A night out had left me feeling self-conscious but I was determined to find my groove. By Jo Hurley, 50
Walking into the large hotel dining room, I glanced around nervously.
I was attending a smart
do with my partner Alan
and I was trying to feel confident in my size 28 black top and trousers.
I was in my 40s, and all around me were women 30 years older and half my size, boogying away in tiny, sparkly dresses.
‘They look so much nicer than me,’ I said to Alan.
I felt so deflated, I sat back down again not daring to dance.
I’d always been bigger. Even as a child I’d been curvy and loved eating crisps and snacks despite my mum Joy cooking proper meals.
As I grew older, my size fluctuated between a 14 and 18. I’d try to eat healthily and then I’d eat a huge portion of spaghetti Bolognese, followed by crisps and chocolate, so it was no wonder my weight went up and down.
A few months after that night out, I had a procedure to investigate my heavy periods. But back home the next day in Harlow, Essex, I knew something was wrong.
‘I’m in agony,’ I told Alan. ‘I need to go back to hospital.’
Turned out that, during the operation, unknown to me, the camera had accidentally perforated my womb.
I’d contracted sepsis and ended up in hospital for almost a year as doctors fought to clear the infection.
Eventually, I needed a hysterectomy which plunged me into early menopause, affecting my moods.
When I finally went home, I reached for the wine most evenings.
Alongside the drink, I would eat crisps, peanuts and chocolates.
Things came to a head when I was told I needed a hernia operation caused by the hysterectomy.
By now, I weighed 21st 6lb and wore a dress size 28.
‘We can offer you weight-loss surgery,’ my surgeon suggested.
‘I really don’t want another operation,’ I replied.
Instead of surgery, I had a plan of my own.
I’d heard about LighterLife, and decided it was a diet that I could stick to.
I signed up and was allowed four meal replacements a day totalling 600 calories.
And I swapped the wine for up to three litres of water each day.
I couldn’t believe my eyes when I lost 10 pounds in
that first week.
Ten months later, I stepped on the scales and was over the moon when I saw I weighed 11st 5lb. I’d lost just over 10 stone.
My hernia operation took nine hours, but it was a success.
‘There’s one thing I really want to do now,’ I told Alan.
The following year, we went back to the same hotel in Norfolk where I’d felt too self-conscious to dance but this time I wore a new size 14 sparkly gold dress
As I hit the dance floor, a woman come up to me.
‘You look so lovely,’ she said. ‘No wonder you’re dancing!’
I couldn’t stop grinning, it was so good to hear.
Now I’m a LighterLife counsellor myself.
My medical scare was frightening, but it inspired a brand-new me.
Height 5ft 2in
Before 21st 6lb
After 11st 5lb
Total loss 10st 1lb
Diet before
Breakfast: four pieces of toast and strawberry jam
Lunch: sandwich, crisps, chocolate, latte
Dinner: spaghetti Bolognese, wine
Snacks: crisps, chocolate, cake
Diet now
Breakfast: poached egg and avocado on sourdough toast
Lunch: tomato Cup-a-Soup, crackers, cheese
Dinner: salmon, boiled potatoes, veg
Snacks: Popchips