A nurse determined to be a ‘role model’ for her patients successfully shed 14 stone after her weight caused her to ‘hobble home’ following exhausting 13-hour work shifts.

Rosie Whitney, 30, who battled with binge eating, reached her highest weight at 27st 12lbs, wearing a size 28.

While working as a student nurse, she realized it was crucial to transform her lifestyle. She now embraces a size 12, feeling ‘like herself’ after undergoing gastric bypass surgery.

Hailing from Grantham, Nottingham, Rosie found it increasingly difficult to endure the demanding 13-hour shifts, experiencing ‘heart palpitations’ that raised concerns about her health.

The situation became so dire that Rosie required the assistance of her partner, Lewis, 28, just to remove her shoes.

Rosie Whitney (pictured) lost 14st and 10lbs thanks to gastric bypass surgery. She went from a size 28 to a size 12 in the course of a year

The 30-year-old nurse decided to take drastic action after her weight left her ‘hobbling home’ from long shifts 

After years of fluctuating diets, Rosie opted for a decisive change, traveling to Turkey for the £4,200 surgery.

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.

Before her weight loss, Rosie’s partner, Lewis, would have to help her take off her shoes when she got home

‘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, from Grantham, Nottingham, who struggled with binge-eating, tried dieting but was never able to keep the weight off 

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.

At her heaviest, Rosie weighed 27st and 12lbs and struggled to get through her shifts as a student nurse

She explained that she suffered with heart palpitations and would have been unable to run in the case of an emergency 

After her weight loss, Rosie has no trouble getting through her long shifts and will often make it to the gym after a day’s work

Despite being left with seven pounds of loose skin, Rosie feels happy and confident in her new body

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.’