Living With Bariatrics -'Warts & All'
So who the hell is Mel Harris?
Good question ...... She is .....
A 20+ year 'successful' bariatric survivor
A passionate ...
MOTIVATOR MENTOR SUPPORTER
And the founder of LWB
Over the years I tried every single diet or fad I ever heard about, from the sublime to the ridiculous.
Slimming pills, laxatives, food replacements, chocolate bar diets, the grapefruit diet, cabbage soup diet, you name it, I tried it. I even tried , throwing up and then to stop eating altogether!
Very often, especially with the more extreme (often dangerous) regimes, I would lose up to 3 stone, but it wasn’t sustainable, it was too slow, it was never enough and I made myself ill, but the worst thing, in my mind, was that it made no difference to my appearance or how I felt, so the weight always went back on, plus more.
AT LAST HONEST, GENUINE SUPPORT THAT GETS YOU RESULTS AND THAT YOU CAN TRUST
YES, I am indeed, the founder of Living With Bariatrics 'Warts & All" - a successful actress and screenwriter, mother of the most adorable Lhasa Apso called Kobe, proud aunt to two extraordinary nephews, godmother to 3 wonderful godchildren.
Above all, I am just a normal, down to earth person, exactly like you.
In 2004 I topped the scales at just 2lb under 25 stone, that’s 348lbs or 157.85kgs.
I was wearing a UK size 30 (US size 26 or 3XXXL).
I am only 5'2"
yet at my heaviest
I was 2lbs shy of 25 stone
(348lbs & 157.85kgs)
and wearing a size 30
(US size 26 or XXXL)
I could barely walk and talk
at the same time
The affects of obesity on my life
I have struggled with my weight since puberty, and it has affected every aspect of my life every single day.
My physical health was suffering
I contracted polycystic ovarian disease, resulting in significant facial and body hair
I didn't get my first period until I was 19 and it was always exceptionally sporadic. Sometimes I might only get a period
once, maybe twice a year
I AM INFERTILE !
My thighs rubbed together so badly that my skin was rubbed raw, blistered and bleeding
My back felt like it was giving way
My knees also felt like they were giving way under the strain
I literally couldn't walk and talk at the same time
I had absolutely no energy
And let's not mention the excessive sweating
I suffered with chronic depression for which I was hospitalised for 5 months and continued as an outpatient and on medication for many years
My self esteem and confidence hit the very bottom of the scale
I became a big time people pleaser hoping that 'someone' would like me. I gave people money, (even when I didn't have it) and had music set up to play their favourite music to try and impress
I developed a persona of fun and outgoing and more importantly EASY going so I didn't upset anyone - ever
I lost my own sense of identity. I had no idea who I really was, I didn't even know what kind of music I liked anymore
I suffered with imposter syndrome and was in constant fear of being revealed as a fraud and failure
I struggled to socialise, meet new people or realise my full potential
My mental health was suffering
Life can be so cruel...
I was subjected to so much abuse from complete strangers. Laughing, pointing, whispering and calling out awful, insulting and supremely hurtful things as they passed me in their cars
I faced prejudice in the workplace and at social events
I was even turned away from a night club for not being the 'type of clientele' they wished to attract!
My Catalyst
It was one sunny Sunday afternoon in July 2003 whilst attending a family BBQ at my brother's house.
And what was it ?............. simple ! My nephews and a family BBQ
I was born to be a mother! From a very young age I absolutely loved kids. At school I chose to do a 'Child Development' course which meant I spent one afternoon a week working at a local nursery school and I absolutely loved it and that was when I decided that my life was going to be all about children and so my 'teenage me' planned to have two children of my own, then adopt a child and finally foster as many children as possible.
So finding out, at the age of 22 that I was infertile, had an absolutely devastating effect on me.
Imagine how blessed I felt when my nephews came along and my brother and sister in law allowed me to be as hands on with their babies as I wanted. I got to do loads of 'mother' things with them from day one. I changed nappies, I cleaned up sick, I fed them, I bathed them, had days out, sleep overs, the works. I quickly became 'Mad Aunty Melly' and they instantly became my 'raison d'etre'.
All good so far......
Then came the day of the BBQ. It was a sunny Sunday afternoon in July 2003, I was attending a family bbq at my brother's house.
Back then my youngest nephew was not yet 3 and the oldest was just about to turn 5 and all they wanted to do, from the moment I arrived, was play with their 'Aunty Melly'. Like all kids of that age they wanted me to chase them, play football with them, go on the trampoline and generally rough and tumble.
But I couldn't do it
Amongst other things, my back was giving way, my knees were giving way, I had severe skin chafing, and I could barely walk and talk at the same time.
I looked over at my mother who was also severely obese and had so many health issues that she was registered disabled, in a wheelchair with swollen blistering legs and I clearly saw my future.
I had way outstayed
my welcome
at the last chance saloon!
Over the years I had tried absolutely everything from the sublime to the ridiculous, in an effort to lose weight and keep it off.....
Without success!
Not being able to play with my nephews left me totally heartbroken and devastated, BUT, it empowered me to acknowledge that I could no longer fight this fight alone.
I realised, I needed help, and that there is no shame in asking for that help.
Even a top accountant needs a calculator and a team of people to do his job effectively. And just like them I needed help to tackle the most important job of all....
LOOK AFTER ME !
I took a deep breath and finally asked for help.
The very next day I drove 60 miles north
to purchase a heavy duty treadmill and bike designed for professional gyms, so they could cope with the pounding under my weight and,
I booked an appointment with a bariatric surgeon
I AM AND ALWAYS WILL BE A 'WORK IN PROGRESS'
Would I like to lose more weight? YES!
Do I still struggle to maintain my weight? YES!
I am and always will be a 'work in progress' however, I have now managed to keep control of my weight, I no longer drive myself mad over it and I am in a position where I can use my many experiences to help and motivate others going through the same thing.
Connecting with you is what precipitated the creation of Living With Bariatrics 'Warts & All' and ever since It's launch I have connected with hundreds of people.
Some are still at the 'thinking about it' stage,
Some have already taken the plunge but face challenges
Some simply don't want to go down the surgery route
Either way.......
This site is for you....
All of you.
Why not come onboard?
If you would like any help or information on the mentoring plans please click below
Remember this TV Ad ?
It won a number of awards and
created such a stir, that the Sunday Mirror
did an entire double page centre piece about me!
I remember during filming, that one of the executives at the advertising company, casually came over
for a 'chat' and a cuppa. He asked me what I thought about the commercial and
I told him that "I thought the advert was very funny, at the end of the day there are a lot of men that don't want to go home with the fat lady."
I backed up my view with,
"if you can't laugh at yourself, who can you laugh at"?
Even as I heard myself saying those words I felt I was dying inside.
The advert was pulled from our screens for receiving approx 200 complaints for being 'fattist'!
I AM NOT affiliated to; nor will I ever advocate any kind of weight loss surgery, even though I went down that route myself. I believe that it is a VERY personal thing and we are all different.
Nor do I promote any special diets or products or trends or pills or potions. The only person or organisation I am affiliated to - is Living With Bariatrics.
I AM SIMPLY HERE TO TELL YOU WHAT I DID.
