A mum-of-two, who has struggled with her weight all her life, has lost 14 stone in an amazing body transformation – saying she can “finally play with her children”.

Lauren Evens, 30, from Chester, first started turning to food for comfort, after her dad tragically passed away when she was just a child.

She was taunted at school by bullies calling her a “fat dancer” and was even enrolled in a ‘fat camp’ when she was just nine years old.

As she grew older, Lauren developed a toxic relationship with food as her confidence dropped and her health suffered.

In July this year, weighing in at 23st 11lbs at her heaviest, and struggling to keep up with her energetic kids, Reese, nine, and Lottie, seven, she knew something had to change.

“My weight affected my mental health – I was in and out of hospital all the time,” Lauren told NeedToKnow.co.uk.

“When I was younger, after turning to food for comfort, I put weight on so fast.

“I was always the fat girl in school, I got bullied in boarding school for being big, then again in a performing arts school, where they’d call me the ‘fat dancer.’

“Then I was sent to a fat camp, where I stayed for six weeks and it was basically diet and exercise.

“As I got older, I just ate a lot of takeaways... I would cook a few meals, but very big portions.

“I would also snack a lot on sweets, chocolate, crisps... and wouldn’t only have one bag, it would be three or four.

“By the time I had my kids, I didn’t like leaving my house, which impacted my children and taking them on days out.

“I didn’t like going out... I would live in leggings and baggy T-shirts and would be lazy and stay in bed as often as I could.”

On her 29th birthday, Lauren was scrolling through social media when she spotted a video of someone sharing their experience of having gastric sleeve surgery.

Then and there, she decided it was time to act, and in February 2022, booked herself in for surgery in Turkey – spending £2,000 for the procedure.

She was supported by her family, friends and partner Hannah, 28.

She said: “I didn’t want to be 30 and fat, and wanted to better my health physically and mentally.

“I had tried juice diets, weight loss groups, the gym – but nothing worked.

“I was unable to have the surgery on the NHS, so took myself out there instead.

“I have learned to love myself again and it all went so smoothly I have not had any bad side effects, even with the bad stigma with [having it done in] Turkey, it’s been the best thing I have ever done.”

Lauren had her surgery on 6 July 2022, having lost over 14 stone since.

She said: “The surgery went amazing.

“Afterwards, I had a little gas pain and was tender but I was walking around and dancing on TikTok the day after.

“The surgery has changed my life and my confidence, and I have grown so much as a person.

“The only regret I have is that I wish I did this years ago.

“My friends and family have been really supportive and they’re just happy that I’m happy.

“I am so much fitter and have so much more energy, I’ve started pole dancing [classes] and even hiking.

“My children also love having a healthy mummy and love being able to run around soft play with me and go on fairground rides.”

Before surgery, Lauren struggled to leave the house due to embarrassment and fears that people would stare.

Now, she is eager to get outside and spend time with her children and Hannah.

She said: “We [Hannah, the kids and I] stayed in a lot of the time.

“But now we love family days out and adventures and they [the kids] are happy – they make comments like ‘your tummy is smaller now’, ‘you’re healthier’ and they like it.

”It makes me enjoy and appreciate the little moments together as a family and I like to take pictures and videos because these memories very nearly didn’t happen.

“Hannah didn’t know me ‘pre-sleeve’ but has seen my journey and is extremely proud of me and loves and appreciates me the way I am – even with loose skin.

“I’m very happy now and I have somebody who makes me smile even more, and actually appreciates my body.

“I have taken the jump to better my health and future, which makes me so proud of myself and how far I’ve come.”

ENDS