Administrative Assistant and House Cleaner Makayla Houle (29) from Connecticut, USA weighed a dangerous 21 stone just nine-months ago.  Before her surgery, Makayla wore a UK size 28 but has since dropped 16 dress sizes and now fits in a UK size 12. Makayla had a negative relationship with food before often binge eating and classed herself as having an addiction to sugar.  She consumed endless amounts of soda, sugar and carbs and ate fast food every day, she was usually in excess of 3500+ calories a day. A typical day would be Dunkin Donuts large caramel iced coffee light and sweet extra caramel, two strawberry frosted donuts with sprinkles for breakfast, McDonalds for lunch, which was a McDouble, M&M McFlurry, two large fries, and large coke. For dinner she would have KFC, popcorn chicken, Mac'n'Cheese, two biscuits, mashed potatoes with gravy, Sierra Mist and a tub of fish food ice cream by Ben & Jerry’s for dessert. She knew things had to change, she felt ashamed to even look in the mirror and felt sick and tired all day every day.  After struggling with her uncontrollable weight, Makayla decided to undergo a VSG surgery on August 17th 2022. She has since then lost an impressive nine stone and now weighs a healthy 12 stone. A vertical sleeve gastrectomy (VSG) is a minimally invasive procedure during which the size of your stomach is reduced to three or four ounces.  This limits the amount of food a person can eat so they lose weight. After a VSG, levels of ghrelin, a hunger hormone, also drop, so appetite is reduced.  "I just ate away my feelings. Whether I was sad or happy. I coped by eating," said Makayla. "I was addicted to sugar. I loved anything sweet and my favorite thing to eat was candy. “I was a closet eater and would hide my food. I would get food on my way home and would throw it away before I would get home, so that no one knew I ate it.”  Due to her weight and body, Makayla suffered from extremely low self-esteem and hated herself. “My self-esteem and self-confidence were non-existent, and I hated myself physically and mentally," she said. "I felt like such a failure not just because of my weight but because I was so uncomfortable in my body.  “I was told I had a pretty face, but I needed to fix my body.  "Although my family never said anything bad to my face, people would comment about the things I was eating like I wasn’t allowed to have dessert because I was already 'fat' enough.  “I was sick of being sick and tired and felt ashamed when I looked at myself in the mirror. I knew it was time when simple things like getting dressed became hard for me to do." It was then that Makayla decided to have VSG surgery, which would transform her life. “I felt so embarrassed, but also excited once I made the decision to have surgery," she said. “I got Bariatric Surgery (VSG) on August 17,2022 at Go Light Bariatrics in Mexico have since lost nine stones in nine months.  “I have also made massive changes to my diet and exercise regime. “I didn’t really have a regime before. I ate whenever I felt like it. I consumed endless amounts of soda, sugar and carbs.  “I ate fast food every day and a typical day would be breakfast at Dunkin Donuts, a large caramel iced coffee light and sweet extra caramel, two strawberry frosted donuts with sprinkles, lunch was McDonalds, a McDouble, M&M McFlurry, two large fries and a large coke.  "Then for dinner I would get KFC, popcorn chicken, Mac’n’Cheese, two biscuits, mashed potatoes with gravy, Sierra Mist, and a pint of fish food ice cream by Ben & Jerry’s for dessert." Makayla wouldn't have achieved the results she did without a disciplined diet and a strong routine. “Now I have around 800-1000 calories a day. Breakfast is a proffee that is a protein shake with coffee concentrate and caramel sugar free flavoring," she said. "I snack on protein bars. Lunch is one oz of chicken, a few mini peppers, a few strawberries, afternoon snack is carrots and hummus. “For dinner I like to make homemade taco bowls with onions, tomato, lettuce, cheese, avocado, I still have some desert like sugar free jello with zero sugar cool whip. "Now I eat a high protein diet and I focus mainly on how much protein I’m consuming daily and eating lots of veggies to get my fiber in. “Earlier exercise was a big no for me, but now I do 30 minutes every day, usually first thing in the morning. "Sometimes I go for a walk, while on other days I use my home gym."  Makayla’s weight loss has changed her life in so many ways and she is proud of the woman she sees in the mirror now.  “It has changed my life. Not only do I get to share my story on Instagram and try to support other women who also struggle with their weight, but I am no longer just existing,” she said.  “I am living the life I have always dreamed of.  "I can get on the floor and play with my kids. Moreover, I can keep up with them.  "Simple tasks like walking up the stairs and tying my shoes no longer feel hard. My entire life has done a 360." Makayla knows the challenges that come with such a drastic lifestyle change and wants to help others who want to begin their journey. “I would say the hardest part is the mental battle and changing old habits. People think that when you have bariatric surgery the weight just falls off and maybe for some people it does," she said.  “However, if I just went back to eating the foods I did pre-surgery I would slowly creep up back to my highest weight of over 300 lbs.  “Bariatric surgery alters your stomach, it does not cure your relationship around food, and any past trauma or triggers.  “I have to make conscious decisions every day that help me move me forward. I choose what foods I choose to nourish my body with, and I choose to exercise every day.  “If you want to lose weight just start, starting is the hardest part. You don’t need to make a bunch of changes at once. “Start small and focus on things like drinking more water, getting seven-to-eight hours of sleep, or 30 minutes of exercise daily.  “Once you get one healthy habit down, move on to the next one that you want to focus on.  “Little habits daily are what create bigger changes overall. No matter how many times you fail, try again.” Since her drastic transformation and extreme weight loss, Makayla feels confident and comfortable in her skin. "I finally know what it feels like to feel hot in an outfit and I know what it feels like to be confident in your own skin," she said. "I feel so much better about myself. People tell me that my smile says it all and I agree. "“Most people are shocked. Most ask what I did or have been doing to lose weight.  “People will compliment me now, and say ‘Wow you look amazing, what have you been doing’ or ‘I didn’t even recognise that was you. You look so different’ My favorite was, ‘wow you look so strong and so much happier’ because I am. "I just feel so proud of how far I’ve come and blessed to be where I am today in my journey." ENDS