from being so morbidly obese, hating yourself, eating your feelings because you have no control, are piling on the weight and blaming other people for it. I no longer wanted to wear the victim status.
‘I did what I did to myself and I had to rectify it, I did, I had some issues along the way with body confidence and self-esteem.
‘Going under the knife to remove some of the ‘cotton wool’ that was placed over my eyes and really showed me how much I’ve worked.
‘Now the skin is gone I feel free, there is no tucking, there are no excuses I can just get on the treadmill or go outside and run.
‘It’s almost like comparing a caged bird to being set free, I feel that I could take on anything now I have nothing holding me back.’
