Couple Loses Jaw-Dropping 400 Pounds Together after Doctor Advised to Start Planning Funeral

A couple forged a blissful connection upon realizing they had much in common, including their love for food. They enjoyed munching on chocolates and downing energy drinks in excess daily, unaware that their shared joy could become their impending doom.

Chantelle Fleming always identified herself as overweight. Even as a kid, she was chubby and only increased in size when she entered her teens. Her massive stature attracted undue attention and criticism from those around her, and others constantly mocked and laughed at her.

As a young girl, she avoided other children and hated taking the school bus, fearing glares and snickers. These feelings intensified when she became an adult, and handling criticism became even more cumbersome.

Struggling with Health Issues

Adulthood brought numerous challenges for Chantelle—she found herself in the abyss of darkness and despair and was physically and emotionally in bad shape. She developed health issues ranging from PCOS to thyroid problems, insulin resistance, and severe depression.

Moreover, Chantelle had to work on body acceptance because she had always struggled with a positive self-image.

Meeting Her Future Partner

It was the beginning of the end for the Aussie woman, whose biggest problem was overconsumption of food. Whenever she felt lost and wanted to disconnect from everything, she sought comfort and solace in food.

Due to stress eating, Chantelle's weight increased out of proportion. Although she admitted to trying different diets, she always returned to the same vicious cycle.

Things spiraled out of control when Chantelle met her future husband, Grant Fleming, who also had eating problems. In addition to a loving partner, she saw him as someone who understood and shared her love for food.

The Alarming Signs

And so, the duo connected over their affinity for everything delicious, from enormous chocolate bars to energy drinks and boxes of fast food. To satiate their ever-growing hunger and cravings, they purchased a huge fridge.

Eventually, they tied the knot, at which point, Chantelle's weight was a whopping 396 pounds. She didn't receive the wake-up call until much later when she began noticing alarming signs, such as dozing off while driving, running out of breath, terrible pain in her back and legs, and difficulty walking.

The Much-Needed Wake-Up Call

When things worsened, Chantelle sought help and hoped that a few medications would solve the problem. However, she wasn't prepared to hear the harsh, grim truth until she had no choice. Her doctor told her she could either shed some pounds or wave her life goodbye.

Per Chantelle, her doctor asked her to make funeral arrangements instead of planning a grand 30th birthday party three years down the road. Although it sounded unpleasant and dreadful, she and Grant were prepared to turn things around.

Shedding the Extra Pounds

Together, the Flemings vowed to regain control of their life and embarked on a weight loss journey. Desperate times called for desperate measures; they underwent surgery first and then resorted to an eight-week-long diet, losing a combined 400 pounds.

Resultantly, Chantelle lost 223 pounds, and Grant was able to shed 176 pounds, weighing 172 pounds and 220 pounds, respectively. But that wasn't all. Chantelle's size reduced from 28/30 to 10/12—which had once seemed like a far-fetched scenario. However, it wasn't an easy feat.

Making Drastic Changes to Their Lifestyle

The couple faced major complications following the weight loss surgery but pulled through, thanks to their unswerving determination. Adopting a healthy lifestyle came with some hard choices: the couple had to stop binge eating, consume nutritious food at all times, and stay active.

Shedding the extra pounds took a toll on Chantelle, and there were instances when she struggled to move forward. Because it wasn't something that happened overnight, she had to push beyond her limits and stay focused on becoming healthier.

Building a Good Self-Image

Moreover, Chantelle had to work on body acceptance because she had always struggled with a positive self-image. Despite exercising six days a week and eating healthy, she felt discouraged when she didn't see any groundbreaking results, and her sagging skin was a constant reminder of her old life.

Finally, in February 2018, after a winding journey of almost three years, Chantelle hit her goal and ended up extending her life instead of bidding it farewell. Although she had spent 17 years battling anxiety, obesity, and wallowing in misery because of her unhealthy choices, she could look toward a brighter future.

Inspiring Others & Sharing Their Secrets

With her husband, Chantelle hopes to lead a fulfilling and active life, growing old but staying on her feet even in her 60s. Chantelle and Grant not only claimed back their lives but also became advocates for many others out there, wondering where to start.

Chantelle also documented her incredible journey on Instagram, sharing raw accounts of her progress and struggle without sugar-coating anything. In an Instagram post from February 2020, she acknowledged her eating disorder, followed by two secrets of lasting change. She said:

"Patience & dedication is needed everyday for you to succeed. Remind yourself that it didn’t take you 2 mins to put the weight on, it won’t take that to come off."

Thanking Her Husband

In other Instagram posts, Chantelle expressed gratitude for having a supportive husband. In a post from July 2019, she penned, "Still shake my head in disbelief that we are doing fitness activities in our free time, that we continuously push each other, but our love grows and grows and grows every single day (sic)."

Chantelle expressed her love for Grant in another heartwarming post. She wrote, "I loved you then, I love you now, and I'll love you always. I really appreciate you and all you've done for me, supporting me, nurturing me, helping me see the better side of things, pushing me to do things I didn't think were possible (sic)."

Celebrating a Milestone

In another profound post from September 2019, Chantelle patted herself on the back for never giving up and proving her critics wrong. "We have struggled, fallen, and always gotten back up. We continue to cry tears no one else understands. But we are stronger than ever before. We have this passion we turned into a purpose," she wrote.

Chantelle shared her and Grant's phenomenal story on Love What Matters in February 2023 and concluded it beautifully, writing, "Next month, I turn 30. Rather than it be a milestone of a sentimental birthday… it will be a milestone of saving my life before it was taken away."

As of 2023, the Flemings are healthier, happier, and parents to baby Cambria. We wish them all the love and joy their hearts can take! If this story inspired you, please take a moment to share your thoughts in the comments section on Facebook.

Meanwhile, check out another story about a woman who looked unrecognizable after shedding 154 pounds and shared how she did it.