Morbidly obese woman who REFUSED gastric bypass surgery despite weighing 28 stone is crowned Slimming World's Woman of the Year after shedding more than half her body weight through diet alone

  • Maxine Wren refused gastric bypass surgery despite weighing almost 28 stone 
  • The obese 39-year-old was told by her doctor that her weight was killing her 
  • Warned that she didn't slim down she 'wouldn't be around' in 12 months' time
  • After losing 17st 7½ lbs she married her husband in a size 8/10 wedding dress

By Unity Blott For Mailonline

Published: 05:01 EST, 6 November 2018 | Updated: 05:02 EST, 6 November 2018

A morbidly obese woman who turned down weight loss surgery - despite being told that she would be dead within a year if she didn't slim down - has been crowned Slimming World's Woman of the Year.

Maxine Wren, from Chester-le-Street in County Durham, has shed an incredible 17 stone 7½ lbs and dropped 13 dress sizes simply by changing her diet. 

Five years ago, Maxine's GP delivered the stark prognosis, prescribed her slimming pills and referred her for a gastric bypass operation.

But just a month later, 5ft 3in Maxine discovered her sister was expecting a baby and decided surgery was too much of a risk, fearing that she could 'die on the operating table'.  

Maxine Wren weighed almost 28 stone at her heaviest
Maxine has shed an incredible 17 stone 7½ lbs and dropped 13 dress sizes simply by changing her diet, and was this week crowned Slimming World's Woman of the Year 2018

Transformation: Once morbidly obese, Maxine Wren, from County Durham, has shed an incredible 17 stone 7½ lbs and dropped 13 dress sizes simply by changing her diet

Instead, she declined the operation and joined her local Slimming World group with a starting weight of 27 stone 12 lbs in March 2013. She has since dropped to 10 stone 4½ lbs. 

Maxine had struggled with her weight since childhood after being born with a rare bone disease, called Blount's disease, which affected her mobility and meant at her biggest Maxine struggled to walk without crutches. 

She turned to food to comfort her through the pain, and throughout her adult life tried slimming clubs, calorie-controlled shakes and fad diets to bring her weight under control but to no avail.

Maxine says she became resigned to the fact that she was meant to be big, saying: 'I painted a smile on my face but inside my heart was broken.'

Maxine's weight loss 

Starting weight: 27 stone 12 lbs

Weight loss: 17 stone 7½ lbs

Weight now: 10 stone 4½ lbs

Her size left her struggling with asthma and low energy levels, and worsened her symptoms of polycystic ovary syndrome, too. 

People would also stare and point in the street, which affected Maxine's self-esteem and left her lacking the confidence to talk to new people and make friends.

On hearing her sister's good news and realising she needed to make a change, Maxine chose Slimming World after a leaflet was posted through her letterbox. 

In August 2016 Maxine married John wearing a size 8/10 wedding dress and says the day was a dream come true: 'Words can't describe how special it was to walk down the aisle more than half the woman I was'. In total she has shed more than 17 stone and 13 dress sizes

In August 2016 Maxine married John wearing a size 8/10 wedding dress and says the day was a dream come true: 'Words can't describe how special it was to walk down the aisle more than half the woman I was'. In total she has shed more than 17 stone and 13 dress sizes

Maxine shows off her physique after turning down a gastric bypass. Despite her doctor's warning, decided surgery was too much of a risk, fearing she could 'die on the operating table'

Maxine shows off her physique after turning down a gastric bypass. Despite her doctor's warning, decided surgery was too much of a risk, fearing she could 'die on the operating table'

She says: 'This was my last chance though and I had to do it. Everyone [in the slimming group] was really friendly so I had nothing to worry about and I lost a massive 12 lbs in my first week – for the first time in my life I felt like there was light at the end of the tunnel.'

Maxine, who is a qualified nursery nurse but unable to work due to her disability, learned to swap buttery toast, convenience foods and takeaways for healthy homemade meals by following the plan.

She says: 'It's not a diet because there's nothing you can't have and there's no need to go hungry. I've learned how to make the healthiest choices and can even eat out if I want to.' 

Maxine, pictured in 2010, says she became resigned to the fact that she was meant to be big, saying: 'I painted a smile on my face but inside my heart was broken'

Maxine, pictured in 2010, says she became resigned to the fact that she was meant to be big, saying: 'I painted a smile on my face but inside my heart was broken'

Maxine at her heaviest. She turned to food to comfort her through the pain, and throughout her adult life tried slimming clubs, calorie-controlled shakes and fad diets to bring her weight under control but to no avail

Maxine at her heaviest. She turned to food to comfort her through the pain, and throughout her adult life tried slimming clubs, calorie-controlled shakes and fad diets to bring her weight under control but to no avail

In August 2016 Maxine married John wearing a size 8/10 wedding dress and says the day was a dream come true: 'Words can't describe how special it was to walk down the aisle more than half the woman I was. 

'For the first time in my life, when I look in the mirror I like how I look – and I felt like a princess on my wedding day.'

While Maxine's disability means she can't do much exercise, she's more active than before and loves being able to walk and play with the young nephew who provided her the inspiration to start her journey. 

She added: 'I hope I'm proof to people that there's never any amount of weight you can't lose. Everything's changed. I don't hide away anymore. I always say Slimming World didn't just save my life, it's given me life.'  

Maxine's diet before 

Breakfast: 2 bowls of sugary cereal with milk, with 4 slices of white toast with peanut butter and jam

Lunch: Sandwiches, pies, crisps and chocolate

Dinner: Takeaway, fish and chips or frozen food

Snacks: A whole packet of biscuits, sweets, chocolates, crisps, sausage rolls

...and her diet now 

Breakfast: High-fibre cereal with fresh fruit and fat-free natural yogurt

Lunch: Jacket potato with beans and salad

Dinner: Homemade curry with rice and veg

Snacks: Fresh fruit, veg crudités, low-calorie jelly pot with fat-free natural fromage frais, cake bar or low-calorie hot chocolate

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Maxine Wren is crowned Slimming World’s Woman of the Year

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