A once-XXXXXL mum who had to have a double mastectomy to reduce her risk of cancer lost 15st so she could have breast reconstruction surgery.

Tori Phillips, 39, used food to comfort her after a tough upbringing and weighed nearly 13st aged 11.

Over the years she tried diets and exercise programmes - but she would always put the weight on again.

But she learned she had a faulty BRCA1 gene - putting her at risk of breast cancer - and would need a double mastectomy when she was 38.

As that age approached, doctors told Tori, a content creator from San Fransisco Bay, California, she couldn't have a breast reconstruction until she lost weight.

That was the incentive Tori, then 28st 8lbs (400lbs) needed.

After having her daughter aged 37, she had gastric sleeve surgery and stuck to a strict diet and exercise regime and is now a 15st (210lbs).

Not only was she able to get her reconstruction after her double mastectomy, but Tori now shows off her slender frame after having 2st 6lbs of excess skin removed.

Tori, mum to daughter Caitlin, three, said: "I think my weight was noticeable from as young as seven."

"I was gifted a Barbie exercise video tape for my eighth birthday!"

"My weight was up and down for years, but it wasn't until after I gave birth in August 2021 that it became serious - I needed a double mastectomy and I wanted a reconstruction after."

"I had my bariatric surgery and then I was working out 'hardcore' and eating well."

"The final step after my weight loss was having the excess skin from my abdomen and arms - and it was lifechanging!"

"I had never seen my upper body without my large arms, or with a flat stomach!"

"Now I've had my final chest reconstruction surgery, my weight is halved and I can enjoy what my new body is capable of."

Tori's difficult childhood left her using food as a coping mechanism from a young age.

She would sneak treats into the bathroom and gobble them when nobody was watching.

At school she was the largest in her class and got no interest from boys - weighing 25st at 18 years old.

The worse her mental health got, the more she would rely on food to comfort her - and her diet featured huge portions of pizza, burritos and "whole pints of ice cream"."

At 21 she was 30st (420lbs) and a size XXXXXL - her heaviest weight - but she couldn't keep it off whenever she lost weight.

She said "I would overexercise and undereat - I once even blacked out in a grocery store - and I never maintained the weight loss."

In 2014, Tori discovered she was at risk of breast cancer - after a test revealed she had a faulty BRCA1 gene, which suppresses tumours - a terrifying revelation.

Due to the nature and family history of breast cancer, doctors told her she would need a double mastectomy before her 39th birthday.

After meeting Brett Phillips, now 41, on the subway, the pair got married in 2017 - and Tori fell pregnant three years later.

Despite her 26st 11lbs frame, she had a smooth pregnancy, and gave birth to baby Caitlin in August 2021, aged 37.

But she knew as soon as she gave birth that she couldn't put off her weight loss any more - because doctors told her she wouldn't be able to have reconstructive surgery after her double mastectomy if she didn't slim down.

In February 2022 she decided to pursue bariatric surgery and in September 2022, she had went under the knife for a gastric sleeve.

Tori said: "The year that followed the surgery saw me working out hardcore, weight training, and using a Pelaton bike."

"I knew bariatric surgery isn't a magic pill - it was a mental game. But it also helped me mentally prepare for my mastectomy journey."

Tori had got her weight down to 17st 6lbs by the time she had her double mastectomy in January 2024, and had booked herself in for skin removal surgery in August 2024.

She went under the knife and had over 2st of skin removed from her stomach and arms - bringing her down to 15st, and a slender size L.

She said: "It was mind-blowing - I had never been able to wear fitted jackets because of my arms."

"Having my 'wings clipped', as I called it, was life-changing for me."

"And I had never not had squish on my tummy!"

Because of her hard work shedding the stones, Tori could go ahead with a double breast reconstruction in November - and is still in awe of her new body.

In addition, she was told that due to the double mastectomy, her risk of cancer had dropped to as low as general population level.

She said: "Now I can start living my life without worrying."

"I'm still learning what my new body is capable of - it's terrifying and exciting."

"When I was large, I worried that when Caitlin started to walk and run, I'd never be able to keep up with her."

"Now I can chase her around and I love it."

"I can sit with my knees bent which I could never do before either!"

Reflecting on a weight loss journey spanning more than two decades, Tori said she has learnt to have "compassion" for her body and mind."

She said: "When people talk about my weight loss, it's not just about what I ate."

"I don't struggle to keep the weight off now because I'm healing mentally too."

"I've learnt to view food differently now."

"I've put the years into this, and I can enjoy life now in a way I couldn't before."

AT HEAVIEST WEIGHT

TYPICAL BREAKFAST: Large coffee with lots of creamer and Splenda. Large breakfast burrito (eggs, cheese, potatoes, meat) or 2 breakfast sandwiches and large hash browns.

TYPICAL LUNCH: Large sandwich with chips, large diet soda, and cookie/brownie.

TYPICAL DINNER: 4 slices of pizza, diet soda, and breadsticks. Large serving of spaghetti with garlic bread

TYPICAL SNACKS: cereal & nonfat milk. Whole pints of ice cream in one setting. Nachos or large portions of potato chips and dip.

TYPICAL DRINKS: Lots of diet soda.

NOW

TYPICAL BREAKFAST: Protein coffee OR eggs and avocado toast with homemade protein bread. Or a breakfast salad - arugula, air fried sweet potato cubes, onions, avocado, and two eggs

TYPICAL LUNCH: Protein pasta with garlic infused olive oil, Italian seasoning, green onions, and parmesan.

TYPICAL DINNER: Salad with crunchy chicken nuggets chopped up

TYPICAL SNACKS: Protein bar. Air fried low carb tortilla strips with a homemade cottage cheese dip. Apples with peanut butter. Mixed nuts. Cool whip with sugar free pudding mix

TYPICAL DRINKS: Sugar free drink mixed in water. Protein Coffee