WHEN mum-of-four Caroline McCallum lost an amazing 10 stone after a health scare she was left with one mortifying side effect – ‘elephant legs’.
Here project administrator Caroline, 52, who lives in Manchester with husband Charles, 53, tells Fabulous about her inspirational weight loss journey and how she finally found a solution to her ‘saggy skin’.
“Lying in the bath, shame and frustration swept over me. Despite shedding more than half my weight with diet and exercise, I didn’t feel proud or confident – and it was all because of my legs.
Since losing 10st, dropping from a size 24 to a 10, wrinkly, excess skin now hung over my knees and they looked like the legs of an elephant. It didn’t matter how much I or what I ate, nothing helped.
Charles and I met at school, then got married in 1995 when I was a size 16 and weighed 14st.
A combination of being comfortable in my marriage, four , and eating the same portions as my husband and sons saw my weight creep up over the years, not helped by the menopause and my bad habit of snacking on crisps, chocolate and biscuits.
I tried all the diets going, but nothing worked, and by 2024 I’d hit 21st and size 22-24. At 5ft 6in, my was a dangerously 47.5. I remember being on a family holiday in that , and feeling so dizzy and breathless after walking up a hill, I had to sit down.
I felt humiliated, but it would take a more shocking wake-up call to spur me into action.
In November that year, I went to A&E as I had a crushing pain in my chest and was violently sick. When doctors told me I’d had a heart attack, I was horrified.
Thankfully, the surgeon was able to fit two stents to unblock my arteries, but he warned that I needed to lose a serious amount of weight in case I needed major heart surgery in the future. At the size I was, I’d only have a 20% chance of surviving the op.
Facing my own mortality, I was determined to change. Unable to justify the expense of , I began counting, quitting sugary and stodgy snacks, which accounted for around 2,000 calories a day alone, plus cutting down portion sizes and swapping sides like garlic bread for salad.
I started Couch To 5k and, at first, even running for one minute was a huge challenge. But I refused to quit, and within nine weeks, I was running my first 5k, which felt incredible. I started daily HIIT and circuit classes at a local gym, and would walk for miles with our dog Lottie.
Every week the scales went down, which motivated me to carry on. I bought new clothes in ever smaller sizes and sold my old ones on .
In early 2026, I hit 10st, with a healthy of 22.6. My family were so proud, taking me out on the anniversary of my for a lovely breakfast to celebrate the new me.
However, despite being significantly slimmer and healthier, my self-esteem was still low as a result of the saggy skin left behind, particularly on my legs.
I’d wear fitted tops, but cover up my legs – I hated the sight of the crinkly flesh. The only solution was surgery, and as I’d recently been made redundant and received a payout, I had the funds for it.
Charles was worried about me having an op because of my cardiac history, but I reassured him I’d find an excellent surgeon.
In April this year, after a consultation at Pall Mall Medical, a clinic recommended by a friend, and an enough for a general anaesthetic, I went under the knife.
The op cost £8k and included a thigh lift, with incisions from my knees to my groin to slice away the hanging skin. In total, 7lb of flesh was cut away.
Two days later, the dressings were removed and I was delighted – the deep wrinkles and sagging folds were completely gone.
Now, five months on, I’m back running without flaps of skin bouncing around.
I recently went on holiday to and wore shorts every day, something I wouldn’t have dreamed of a year ago.
Best of all, cardiac tests show my heart has recovered so well that doctors say it’s as if I never had a .
I’ve never felt healthier or more comfortable in my own skin. I’m so glad I took that final step towards feeling my very best.”
