I was so fat my 3 kids would check I was still breathing in the night – they were terrified I’d die in my sleep
A MUM has described how she was so overweight that her children would check on her in her sleep to check she hadn’t died.
Charlene Warren, 37, ballooned to 26st 5lbs and felt “horrific” after scoffing eight bags of crisps and six cakes bars a day rather than sticking to regular meals.
But it wasn’t until her daughter, 13-year-old India’s classmate sent her a letter saying Charlene was “going to die soon” that it really hit home.
She immediately started researching weight loss surgery at home and abroad.
After being placed on a three-year waiting list on the NHS, decided to pay £5,537 for a gastric bypass – which involves shrinking the stomach – in Riga, Latvia, on September 19, 2021.
In the three years since, Charlene has gone from 26st 5lbs to 12st – losing 14st 5lbs – and dropped nine clothing sizes from a 28 to a size 10.
Following the extreme weight loss, Charlene spent £4,600 on a tummy tuck in Istanbul, Turkey, in March 1, 2024, having 9lb of skin removed.
Mum-of-three Charlene, who is currently unemployed, from Bedford, said: “I put on so much weight, my kids would get up in the night to check I was still breathing.
“I thought: ‘Christ, I don’t know what my children would do if anything happened to me.’
“Even the thought of leaving them behind with no photos – because I always shied away from the camera – was heartbreaking.
“That was the tipping point for me – where I thought: ‘Right. I’ve got to go and have surgery done.’
“My life has been totally changed – I’ve gone from the big, bold, bubbly woman in baggy clothes to someone who isn’t afraid to show her body off.”
Charlene’s says she comes from a “large” family who “loved big portions every mealtime” and her weight fluctuated throughout her life.
She would eat adult portions of roast dinners, curries and spaghetti bolognese from the age of seven and when bullies targeted her weight, she’d turn to comfort eating.
Charlene claims people used to “stare” at her due to her weight while she was out shopping or at the pub.
She has even dealt with people taking photos of her by the pool while on holiday in Cyprus with her family.
After having her three children – Brooklyn, 15, India, 13 and Gianni, 11 – Charlene became worried her kids would be too embarrassed to have friends over due to her weight.
She said: “I had children of my own – and it dawned on me that my son wouldn’t invite his friends over.
“He wasn’t actively being bullied, but I was so scared he’d feel like he needed to stand up for me if kids ever did make comments.”
When India was in year four, her classmate passed her a note which said, ‘your mum’s so fat she’s going to die of a heart attack’.
She suffered constant bullying from the age of eight due to Charlene’s weight – and the letter filled her with anxiety.
Every night from then on, India would get up in the middle of the night to check her mum was still breathing.
“My daughter doesn’t really like to talk about it,” Charlene said.
“But it made me feel absolutely horrific.
“I tried confiding in other parents about it – but a lot of them just said ‘well it is a fact – you’re fat.’”
By the evening, Charlene had started looking at gastric bypass surgery in the UK, Turkey and Latvia.
She was told she qualified for the surgery on the NHS, but the waiting list stretched to three years.
She settled on Riga, Latvia and booked her surgery in for September 19, 2021.
“Something came up about weight loss surgery in Riga,” she said.
“I spoke to Tanya, the co-ordinator, and she was absolutely brilliant.
“Within half an hour I rang up and booked.”
Charlene spent £5,537 in total on the trip – £37 for a return flight from London to Riga, and £5,500 on accommodation and surgery.
My kids aren’t worried anymore – they’re just proud of me
Charlene Warren
Her surgery took place on September 19, 2021, and she was put on a strict diet plan of water, protein shakes and probiotic drinks for the first four weeks.
She said: “I couldn’t eat anything for 48 hours after surgery – only small sips on water and probiotic yoghurt drinks.
“Then it was protein shakes for four weeks afterwards – and after that, mashed up foods like scrambled eggs.”
Within the first year on her strict diet, Charlene lost 70 per cent of her body weight – but finds she still struggles with her cravings.
“They take away your stomach, not your brain,” she said.
“I can eat a bit more now – but I still find myself piling my plate high at the carvery.
“I’m just not able to eat it and sometimes it’ll make me feel sick.
“I still enjoy my crisps and cake bars – I’m down to just one a day.”
Charlene's diet before and after
Charlene’s diet before –
No meals
Eight bags of crisps a day
Six cake bars
Charlene’s diet during gastric bypass recovery –
One small plate of scrambled egg per day
50ml of protein shake
Small sips of water and probiotic yoghurt
Charlene’s diet now –
Breakfast: Scrambled egg, a slice of salmon and a slice of brown toast
Lunch: A plain jacket potato with butter
Dinner: A small portion of what the kids are eating – usually curries, fish with new potatoes, and roasts
After the weight loss, she paid an additional £4,600 for a tummy tuck procedure in Istanbul, Turkey, on March 1, 2024.
Charlene said her life has been transformed by the gastric bypass and she feels a lot more confident now she’s able to show her body off.
She said: “Before, my wardrobe was just black, baggy jumpers.
“But now my children don’t allow me to wear black anymore.
“I want to show it all off – dresses are my favourite.
“I know people warn about overseas surgeries but both of my surgery experiences, and the aftercare, have been amazing.
“I go to the gym every day – for around two hours. So not only have I lost the weight, but I’ve managed to build muscle, as well.
“My kids aren’t worried anymore – they’re just proud of me.”
