Woman who thought her unhealthy uni lifestyle was to blame for her gaining 4st discovers it was down to cysts on her ovaries – but she has since dropped TEN dress sizes
- Shannon Wedley visited her GP when her periods stopped during first year of uni
- She was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, which causes weight gain
- By the end of university she had put on six stone and was ashamed of her body
- A miscarriage with her fiancé prompted her to change her lifestyle
A woman’s university weight gain turned out to be due to polycystic ovary syndrome which devastatingly caused her a miscarriage.
Shannon Wedley started to watch weight creep on during her first year studying fine art at the University of Gloucestershire, gaining 4st (25kg).
The 22-year-old, of Cheltenham, also lost her period – prompting her to visit the GP who diagnosed her with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS).
The hormonal disorder, which affects one in five women, can cause weight gain. She had put on an extra 2st (13kg) by the time she finished her degree.
A miscarriage with her fiancé, Tom, 22, was the push Miss Wedley needed to lose weight. PCOS and obesity are both thought to raise the risk of a miscarriage.
Miss Wedley has now shed four stone since January, going from 20st 10lbs (131.5kg) to 16st 3lbs (7.4kg) and dropping from a size 26 to a size 16.
Since January, Shannon Wedley, 22, has lost more than four stone, going from 20st 10lbs (131.5kg) to 16st 3lbs (7.4kg) and a size 26 to a size 16
Miss Wedley, a mail-order operator from Cheltenham, started to watch weight creep on during her first year studying fine art at the University of Gloucestershire. Pictured before and after weight loss
Miss Wedley was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, which caused her to put six stone on in her three years at university. She has now lost a lot of weight (see right)
Miss Wedley, a mail-order operator, had always struggled with her weight and felt ‘chunkier’ than her friends, and at first didn’t think much of a few extra pounds.
She said: ‘As most students do, I adopted unhealthy eating habits like having regular takeaways and snacking loads.
‘However, I noticed I was gaining weight far quicker than I should have been. Before I knew it I had gained four stone in one year and watched my periods come to a halt.’
At this point she became worried about her health, and visited her GP who sent her for more tests. This revealed Miss Wedley’s symptoms were caused by PCOS.
Woman with PCOS often have cysts on their fallopian tubes that contain immature eggs.
Miss Wedley had always struggled with her weight and felt ‘chunkier’ than her friends. Pictured before and after weight loss
Miss Wedley said she was ignorant to the effect of her unhealthy habits, and even became depressed and suffered panic attacks. Pictured before and after weight loss
Miss Wedley suffered a miscarriage with her then-boyfriend and now fiancé, Tom, 22 (pictured) a photographer, who she met while they both studied at the same university. Pictured before and after weight loss
The hormonal imbalance of PCOS interferes with periods and the growth and release of eggs from the ovaries, affecting the ability to conceive.
There are many complications of PCOS, including obesity, type 2 diabetes, which put the person at greater risk of sleep apnoea, heart disease, womb cancer, depression and anxiety, and infertility.
Although there is no known cure for PCOS, Miss Wedley was advised to shed some of the weight she had gained to help her condition.
She said: ‘It was like a catch-22 as weight loss will help PCOS, but weight gain is also a symptom itself.
‘I stayed ignorant of what I needed to do and become depressed – even suffering panic attacks. By the end of uni three years later I had gained six stone.’
A miscarriage with Tom was the push Miss Wedley needed to lose weight as she realised her fertility was affected by PCOS
Miss Wedley was so embarrassed about her weight she refused to apply for jobs. She is pictured before and after losing weight
Miss Wedley made it her new years’ resolution on January 1st 2019 to change her life and begin the keto diet. She is pictured before and after losing four stone
DIET BEFORE AND AFTER
Before: Excessive takeaways, snacking ‘on pretty much anything’, including in the middle of the night.
Now: Under 20 grams of carbs a day. Typical day is bacon and scrambled eggs or omelette for breakfast, chicken salad with cucumber and tomatoes for lunch, and salmon with broccoli and cheese for dinner. Snacks are dark chocolate or no added sugar jelly pot.
Miss Wedley was so embarrassed about her weight she refused to apply for jobs which required tight-fitting uniforms and frequently cancelled plans with friends out of shame of being seen.
She suffered a miscarriage with her then-boyfriend and now fiancé, Tom, a photographer, who she met while they both studied at the same university.
With lifestyle changes or medication, most women with PCOS are able to get pregnant.
After the tragic miscarriage, Miss Wedley was worried about her fertility and went to see a gynaecologist who warned her about her lifestyle habits.
Miss Wedley said: ‘They told me if I lost weight my periods should return and I could conceive later in life.
Miss Wedley started the keto diet in January which is low-carb and high-fat diet
Miss Wedley lost weight because PCOS can cause infertility, type 2 diabetes and many other complications such as heart disease. Pictured, one of her meals
Miss Wedley, pictured before and after her weight loss, plans to lose 8st altogether by Christmas
RISK FACTORS FOR POLYCYSTIC OVARIAN SYNDROME
Polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS) affects between eight and 12 percent of American women.
The condition is marked by chronic ovarian cysts, which are fluid-filled sacs that can form if a follicle fails to deposit an egg.
While any woman can get ovarian cysts, those with PCOS also have elevated levels of the male hormone, androgen.
Scientists do not know what causes this endocrine abnormality, but it often coincides with obesity and insulin resistance.
Yet, like many aspects of PCOS, obesity contribute to the development of PCOS, or the relationship may go in the opposite direction, such that PCOS causes weight gain.
‘Hearing this made me realise I had to be more proactive.’
Miss Wedley made it her new years’ resolution on January 1st 2019 to change her life and begin the keto diet. The low carbohydrate, high-fat diet is similar to Aktins.
The now graduate made a weight loss Instagram account for extra inspiration and healthy meal ideas, where she still shares her own body-transformation journey.
Miss Wedley shed weight thanks to her new diet and HIT exercise sessions as the gym two to three times a week.
She said: ‘My confidence has improved so much, even the smaller things like picking an outfit every day are better.
‘It’s also so much easier to do day-to-day activities like walking up the stairs to my flat, which I would have struggled with before.
‘In terms of my PCOS – my periods have returned and my PCOS-related acne has cleared up.
‘I’m nearly at my goal of losing 100lbs by Christmas. I’ll also be getting married to Tom in August 2020 – picturing myself in my wedding dress will always motivate me to get to my goal.’
Follow Miss Wedley’s journey on Instagram.
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