Intensive care nurse drops from size 22 to a size 10 after her PPE split

A nurse lost seven stone after she was ‘mortified’ when she bent over and burst through her PPE at work.

Sarah Wynter, 40, from Hereford, said her size 22 frame meant she struggled to make it through gruelling 12 hour shifts as an intensive care nurse.

The mum-of-two saw first-hand the devastating impact Covid had on overweight people and, weighing 17 stone, she decided she needed to make a change.

She joined Slimming World in January 2020 and has since shrunk to a size 10 after losing 7st, swapping her XXL nursing uniform for a small.

Sarah said: ‘Working as an NHS nurse is intense both mentally and physically.

‘I was wearing size 2XL scrubs and would leave each shift on my knees – totally and utterly exhausted.

‘My body ached all over from being on my feet all day, I had severe joint pain and I’d be breathless from running around.

‘The personal protective equipment (PPE) I wore was so hot that I’d sweat profusely and would have to change my scrubs whenever I went for a break.

Weighing 17 stone, Sarah joined Slimming World in 2020 and has since shrunk to a size 10

Intensive care nurse Sarah Wynter, 40, from Hereford lost seven stone after her PPE split when she bent over at work

The mum-of-two (pictured before her weight loss) was motivated to lose weight after her ‘one size’ hazmat suit split

‘Working in intensive therapy unit (ITU) during the Covid-19 pandemic was a scary time and my thoughts often turned to how well I’d be able to fight off the virus if I did catch it.

‘I knew that obesity was a contributing factor for many people who struggled with Covid. 

‘It was a constant worry for me and having joined Slimming World just before the first lockdown this really drove my motivation to keep going.’

She added: ‘I tried every diet you could think of – soups, shakes, calorie counting – they’d all work for a while, but I’d soon lose motivation and end up regaining any weight I’d lost.

‘The turning point for me came when we received some new hazmat suits for the Intensive Care Unit. The box was marked “one size” which instantly worried me.

‘I did manage to get the suit on, but the first time I bent over it ripped from my neck down to my bottom. I laughed it off with everyone else in the room but inside I was mortified.’

Extra extra large: Sarah originally wore size XXL scrubs, had severe joint pain and suffered breathlessness during a busy shift 

Extra large: The intensive care nurse decided to lose weight and dropped a scrubs size to an XL (pictured)

Large: Mum-of-two changed her diet from sausages and bacon for breakfast to fruit and yoghurt (pictured in size L scrubs)

Medium: Sarah said ‘I couldn’t believe that I’d be able to lose weight without going hungry’ (pictured in size M scrubs) 

Sarah, who lives with husband John, 49, a farmer, and their children Alfie, 18, and Maisey, 14, would eat pastries or a bacon sausage for breakfast, a meal with chips for lunch and a takeaway for dinner – with half a packet of biscuits as a mid-morning snack.

After deciding to lose weight, she changed her diet and now eats fruit and yoghurt for breakfast, soup or jacket potato for lunch with salad and a homemade stir-fry for dinner. 

Alongside Slimming World’s diet, Sarah also enjoys regularly hiking in the hills near her home.

She said: ‘After a lifetime of restrictive diets, I couldn’t believe that I’d be able to lose weight without going hungry.

‘I always thought I needed to snack on sugary treats to keep my energy levels up on long shifts.

Small: Sarah now enjoys hiking in the Brecon Beacons and would love to climb Kilimanjaro next year (pictured in size S scrubs)

‘I soon found that filling up on healthy meals kept me well-fuelled throughout the day though and I started to feel in control of my eating habits even during stressful shifts.’

She continued: ‘Before I lost weight I was pretty inactive. I’d be exhausted after a 12.5 hour shift, so walking the dog to the end of the road was about all I could manage. 

‘I live in the countryside, so walking in the hills soon became a bit of an escape for me.

‘I built it up gradually at my own pace by walking just a little bit further every time I went out. 

‘Now I love nothing more than a hike in the Brecon Beacons. I’ve even completed a couple of charity challenges and would love to climb Kilimanjaro next year.

‘I’m the best version of myself for my patients – and I’m the best version of myself for me and my family too. I’m living my best life and that’s an incredible feeling.’

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