‘I spent years hiding body – but now could cry about how good I look in bikini’

2022-07-17

Feeling good in a bikini may be a worry many women feel this summer.

With the barrage of teeny influencers and models flashing their preened to ‘perfection’ bodies, it can make anyone feel insecure about their own looks.

And for Lauren Linford, 30, insecurity about embracing her curves came from her weight and the affect her IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome) had on her stomach.

READ MORE:Bikini body builder shows how much her figure has transformed since having a baby

Tired of feeling bloated, the makeup artist from Hertfordshire decided to jet off to Turkey and get a gastric sleeve – well, not before she enjoyed one last 'fat b**ch' dinner.

Now four months down the line and four stone and seven pounds lighter, Lauren has felt confident enough to strip down to a bikini once again after years of covering up.

In an exclusive interview with Daily Star, the dark haired beauty has revealed how she wanted to ‘cry’ on her recent holiday to Ibiza because of how good she felt in the swimwear.

Size 18 Lauren shared: “I was very insecure about my weight. Not only that, I suffered with such bad IBS my stomach was constantly bloated from anything I ate, so I always looked like I was pregnant!

“I have had a few comments from friends and family asking why my belly would look so bloated all the time.

“My family got worried about me at one point as the bloating was getting worse and didn’t look right.

“It got to a point where any time I got dressed to go anywhere I wanted to cry because everything I would try on just showed my bloat and I also just didn’t feel myself with all the weight I had gained."

The bloating also had a negative impact on Lauren's mental wellbeing.

She added: “I also ended up with severe anxiety and stopped being as sociable because that way I avoided having to face the mental challenge of picking an outfit that I felt comfortable or happy in and avoided people seeing me the size I was and my belly.”

However, now having only 20% of her stomach left after the gastric sleeve surgery, Lauren has been able to gradually lose weight that has helped her bowel condition – and has left her a lot happier.

She said: “Every single swimwear outfit I put on, on my recent holiday in Ibiza, I just wanted to cry with how good I felt!

“I had so much confidence and I felt like I found myself again. It was the most unreal feeling, nothing honestly compares to it.

“The first day I was there I went to a pool party and once I was in my outfit and completely ready I remember looking in the mirror and getting really emotional because I couldn’t believe it was me – I was happy again!"

Lauren was able to fully let her hair down and party without having to fear what she looked like, she has now called the gastric sleeve 'life changing'.

“Losing 4 stone 7lbs has definitely given me the confidence to wear swimwear again!

"Also now my IBS has completely gone since my weight loss surgery. I don't have to deal with my IBS bloat on my belly, which made me feel even more confident.

“Having gastric sleeve surgery has honestly changed my life!", Lauren claimed.

Lauren has built up a community of 5,000 followers, and counting, on Instagram to document her weight loss journey.

“I have had the most incredible support on my gastric sleeve pages! I get 100’s of messages daily on my Instagram page from random people from all around the world, telling me how unreal I look.

“Honestly nothing compares to the feeling it gives me when random people you don’t even know take the time out of their day to compliment me."

You can follow Lauren on Instagram here.

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