A woman who had four miscarriages linked to her excess weight spent £11,500 on weight loss surgery so she could have a family. Danielle Clements was desperate to become a mum, but her weight – sitting at 22st 8lbs at her heaviest – and unhealthy diet of takeaways, chocolate and crisps stood in her way.
The now 35-year-old, who says people called her Fatso, tried Slimming World and Weight Watchers – and had some luck at first, but the pounds soon returned. Worried she and her husband Adam, now 37, would never have a baby, Danielle decided to take drastic action.
The Swindon woman paid £11,500 for gastric bypass surgery and is now sharing her story to help others. “I knew I had to do it – I had no other options left,” said the support worker. “Some people think surgery is the ‘easy way out’ but I can’t tell you how much I tried to lose weight before I went down this route.
“Every time I gained the weight back, I felt awful and it fuelled my unhealthy diet. Adam and I would both snack all the time and had takeaways for dinner regularly. I hid my body in leggings and oversized tops, and would even cover up on holiday in hot weather. I was absolutely devastated each time I got pregnant and then found out I had miscarried.
“It left me feeling helpless. I yearned for a baby and decided that I would do whatever it took – no matter the cost or how other people felt.”
Just seven months after the operation, Danielle fell pregnant. The soon-to-be mum was over the moon. She said: “After a few weeks of recovery, I felt incredible. To keep the weight off, I started adding more protein and greens into my diet and before I knew it, I was the lightest I had ever been. I knew I couldn’t go back to my old ways. Just seven months later, I noticed my body feeling differently and took a test.
“I was in tears when I saw the pregnancy strip turn positive. I was happy but also in disbelief. I couldn’t believe it but because of my previous miscarriages, I wanted to wait until the seven-week scan before getting excited.”
Everything went smoothly and on January 9, 2022, Danielle welcomed her baby boy, Leo. The following year, in September 2023, she had a second child – another boy, named Oliver.
Danielle said: “I wasn’t expecting to get pregnant so quickly again. I took a pregnancy test just before my first son’s birthday and it was positive. It felt amazing.”
At her lowest, Danielle weighed 10st 5lbs and was a dress size 14. In 2025, she weighs 13st and is content with her shape. She has a balanced diet, which includes the occasional treat.
Danielle said: “After years of yearning for a family, I am finally the happy mum I always wanted to be. I still go out for dinner on special occasions and I eat takeaway food – but it’s not like it was.I’m more conscious of what I’m eating. I never thought this could be my reality but surgery and weight loss has given me my dream life.
“It’s the best thing I’ve ever done and it’s saved me – both physically and mentally. Until I lost weight, I didn’t realise how much effort everything was. My advice to anyone trying to shift the pounds is to just do it. It is hard and there’s a lot of time and determination involved, but once you change your mindset, you can change your life.”