The enrolled nurse from Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, said she knew if she kept piling on weight, she would not survive – but is now looking forward to a long and healthy life after losing an incredible 105kg and dropping nine dress sizes.
Emma is now completely unrecognisable and feels more confident than ever before flaunting her brand new 56kg, slim size 10-12 figure.
Emma said: “Looking back at photographs, I just can’t believe I ever let myself get that big.
“It makes me feel sick to think about it. I was so unhealthy.
“I was always a slim child and only really started piling on the weight at around 16 years old. I had a job and had just gotten my own car, so there was this new freedom.
“I could drive myself to the local takeaway shops and get anything I wanted. That’s when my addiction to food really started.
“I’d have dinner with my family and then sneak back out to the kitchen to make three sandwiches to bring back into my bedroom.
“It was very secretive and emotional eating, which is something that continued later in life.
“By the time I was 18, I weighed around 100kg and was wearing a size 20 to 22. And it just kept going from there over the next two decades.”
Emma said being so morbidly obese caused her to experience many embarrassing situations, including being kicked off theme park rides and needing seatbelt extensions on aeroplanes.
And while she knew she was getting bigger, Emma said she could not control her insatiable addiction to food and revealed that she was a huge emotional eater.
She said: “It is so difficult just to exist in the world at that size. Everything is a struggle.
“I would google restaurants before I went there to ensure their seats were big enough.
"I was always anxious about breaking chairs or getting stuck in booths.
“One of the most embarrassing things was when I went to Dreamworld theme park on the Gold Coast when I was around 25 years old with all my friends.
“I dreaded it, but I wanted to give it a go. After lining up for ages, my friends and I finally got our turn on this ride called the giant drop.
“I could see the ride attendant looking at me uneasily. I squeezed into the seat and they tried to bring the vest harness down and it wouldn’t click into place.
“I was too fat for the ride and couldn’t be locked in. A loud siren went off and everyone was staring at me.
“I was mortified, and I had to walk back past this huge line of people. Lots of them were snickering at me and making mean comments.
“I just went back to my hotel room and cried. I ordered a bucket of KFC chicken to feel better, but of course it just made me feel worse.
Emma said that her life-changing turning point came in May 2014 after her doctor warned that she was so morbidly obese that she would not live another two years to see her 40th birthday.
Emma knew she had to do something drastic to change her life – so she went under the knife to have gastric sleeve surgery one year later in May 2015.
The procedure worked wonders and Emma lost an incredible 54kg in just six months following the surgery and lost the remaining 51kg over the following two years.
While Emma was elated about her mammoth weight loss, she admitted she felt unhappy with the loose skin left behind – so she has 3.5kg of skin removed in April 2018 with a tummy tuck and thigh lift, followed by a monsplasty and a breast lift with implants in March 2019.
Super slimmer Emma said she is happier, healthier more confident than ever with her brand-new body – and now eats a low carb, high protein diet while she also walks on the beach for 45 minutes daily.
BEFORE DIET:
Breakfast: Toasted sandwiches and a big bowl of cocoa pops.
Lunch: Takeaway souvlaki with deep fried dim sims, seafood sticks and chicken cheese croquettes with a large coke.
Snacks: A big bag of crisps, chocolate bars and soft drink.
Dinner: At least five large slices of pizza with thick toppings, with four more slices of garlic and cheese pizza bread.
Dessert: Half an apricot pie with thickened cream and ice cream.
AFTER DIET:
Breakfast: Porridge
Snack: Fruit smoothie with mango, banana, pineapple, coconut water and honey with low fat yoghurt.
Lunch: Crackers with cheese, pickles and tuna.
Snack: Handful of nuts or a protein bar.
Dinner: Small piece of steak with carrots, broccoli and potato.
Dessert: A small icy pole
