A mum has shed half her body weight to completely transform her looks and her health. Amy Salmon spent years comfort eating, and despite attempting "countless" diets, she struggled to shift the excess weight – eventually tipping the scales at 18 stone and squeezing into a size 22.
But following a breakup two years ago, the mum-of-two resolved to finally put herself first, embarking on a determined mission to get fit. Now, Amy is virtually unrecognisable, having dropped half her body weight to slip into a trim size 6, and having injectables "everywhere" to enhance her facial appearance.
Emotional transformation
"The biggest difference isn't what I see in the mirror – it's how I feel," said the aesthetics practitioner from Hertfordshire. "Life has changed massively.
"I finally feel confident in myself, and I no longer hide away from photos or avoid social situations. I struggled with my confidence for a long time, and food became something I turned to when I was stressed, overwhelmed or unhappy.
"Looking back now, I realise I wasn't just carrying extra weight physically, I was carrying a lot emotionally too."
The mounting pressures of motherhood, a hectic lifestyle, and a deteriorating relationship drove Amy to use food as a crutch. She regularly snacked on high-calorie, processed foods such as chocolate and sweets, while also indulging in takeaways like McDonald's and pizzas, piling up oversized portions with little regard for their nutritional content.
Surgery as a tool
While she was dissatisfied with her appearance and attempted diets such as Slimming World and weight loss shakes, it wasn't until her 2023 separation from her former partner encouraged her to begin putting her own health first that Amy decided enough was enough.
She said: "I reached a point where I realised I wasn't living the life I wanted. I wanted to be healthier, more confident and, most importantly, able to keep up with my children as they grew up.
"I knew something had to change, not just for how I looked, but for how I felt." After finding dieting unsuccessful, she underwent gastric sleeve surgery in Egypt in June 2024 to help her with her weight loss.
Within 12 months, she had shed nine stone – cutting her body weight in half. She said: "I always say that the operation was a tool, not a magic fix.
"It still required a huge amount of commitment, learning healthier habits and changing my mindset. During this time I focused on prioritising protein, exercising regularly, building muscle and creating sustainable habits rather than chasing quick fixes."
New lifestyle
Now, her diet is centred around protein and whole foods. A typical day might include eggs on sourdough or Greek yoghurt with protein and berries for breakfast, chicken with salad or some form of omelette for lunch, and lean meat or fish with vegetables for dinner.
"I still enjoy treats in moderation, but my relationship with food is completely different. I eat to fuel my body rather than to cope with my emotions."
The impact on the young mum's life has been nothing short of remarkable. She said: "I have so much more energy, I can be far more active with my children and everyday tasks that once felt exhausting are now effortless.
"I spend less on takeaways – they were costing me a fortune – and my mood is happier as I feel better in my own skin. My confidence has completely transformed and that's had a huge impact on both my personal life and my career.
"It's also inspired the mission behind my business, because I know what it's like to lack confidence and I love helping other women feel better about themselves too." Amy has been documenting her transformation on TikTok, where her videos have racked up over one million views.
Cosmetic enhancements
Yet it isn't solely her weight loss that has captured people's attention, but the extraordinary shift in her overall appearance. Never one to "gate keep", Amy revealed she "religiously" undergoes treatments every four weeks, which have helped shape and maintain her striking new look.
She places particular focus on skincare, receiving skin boosters including hyaluronic acid injections, as well as polynucleotides – the infamous salmon sperm treatment – under her eyes, in her lower face and neck. Amy also has Botox across her face, along with lip and chin filler.
She said: "I went from looking completely unhealthy.
"[I was] physically overweight, my face looked puffy and tired, and overall I feel it made me look older than I actually was. To now [I'm] looking a lot healthier, more put together and less tired.
"People have also said I look younger." However, she insists that appearance isn't her primary focus.
Amy added: "If there's one thing I'd want people to know, it's that losing weight doesn't automatically fix every problem in your life – but it can give you the confidence to start changing everything else. The physical transformation is obvious, but the mental transformation has been even bigger.
"I'm proud of the weight I've lost, but I'm even prouder of the woman I've become through the process. And if sharing my story helps even one person believe that change is possible, then it's worth it."
