At her heaviest Emily Jones weighed more than 21 and a half stone
A body-positive influencer who shared inspiring content online when she weighed 21stone 8lbs has undergone £17,500 of surgery to transform her figure. Emily Jones, 36, said she had been overweight since she was a child.
The London content creator said: “I never let my issues with weight hold me back from anything – but I’d be lying if I said I don’t feel really good at the moment. I don’t think that is related so much to how I look, but more to how I feel.
“My confidence has grown every single time I do the things I tell myself I’m going to do. And every time I choose a more balanced snack, every training session is clocked, I’m keeping the promises I made to myself.”
Emily first went on a diet at just nine years old as she looked different to the other girls in her class. It kicked off a lifelong cycle of gaining and losing weight.
When she was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis in March 2014, her weight became harder to manage due to limited mobility and various medications. Emily was left needing a walking stick in her 20s, just to get around.
And then, in the space of six weeks, both of her parents died. Due to the stress, coupled with the pain and tiredness she was experiencing, Emily relied heavily on fast and convenience foods.
She said: “I was in a really dark place mentally and felt my life was spiralling out of control – along with my weight. I felt that even throughout the worst periods I was still trying to make an effort not to throw caution to the wind and kept trying to take myself to the gym, and eat as well as possible, but it felt like nothing was working.
“I remember having a good talk with myself in the mirror and accepting that my body was the one I was in. These were the cards I was dealt, and I was determined not to let it stop me from living life to the fullest. But I was in so much pain and could barely get around.
“My feet would get so sore and tired. And the world doesn’t always cater for larger people the way it should. Travel was definitely harder in a bigger body, with considerations like seatbelts and seat size being really uncomfortable.”
Emily was often called an ‘elephant’ or ‘whale’ and had pig emojis left under her posts constantly. On a night out, someone referred to her as ‘thunder thighs’.
She tried Weight Watchers, Slimming World, the cabbage soup diet and calorie counting. Emily said: “My weight wouldn’t budge and I felt really defeated by it all. I realised if I wanted to feel better, I would need some outside help.”
In January 2024, she spent £5,000 on gastric bypass surgery in Malta. She used the procedure as a tool to help put her daily habits on the right track rather than a “one and done” solution.
Emily signed up with a personal trainer and now goes to the gym up to three times a week, as well as two Pilates sessions. For breakfast, she has chia seed pudding with berries, along with lots of chicken, fish or steak with vegetables and rice for lunch and dinner.
As a snack, Emily eats honey and fruit. In March 2026, she had lipedema surgery in Madrid, costing another £5,000. While the condition still persists, it’s much easier to manage through swimming, compression and nutrition.
And then, in July 2026, she went o Lithuania to Nordesthetics Clinic to undergo an armpit and breast lift, priced at £7,200. She said: “This has been completely life-changing for me. I had very large arms and heavy breasts before losing weight, so it left me with a lot of loose skin in those areas that became uncomfortable to deal with.
“It feels like a huge weight has been lifted off my chest both physically and mentally.”
Now, even though she’s still working towards toning up the loose skin on her stomach, Emily feels like a ‘brand new woman’. Currently, she weighs 9st 4lbs.
She added: “Weirdly, I feel younger, and like I have a lot more vitality, which has helped me to have a fresh perspective on life after going through such a traumatic personal life experience. The reactions have been mixed; there are definitely some people who would have preferred me to stay bigger.
“But, overall, the reaction – particularly to my plastics journey – has been overwhelmingly positive. I was anxious that people would be judgmental of my decision to lose the loose skin. But I think people can see from the journey I have documented online how important this next step was for me and how incredibly happy the change has made me.
“Of course there will always be naysayers – but I have learned to do what feels best for me and hope the right people will understand my choices. We all have to stay true to ourselves and live for ourselves, and never for other people.
“It’s a shame to admit that, now having experienced life on both sides of the coin, life is often easier in a smaller body. But I really hope to encourage others to understand that change doesn’t always have to be driven purely by self-hate, but it can be the greatest act of self-love and care to make changes to better your health and lifestyle.
“You can love yourself along the way too.”
