A 27-stone woman who was left feeling "unloveable" after a break-up lost half her body weight - then found a new love.

Sally Martin from Thanet put on weight as she grew up thanks to secret snack binges of chocolate and sweets.

The 34-year-old was wearing a ladies' size 10 aged just 11 and got to 16 stone by the age of 18.

But Sally was left with shattered confidence after the end of a relationship and feared she would never find love again - after being told "nobody will love you like this".

At 27 stone, and wearing a size 36, Sally decided she needed to change her life for the sake of her health and happiness.

She got a gastric bypass in February 2020 and by the end of 2021 she was 10 stone down.

But Sally was determined not to plateau and joined Slimming World – and has now slimmed down to 14 stone - losing more than 13st in total - and now wears a size 14 with ease.

Now just 7lbs off her goal weight of 13st 7lbs, Sally feels like a new woman – and has found new love with supportive partner, Dan Matharu, 43, a sign painter.

Sally, a cake maker, said: "I used food as a comfort - it was the only thing that would make me happy when I was knackered from work and looking after my kids.

"But when I couldn't get into a size 36 - the largest size I could buy in regular shops - I realised something needed to be done.

"After my relationship ended I never thought anyone could love me again - I hated looking in the mirror.

"But throughout lockdown, everyone was sat at home complaining they were gaining weight - and I was losing it.

"Looking back, I can't believe I let myself get that big, but I'm so proud of how far I've come now.

"I lost weight but gained freedom, confidence and happiness - and my new partner, Dan, is my biggest supporter."

As a child Sally remembers shopping for a school disco dress in the adult women's section - it was the first time she felt self-conscious.

She said: "Even then it didn't affect my confidence too much, because I had good friends and my then-boyfriend never commented on my weight."

But she used food and drink as comfort to deal with her mental health struggles as she grew up.

She said: "I didn't have a lot of money, so I would snack on cheap pizzas and curries, own-brand biscuits and drank two litres of supermarket-brand coke each day.

"It got to the point I couldn't run around and play with my son, and I would feel dizzy after climbing up the stairs.

"I was once told 'nobody will love you like this' - and that sticks with you."

After becoming single, she realised she could not find clothes that fit sold in regular shops and went to her doctor.

A gastric bypass in February 2020 saw her drop seven stone by the end of the year - thanks to her eating smaller portions and daily walks.

Sally said: "We re-decorated the house and I realised I could go up and down ladders - which I was too big to do before."

As she continued to lose weight she got support from Dan as well as her sons, aged 11 and nine.

She is now saving up and fundraising to afford excess skin removal surgery.

She is still working hard to hit her "dream" of a healthy weight of 13st 7lbs.

Sally said: "I have such a better life now.

"When I was big I was worried my kids would get bullied at school because of my size.

"I've pretty much lost half my body weight - it's crazy to think I was basically piggybacking a whole other person around.

"I'm proud of how far I've come in every aspect.”