A mum who once spent hundreds each month on takeaways has completely transformed her life after losing 17 stone—despite facing cruel comments from trolls when she first began her journey.
Rachel Pashley tipped the scales at 30st 13lb and wore a size 32 at her heaviest. The wake-up call came during a family trip to a theme park, when she realised she couldn’t fit on a ride with her two sons, Ethan, 13, and Jenson, 12. Forced to watch from the sidelines while someone else stepped in, Rachel says the moment was devastating.
Now 32 and living in Brighton, Rachel weighs 12 stone and wears a size 12. Since her transformation, she’s been able to enjoy experiences she once thought were impossible—including a trip to Disneyland Paris, where she rode everything without fear or embarrassment.
“I couldn’t climb stairs, I was constantly exhausted, and I couldn’t keep up with my kids,” she recalled. “I’d drop them off at breakfast club and go straight back to bed. We didn’t go on bike rides or days out because I just didn’t have the energy.
“Now we do everything—cycling, gym sessions, swimming, trips to London, theme parks. I finally feel involved in their lives.”
Before losing weight, Rachel says she battled depression and dreaded shopping for clothes. “The bigget win isn’t the weight loss—it’s getting my life back. I’m present for my boys now, and I’m proud of who I am.”
At her lowest point, Rachel admits she was spending around £400 every month on fast food, barely exercising and relying on junk food for comfort. When she tried to document her journey online, the abuse followed.
“People told me to go and eat another sausage roll,” she said. “When I shared plus-size fashion content, I’d get comments saying I could barely breathe in the clothes. It was awful.”
In May 2021, Rachel underwent a £12,500 gastric bypass, which marked the turning point. Today, she focuses on nourishing meals and daily movement. “I feel like I’m actually living now—not just getting through the day.”
Turning to Food for Comfort
Rachel says she had always been “bigger,” wearing a size 16 when her youngest son Jenson was diagnosed with stage-four neuroblastoma. During months spent in and out of hospital, food became her coping mechanism.
“There was no time or energy to cook,” she explained. “We lived on takeaways—sometimes six nights a week. Chocolate bars on the drive home from hospital became routine.”
Thankfully, Jenson has now been cancer-free for 10 years. But Rachel says that period left deep scars.
“My diet was awful—full English breakfasts, meal deals, crisps, chocolate, kebabs, pizza. The delivery drivers knew us by name.”
Today, things couldn’t be more different. Rachel trains four times a week, cooks fresh meals, and says her family hasn’t ordered a takeaway once this year.
She has also invested in body-confidence procedures, spending £12,000 on an arm and breast lift earlier this year, with a tummy tuck planned for September.
Rachel remembers the moment that changed everything: “I was walking to the shop to buy binge food after a terrible day, crying, and I ran into someone I used to work with. She told me weight loss surgery had changed her life. I went home and booked a consultation.”
Originally, Rachel’s goal was simply to return to a size 16. “I never imagined I’d fit into a small skirt from Zara,” she said. “It still feels surreal.”
These days, even people she knows struggle to recognise her. “I ran into a former colleague in Aldi and she completely ignored me. Later she messaged asking if it was actually me.”
Rachel now shares her journey to encourage others who feel trapped in their bodies.
“I know how hopeless it can feel when you’re stuck in a cycle you can’t see a way out of. If my story helps even one person believe change is possible, then it’s worth it.”
