"From 16 Stone to Size 4: How I Lost Half My Weight Naturally After Gallbladder Surgery"

A mother of two, weighing 16 stone, lost half her body weight after her obesity led to the removal of her gallbladder.

Courtney Boxill, 31, reached a peak weight of 16 stone 6 pounds and wore a size 22.

At her heaviest, Courtney Boxill weighed 16 stone 6 pounds and wore a size 22. Pictured with husband Eddie BoxillCredit: SWNS In just two and a half years, she lost 8 stone 4 pounds, reaching a slim 8 stone 2 pounds and fitting into a size four to six – her husband Eddie joined her on the fitness journey as well.Credit: SWNS

The mother began to gain weight after having children and would often indulge at night.

However, when she started experiencing severe stomach pains, she was diagnosed with gallstone pancreatitis and required surgery.

Doctors informed her that her condition was linked to her weight and poor dietary habits.

This health scare motivated Courtney to transform her lifestyle, shifting from takeout meals to home-cooked dishes.

Over two and a half years, she lost 8 stone 4 pounds to achieve a healthy weight of 8 stone 2 pounds and a size four to six.

Courtney, a cleaner from Chatham, Kent, stated: “It’s no wonder I fell ill. I was sedentary for long hours in my van. It all began with chest pains, which felt as if someone were pressing down on my chest.”

“Doctors initially attributed it to anxiety, but my condition worsened.”

“I only knew one person who had gallstones, and that was my grandmother.”

“Experiencing this at 29 years old was unacceptable. The doctor informed me that I was filled with them.”

“My diet was unhealthy, and I was extremely overweight; I recognized the need for significant change.”

Courtney's struggle with weight began after the birth of her first daughter at a young age.

She shared: “I started gaining weight after having a child at 18, and I didn’t have much support from family.”

“I was perpetually tired and wanted to stay home, avoiding going out.”

Fast food was Courtney’s primary indulgence. She would binge on greasy meals and take Rennie's to alleviate her heartburn.

She spent her days in bed and was diagnosed with depression and anxiety by doctors.

In January 2023, Courtney began experiencing frequent vomiting and severe stomach pains that left her bedridden.

She transitioned to healthy home-cooked meals like chicken stir fry and jacket potatoes to lose weight. Now, she follows a bodybuilding regimen, consuming seven meals daily.Credit: SWNS

Initially, doctors dismissed her symptoms as trivial.

She recounted: “It became so severe that I was awake every morning from 3 am to 9 am, being sick and crying from the pain.”

Courtney returned to A&E in August 2023 and was diagnosed with pancreatitis.

Her condition was serious enough to necessitate surgery in March 2024 for gallstone removal and gallbladder extraction.

Due to her illness, Courtney had to leave her job and concentrate on her recovery.

This experience served as a wake-up call, prompting her to focus on her health and shed some “real weight.”

Courtney before her weight loss journey with husband EddieCredit: SWNS

WEIGHT LOSS PLAN

Courtney's husband, Eddie, 35, a former personal trainer, who was also working on losing weight, helped her devise a food and fitness plan each month.

She initially focused on home-cooked meals like chicken stir fry and jacket potatoes to slim down, but now she consumes seven meals daily as part of her bodybuilding journey.

Each meal includes 30 grams of protein, typically from chicken, rice, and sweet potatoes.