Nurse who was 238-pounds lost weight thanks to having to wear full PPE

By Jack Evans via SWNS

A nurse who ballooned to 238 pounds has dropped five dress sizes after she became scared of catching COVID and struggled to work 12-hour shifts in full PPE.

Sarah Wynter, 39, knew her bulky size 22 frame put her at more risk of coronavirus as she battled to save lives as a front-line intensive care nurse.

“Last September I realized I needed to do something. As an intensive care nurse during the pandemic that was a real eye opener to me," said the woman from Hereford, Herefordshire, England.

"I saw first-hand what COVID did to patients with an increased BMI. I thought if I ever got COVID, I would be the person in that bed."

The mom-of-two also struggled to complete 12-hour shifts wearing full PPE and was left "exhausted and sweating all day" in the ICU at Hereford County Hospital.

“Every time I had a break, I would have to get changed because I would sweat that much," she said.

“That was a real struggle. It was so hot and I was sweating all day long. My feet ached and my legs ached. Everything hurt.

“Not only was I going through the pandemic, but I was 17-and-half stone wearing full PPE for 12-and-a-half hours a day.

After seeing first-hand the devastating impact the virus had on overweight people and with her 40th birthday approaching, Wynter decided something had to change.

She joined Slimming World last September and has managed to lose an impressive 77 lbs in the last 12 months.

She also wanted to set a better example for her patients by being a healthier weight and now walks up to 10 miles on her days off.

"If I was going to be giving anybody some sort of health advice about eating and I'm overweight, it's a bit pot-kettle-black," she said.

"The pandemic and struggling to do my job were both turning points for me."

Wynter joined Slimming World on last September 17 and was also motivated by her upcoming 40th birthday next February.

“I wanted to have a completely different outlook on life at 40," she said.

She was also embarrassed about being 25 minutes behind the other parents to the finish line during her children's rowing races.

"Both my children row and when we would go to events pre-pandemic, some of the parents would run while their children were rowing and cheer. But I couldn’t do that," she said.

"I felt I was losing out hugely. I would never see my children at the finish line."

At her heaviest Wynter tipped the scales at 244 lbs, despite being just 5ft 6ins tall. She now she weighs a healthier 168 lbs after shedding the weight.

She replaced gorging on takeout and fries for lunch with a diet of fruit, pasta salad and homemade stir-fry recipes.

"I would have things like croissants and pastries and biscuits in the morning and then maybe for lunch baguette and chips," she said.

“And then quite often I would stop at a chip shop on the way home from work."

She added: “What I love about Slimming World is that you are never hungry. I still eat everything I love.

“I still eat chips, burgers, all the things I really enjoy, like spaghetti Bolognese and curry, I just adapt it and cook with less fat.

"You just have to change your mindset and be more organized."

Sarah credits weekly Slimming World classes with her incredible transformation and she can now complete a shift at work without being "completely knackered."

"It’s literally changed my life," she said.

“I still wear full PPE and not once do I have to get changed.

“I loved my job before, but now I enjoy it more because I am not so knackered all the time.

She added: "I can now run the length of my children's 2km races cheering and meet them at the end.

"Although I have had to change by wardrobe quite a few times much to the detriment of my husband’s bank balance.”

SARAH'S AVERAGE DIET BEFORE:

Breakfast – Croissants, pastries, biscuits (approx. 400-500 calories)

Lunch – Baguette, chips (530 calories)

Dinner – Takeaway / chips (approx. 900 calories)

SARAH'S AVERAGE DIET NOW:

Breakfast – Fruit and yoghurt or overnight oats (50-200 calories)

Lunch – Pasta salad (170 calories)

Dinner – Curry / stir fry (250 calories)