A 17-stone nurse has dropped five dress sizes after witnessing the devastating impact of coronavirus on overweight patients and struggling to work 12-hour shifts in full PPE. Sarah Wynter, a front-line intensive care nurse at Hereford County Hospital, knew her size 22 frame put her at greater risk of severe COVID-19.
The 39-year-old mother of two found it exhausting to wear full PPE for extended periods, leaving her 'sweating all day' and needing to change during breaks. 'Every time I had a break, I would have to get changed because I would sweat that much,' she said.
After seeing first-hand how the virus affected patients with a high BMI, and with her 40th birthday approaching, Sarah joined Slimming World in September last year. She has since lost five-and-a-half stone, dropping from 17st 6.5lbs to a healthier 12 stone.
Sarah has replaced takeaways and chips with fruit, pasta salad, and homemade stir-fries. She now walks up to 10 miles on her days off and can complete her shifts without feeling 'completely knackered'. She also wanted to set a better example to her patients, saying: 'If I was going to be giving health advice about eating and I'm overweight, it's a bit pot kettle black.'
Her transformation has also allowed her to keep up with her children at rowing events, where she previously arrived 25 minutes late. 'I would never see my children at the finish line,' she recalled. Sarah credits weekly Slimming World classes for her success and looks forward to a healthier outlook at 40.
