I lost 12 stone after a breakup made me realise my self-worth – I’d still weigh 22 stone and be living a ‘fat life’ if I stayed in the relationship

A woman who had a ‘glow up’ after a break-up and lost 12 stone says she feels ‘liberated’ and is now being flooded with DMs from men.

Laura Gunn, 30, from Fife in Scotland, says she felt comfortable in her ten-year relationship and didn’t feel like she had anyone to ‘impress’.

At her heaviest she weighed 22kg and was a size 24, but after her ex-fiance broke up with her, she says she realized her self-worth.

Laura had tried every new diet and was struggling to lose weight, so after much research she opted for gastric bypass surgery in Lithuania.

She had the £6.5k operation in March 2023 and is now exactly 10th and a slim size 8 to 12.

Now Laura has never felt better and is grateful that her ex broke up with her.

Laura, an intensive care nurse, said: ‘If we had stayed in that relationship I would never have changed.

‘I would have lived a fat life.

‘He has done me the greatest favor. I have lost 12 stone. I’ve lost half of myself.

‘I feel liberated and happy.’

Laura had been with her ex since they were 16 and they were engaged.

She said, “Everything became easy. I had no one to impress anymore. I let myself go.

‘I was so depressed. But I thought, ‘I’m getting married, everything will be fine.’

They were supposed to tie the knot, but postponed their wedding in the summer of 2020 due to the pandemic.

But in December 2020, the couple ended their 10-year relationship.

Laura said: ‘I was devastated but I soon realized it was the right thing…’

She realized they had grown apart and had a wake-up call about her health at the age of 27 after being put on blood pressure medication.

Laura soon found herself in another short-term relationship that boosted her self-confidence and gave her the impetus to consider weight-loss surgery.

She did a lot of research before deciding to go to the Nordbariatric Clinic in Lithuania and had a gastric bypass in March last year.

At first she found it difficult to understand her weight loss and the changes.

But now she eats a healthy diet of home-cooked meals and goes to the gym three times a week.

She said: ‘When I was older I dressed like a 50-year-old woman.

‘I didn’t know who I was. My identity was everywhere.

‘I used to be able to never look in the mirror. I’ve never had mirrors in my house.

“The person I am today is strengthened because I am happy. I never used to be proud of myself.’

Laura says she has also received more attention since losing weight.

She said: ‘I didn’t think skinny privilege was a thing.

‘But I absolutely do. People hold doors open for you.

‘My DMs have never been so busy. Men definitely treat me differently.

‘It’s really strange, a bit scary and overwhelming, but fun.

‘I have respect and love for myself.’