Engaged Long Island natives Kenny Turner and Lauren Harvey lost a total of 330 pounds after falling in love in 2018 — and together faced life-threatening concerns about their mental and physical health. “I pretty much avoided all social settings and any event where I would have to be out in public,” Turner, 37, said of his social isolation fueling self-loathing. “Everywhere I went I felt like the biggest person in the room and that everyone was staring at me and judging me.” Turner had reached a whopping 410kg, while Harvey, 35, tipped the scales at 296kg. “I know the weight put a strain on the relationship just because of how uncomfortable I was in general — but I didn’t really understand the extent until later,” Turner, a New York state civil servant, told Media Drum. “I knew she was my soul mate. Lauren found a way to love me at my worst and bring what little joy I had.” “When I realized it was him, I saw this whole life ahead of me with endless possibilities and opportunities that I never thought I would have,” Harvey said of her fiance.mediadrumimages/@sleevedbyfire Turner knew he had to get healthy for himself and for his relationship with Harvey. However, he previously scoffed at the idea of weight loss surgery – until Harvey informed him that she was considering going under the knife herself. The devoted duo of “reverse enablers” decided to undergo vertical gastrectomy (VSG) surgery in the fall of 2019. Turner is now down to 211 pounds, while Harvey is down to 163. Turner weighed 410 pounds before finally dropping to around 211 pounds.mediadrumimages/@shrinking400Harvey tipped the scales at 296 pounds before her VSG and is now down to 163 pounds.mediadrumimages/@sleevedbyfire “The thought of being able to have someone go through that process [with] it reduced a lot of my anxiety, so I finally decided to go ahead with the surgery,” he added. For Harvey, he also felt motivated by Turner to endure the stomach procedure. The operation drastically reduces the size of the stomach by removing 85% of the organ. Therefore, patients can eat much less – especially in the first year after surgery – and lose weight. The couple met in 2018 and are set to tie the knot later this year. mediadrumimages/@sleevedbyfire “Before I met Kenny, losing weight was always about being pretty and thin, and hopefully I’ll get pretty and thin enough to find someone to love me,” she said. “I’m so incredibly lucky that things didn’t turn out that way. When I met my now-fiancé, I was at or near my highest weight,” Harvey said. “It didn’t matter. He loved me anyway. He loved me for me and not because of, or in spite of, my weight. That was a game changer for me,” he continued. Harvey initially wanted to start the procedure for weight loss surgery and encouraged Turner to consider the procedure as well. mediadrumimages/@sleevedbyfire Her diet is now full of protein, as VSG patients are told to keep their first food group. She eats mostly egg whites and low-fat cheese for breakfast, grilled chicken and salad or vegetables for lunch, and a Skinnytaste recipe for dinner. Turner downs a protein shake and banana for breakfast. For lunch and dinner, he eats three to five ounces of lean protein, two ounces of greens, and two ounces of complex carbohydrates. The lovebirds love to hike and take daily walks together. mediadrumimages/@sleevedbyfire He also exercises at least four times a week, doing strength exercises, cardio and muscle training. Harvey’s workouts consist of cardio and strength training, daily walks and weekend hikes. Turner explained how VSG limits your portion sizes and reduces food intake because the stomach is smaller. mediadrumimages/@shrinking400 The civil servant now enjoys fitness and loves watching his body change.mediadrumimages/@shrinking400 “When I was older, I really didn’t know how much I was missing out on,” Turner said. “Now, I feel very present in the moment and more active in everyday tasks.” Harvey said: “Losing weight doesn’t make all your problems go away, but it does give you the ability to face them head on without using your weight as a barrier or an excuse to deal with those problems.”
