Nurse, 30, who wants to be a ‘role model’ for her patients shed 14st after £4,200 surgery – because she was ‘hobbling’ home after 13-hour shifts and suffered ‘heart palpitations’

A nurse who wanted to be a ‘role model’ for patients lost 14 stone after her weight left her ‘hobbling home’ from gruelling 13-hour shifts.

Rosie Whitney, 30, who struggled with binge eating, weighed 27st 12lbs and was a size 28 at her heaviest.

She was doing a placement as a student nurse when she realised it was time to make a change – and is now feels ‘like herself’ at size 12, after getting gastric bypass surgery.

Rosie, from Grantham, Nottingham, had been struggling to stay on her feet throughout the 13 hour shifts and was suffering with ‘heart palpitations’ that left her worried for her wellbeing.

The situation had become so serious that Rosie needed her partner, Lewis, 28, to help her take off her shoes.

After years of yo-yo dieting, Rosie decided it was time for drastic action and flew to Turkey for the £4,200 procedure.

The surgery was successful and Rosie went on to lose most of the weight in a year.

Having lost 14st and 10lbs, she is now a healthy 13st 3lbs and a dress size 12.

Rosie, who has since qualified as a nurse, feels ‘proud’ of her weight loss and is able to stay on her feet for the long shifts without any trouble.

‘I was really struggling on my placement on my feet,’ she revealed.

‘It was 13 hours on my feet and I was hobbling home.

‘I remember getting home and my boyfriend took my shoes off for me. I couldn’t do anything.

‘I was trying to be a role model when I’m not healthy myself.

‘I wanted to help people – that was my goal. How can I help if I can’t walk without getting out of breath?

‘If I had to run for an emergency – how could I do that? It was my nursing that put things into perspective.’

Rosie had slowly gained weight over the years from overeating, saying that she was ‘greedy’.

‘I had eaten myself into oblivion,’ she remarked.

She wouldn’t stick to meal times but would snack on unhealthy food such as takeaways, crisps and sausage rolls throughout the day.

Rosie had tried several diets over the years but always found herself regaining any weight she had lost and more.

She became worried about her health while struggling to get through her shifts during her placement in early 2022.

‘I was getting heart palpitations,’ she admitted. ‘I was worried about my health.’

Rosie considered getting surgery but wanted to have one more go at losing the weight on her own.

She managed to lose four stone before she ‘failed’ and started putting the weight back on.

After doing a lot of research, Rosie flew to the Mediterranean weight loss clinic in Mersin, Turkey, for surgery in August 2022.

The surgery was successful and the weight dropped off within a year – but Rosie struggled with body dysphoria.

She said: ‘Everyone was saying how amazing I looked but when I looked in the mirror I still thought I was really big.

‘People didn’t recognise me when I walked down the street who had known me for years.’

But now Rosie feels ‘confident’ in her body – despite being left with seven pounds of loose skin, which she hopes to get removed in the future.

‘I’d rather have loose skin and be healthy,’ she explained. ‘I’m happy the size I am now. I’m feeling healthy and getting more confidence.’

Rosie no longer struggles to stay on her feet during her nursing shifts and eats a balanced, healthy diet – but she has held on to her old, size 28 scrubs.

‘You can fit two of me in there,’ she said. ‘The other day I did a 13 hour shift and ran 5k at the gym after.

‘I can be an inspiration for people. I’m so proud of myself. I feel like me again.

‘I was a shell of myself back then. It ruined me.

‘I’m now happy and confident.’