ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
ThatsLife
  • WIN
  • News
  • Real Life
  • Food
  • Lifestyle
  • Pets
  • Your Stars
  • Puzzles
  • Podcasts
  • Video
Subscribe
  1. Home
  2. Real Life

Aussie woman spent $32,000 to wear a bikini

'I felt so beautiful in it!' - by April Glover
  • 28 Jun 2019

Brittany Brown, 28, from Hobart, felt trapped in her body and wanted a change

Aussie woman spent $32,000 to wear a bikini

Stepping off the scales, I closed my eyes in despair, wanting to forget what I’d just seen. Have I really put on 30 kilos? I thought miserably.

Aged 20, I was a size 24 and the heaviest I’d ever been – 120 kilos. After leaving for university, I’d got stuck in a vicious cycle of binge-eating takeaway food.

Not having time or the cash for home-cooked meals meant I’d fallen victim to the convenience of Macca’s, KFC and greasy Chinese food. I knew I’d gained some extra padding – but I didn’t think it was that bad.

Upset, I turned to food to make me feel better. Not wanting my friends to know the truth, I’d eat dainty portions in front of them.

Then, late at night, I’d get stuck into chocolate, ice-cream, bread and cheese, polishing off around 5000 calories in one sitting. Sometimes, I’d even sneak it in my car before going inside so no-one would see me.

Horrified, the next day I’d punish myself by barely eating a thing and trying to work it all off with three-hour gym sessions.

I felt unattractive and imprisoned in a body I hated.

Brittant Brown before

I got caught in a cycle of binge eating

Brittany Brown/Supplied
Brittany Brown wanted to make a change

I wanted to make a change

Brittany Brown/Supplied

Fed up, I visited my family GP and asked her to refer me for lap-band surgery. ‘I’m sick of being fat,’ I  admitted.

After the surgery, I did lose around 35 kilos. But it made me sick, so I  had it deflated and piled it all back on again. 

Finally having the lap-band removed, my weight ballooned to over 120 kilos and I barely fitted into the biggest size at the clothes shop. At age 26, I went back to my doctor.

‘I think I need a gastric sleeve,’ I said. It was extreme – it meant part of my stomach would be removed. But I’d researched the operation to the ends of the earth and knew it was what I wanted.

Only telling close family I  was going in for surgery, I  went on a shake meal plan to prep my body. ‘I wish diets or work-outs would work for me, but they just don’t,’ I told everyone.

‘We support you no matter what,’ my mum Paula said.

The day before surgery I was weighed and found I’d got my weight down to 113 kilos. Two weeks after surgery, I was 105 kilos.

Brittany Brown had loose skin

I hadn't realised I'd have so much loose skin

Brittany Brown/Supplied

With the kilos dropping, I excitedly shopped for new clothes to fit my shrinking frame. The scales turned from my enemy to a friend as I watched the numbers fall.

‘You look so much happier,’ friends and family told me.

Eating a low-carb, high-protein diet, I was down to a svelte 68 kilos within 18 months. While I felt incredible, there was one problem. Losing 52 kilos so quickly meant I had a lot of loose, saggy skin.

I even had to tuck the doughy flesh into my new clothes. It meant I lacked confidence to show off my new body. I didn’t realise loose skin would be such a huge consequence of dropping weight fast. 

A year after my op, I went to a plastic surgeon and showed him the excess skin on my stomach and arms. ‘You’ll need a breast lift, an arm lift and a 360-degree tummy tuck,’ he explained.

All up, it was going to cost a staggering $22,000! I’d already dipped into my super for the $10,000 gastric sleeve surgery, so I couldn’t pay for it myself.

Brittany Brown

I was thrilled with the results

Brittany Brown/Supplied
Brittany Brown in a bikini

I loved feeling happy in a bikini

Brittany Brown/Supplied

Luckily, my incredible mum was willing to help me out. ‘You’ve worked so hard, you deserve this,’ she told me.

So, over three separate operations, I had 1.5 kilos of skin removed from my stomach and another kilo from my breasts and arms. Afterwards, I felt like a whole new woman!

My body had finally transformed into the figure I’d always dreamt of.

 Once the scars healed, I wanted to celebrate properly. It was a beautiful, sunny day so I bought a tiny bikini and headed to the beach.

I’m finally free! I thought.

It was the first time I’d ever worn a two-piece swimsuit – and I felt so beautiful in it! I’ve even found love with my amazing boyfriend,  Sean, 30.

Ten months on, I’ve maintained a healthy weight  and sculpted my body with HIIT workouts at an F45 gym.

My relationship with food has changed dramatically too.

I still indulge myself every so often with a cookie, but I haven’t had a binge session since my weight loss.

Now, at a fit 73 kilos and a size 12, my focus is on sustaining an active lifestyle and practising mindful eating. 

I wish I didn’t wait so long to live the life I wanted. I was trapped, but now I’m finally free.

Brittany Brown and boyfriend Sean

I've found love with my boyfriend Sean

Brittany Brown/Supplied

Brittany’s diet

Before

BREAKFAST: Bacon and eggs

LUNCH: KFC or Macca’s

SNACK: Ice-cream, chocolate

DINNER: KFC, Macca’s or Chinese food

After

BREAKFAST: Yoghurt and fruit

LUNCH: Tuna, avocado and rice

SNACK: Protein bar

DINNER: Taco bowl, meat and veg or homemade pizza

April Glover

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Subscribe to That's Life!

Subscribe Now
Subscribe to That's Life!

Recommended to you

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis
Watch 0:37

There's A Better, Faster Way To Predict Sepsis

{headline}

{headline}

Woman’s dramatic transformation: how I lost 50 kilos

Woman’s dramatic transformation: how I lost 50 kilos

65kg gone: I was TOO FAT for Movie World

65kg gone: I was TOO FAT for Movie World

I lost 113kgs to be a better dad

I lost 113kgs to be a better dad

Weight loss surgery cured my cancer

Weight loss surgery cured my cancer

{headline}

{headline}

Tradie, 25, dies from budget overseas weight-loss surgery

Tradie, 25, dies from budget overseas weight-loss surgery

At 352kg Charity was once the world’s heaviest woman

At 352kg Charity was once the world’s heaviest woman

Fat shamed on a date - so I lost 84 kilos

Fat shamed on a date - so I lost 84 kilos

{headline}

{headline}

How I halved my body weight

How I halved my body weight

How a pair of undies saved my life!

How a pair of undies saved my life!

I used to spend $100 a day on junk food – look at me now!

I used to spend $100 a day on junk food – look at me now!

I lost 55 kilos… eating Snickers!

I lost 55 kilos… eating Snickers!

66 kilo woman shares: how I halved my body weight

66 kilo woman shares: how I halved my body weight

How Instagram helped me shed 63 kilos

How Instagram helped me shed 63 kilos

The shrinking bride: How one woman lost half her body weight

The shrinking bride: How one woman lost half her body weight

ThatsLife
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy
ThatsLife Magazine Subscribe
  • Gold Club
  • Online Entry FAQ
  • About Us
  • Subscribe Today
  • Contact Us
  • Terms
  • Competitions
  • Privacy Policy

Brands

  • New Idea
  • Who
  • Girlfriend
  • Practical Parenting

Our Network

  • Better Homes and Gardens
  • BHG Shop
  • marie claire
  • Beauty Crew
  • New Idea food
  • Women's Weekly Food
  • Bounty Parents
  • Home Beautiful
  • All Recipes
  • 7plus
  • 7News
  • Sunrise
  • Starts at 60
  • The West Australian
  • Perth Now
  • 7mate
  • 7Sport
  • Hard to Find
© 2022 Are Media PTY LTD
All products are independently selected, tested or recommended by our team of experts.If you buy something, we may earn an affiliate commission.
Get more from

Magazine Subscription Offer

Subscribe to That's Life!-+ save!

Shop This Offer
Subscribe to That's Life!