Former World, UK and Masters champion Shaun Murphy has opened up about his decision to have stomach surgery after hitting “rock bottom” with his mental health.
The 40-year-old man underwent a gastric sleeve operation over the summer, a procedure that “consists of removing a large part of the stomach, limiting the ability to consume excessive amounts.”
Murphy told BBC Sport’s Framed podcast that his poor mental state convinced him to have the surgery, which “changed his life”.
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“I wish I had done it 20 years ago, because I feel like it changed my life for the better,” she explained.
“I’ve struggled with my weight my whole life. I was the fat kid in school, I feel like I’ve been dieting since I was 15, probably younger, and I’ve just reached the end of my rope.”
“I had reached the bottom of my mental health, I was on the ground. I was very close to going to the doctor for depression, anxiety, not being able to go out, because they yelled at me in the street.
“On social media, people were sending me horrible messages and comments and direct messages on Instagram and Twitter.
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – MAY 3: Shaun Murphy of England during day 17 of the 2021 Betfred World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theater on May 3, 2021 in Sheffield, England. The Betfred World Snooker Championship is being played in front of spectators like
Image credit: Eurosport
“And in the end I thought, I need to do something about this, this is going to be the end of me, mentally and possibly physically.”
Since his operation three and a half months ago, Murphy has lost four stones.
“Now I can eat whatever I want, but I can literally eat very, very little,” she explained.
“I couldn’t tell you when was the last time I finished a coffee, as I can’t physically drink that much liquid in one sitting; if I sit there with a pint of Guinness, I’ll still be drinking my first pint while everyone else is at their table.” third.
“So I can still do the same things. But if I had eaten the whole packet of cookies first and then been looking for a packet of chips, that’s it.”
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After struggling with his mental health over a long period, Murphy opted for surgery after feeling he had exhausted all other options.
“I lost weight, gained weight pretty steadily for the last 20 years and tried all the diets. I tried to be very cautious and careful about counting calories, I went to several clubs and I had success with those methods.
“I’ve always had trouble keeping the weight off. When you’re on tour, you eat late, you often eat junk, and I haven’t been able to discipline myself.”
“I just ran out of patience. At this year’s World Championships I got to almost 20 stones, so I knew I had to do something about it.”
“There are three or four types [of gastric surgery] – I wanted the most extreme, the one that is irreversible. Because my stomach is now so small, it’s highly unlikely I’ll ever be able to physically consume enough calories at one time to gain the weight back.”
Murphy hopes the decision will not only have a positive impact on his mental and physical well-being, but also his career.
“An added bonus to that [the surgery] it’s that it’s going to have a ripple effect on every aspect of my life, including my career. From the basic point of being able to crouch better on the table, being able to go down to the shot. If you carry any extra weight, that becomes quite difficult.
SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND – MAY 03: England’s Shaun Murphy plays a shot on day seventeen of the Betfred World Snooker Championship at the Crucible Theater on May 3, 2021 in Sheffield, England. (Photo by Zac Goodwin – Pool/Getty Images)
Image credit: Eurosport
“This year’s Crucible was a classic example. It’s actually a pretty funny clip, in my match against Stephen Maguire, and I fouled the ball with my twin. But that was because I couldn’t go over the table .
“If you’re backstage listening to the MC waiting to be introduced and your shirt doesn’t fit, your vest and pants are too tight, it just puts you in the completely wrong mindset.”
“Really, the only goal I still have to reach is to reach the top of the rankings, I have never been able to say that I am number one in the world,” he added.
“I’ve got a pretty clean slate in terms of rankings for the next few seasons and if I can get my act together and start putting some balls in the pockets again, I could start climbing the ladder.”
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