Just 18 months ago, tipping the scales at 123 kilograms, Crystal McNaughton was on the cusp of being classified as super morbidly obese with a Body Mass Index of 47.
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She has lost 51 kilograms after bariatric surgery to reduce her stomach to a quarter of its original size.
The last time she weighed 72 kilograms she was in year 10 but the 31-year-old still has four kilograms to lose to fall within the health weight range.
Seeing a photograph of herself on holiday in Hawaii in 2012 led her to consider surgery.
''I was just devastated, I had tried many times to do something about my weight with very little success,'' Ms McNaughton said.
''Over a period of 10-15 years I tried Light n' Easy, SureSlim, I had done gym programs with low-calorie diets, I tried Atkins, I tried the CSIRO diet, I tried everything.''
Her biggest weight loss was 17 kilograms but the weight always returned.
''And then add some.''
It's a common problem with only 10 per cent of Weight Watchers' clients attaining the ''gold standard'' getting to their goal weight and keeping it off. And while the corporate giant will not provide data on how many repeat its programs, it says one clinical trial showed that five years after completing the program the majority had kept off more than 50 per cent of the weight they lost.
Looking back at photographs from her heaviest period Ms McNaughton becomes visibly upset.
The surgery was performed in Canberra by Charlie Mosse at a private hospital, but Ms McNaughton said she was about $7200 out of pocket for the procedure.
''When I left the initial consultation I cried because I was so glad there was something out there that could be done and he was able to help me but I wouldn't have been able to afford it if I didn't have top health insurance.''
She gets emotional when talking about the impact weight loss had on her life, family and friends. ''I know three people who have had the surgery because of me and they have dipped into their super to do it. When I had lost 15 kilograms, walking up stairs was easier, tying my shoelaces was easier, I had severe sleep apnoea, my sleep study showed me waking 117 times - I was tired all the time.''
The former public servant describes it as a decision that led to a complete transformation for the better. ''I became really complacent with life, depressed and that's when I gained the most weight. I was a size 22. I know a lot of people who are a size 24-26 who don't have the finances for this operation and started work at a time when superannuation wasn't compulsory … having the surgery subsidised would make a big difference for people who have tried and failed and can't do it by themselves.
''Now I have a customer-facing job and it requires me to use my technical expertise and communication experience. I just love myself more so I'm more capable and competent - I want to do more with life.''
''Losing the weight was only part of the transformation - the psychological effect has been bigger.''
