"For the first time in years, I’m genuinely happy and feel like myself again. "
Start weight: 18st 2lb | Weight loss: 7st 9lb
Current weight: 10st 7lb
Height: 5' 5" | Age: 32
Studio: The Priory Centre, Burton on Trent
Pretending to be comfortable
I was a size 12 during my teens, but started to pile on the pounds in my 20s. As my dress size went up, my self-esteem went down, not that I let anyone know. To the outside world I was the large, jolly girl who was comfortable in her own skin. But in reality I was miserable and self-conscious. I overcompensated, cracking jokes about my size in the hope that other people wouldn’t get there first.
My lightbulb moment
Last year, a fitness group came into my office to do health checks. Discovering I weighed more than 18st was a shock, but I also found out I had high blood pressure and was advised to see my doctor. I joined WW the following week and gave myself a year to get my life back on track. I knew a lot of hard work lay ahead, but I was also tired of pretending I was happy when I wasn’t. I knew I was at the start of a long-term journey, so I broke it down into smaller goals to make it more manageable and to help me stay on track.
Getting fit
Shifting my relationship with fitness was key. I stepped up my activity to a more intensive level, and discovered the importance of finding a workout that you really enjoy. In my case, it was trampolining! Taking all these steps to lose weight and get healthy has made so much difference to my outlook. For the first time in years, I’m genuinely happy and feel like myself again.