After years of yo-yo dieting, Emma Jones, 35, knew she had to take action for her son and herself…
Standing by the side of the swimming pool, I watched my eight-year-old son, Alfie, splashing around, but instead of jumping in with him, I sat on the side covered by a towel. It was July 2022 and we were enjoying a break at Ribby Hall adventure park near Blackpool. At size 22 and over 17 stone, I felt too mortified to show my body in a swimming costume.
I’d battled with my weight since childhood. My mum cooked healthy, hearty dinners like roast chicken and curries and we’d have a Chinese take away every Saturday. But the trouble was, I never knew when to stop and would often go back for seconds. ‘You can’t have pudding until you’ve eaten all your dinner,’ Mum would say. So I ate up every last bit and then we’d have apple pie and custard. By the age of 13 I was a size 16, far bigger than my school friends. My self-esteem plummeted and the worse I felt about myself the more I ate. In the school canteen, every break time I’d eat cheese on toast or sausage sandwiches.
After I left school, I joined the civil service and decided I needed to lose weight. I weighed 13 stone, far too large for my 5ft 4in frame. So I cut down on carbs and sugary desserts and managed to lose three stone. I was delighted and felt sure I could keep the weight off, but slowly my old habits returned, and the pounds crept back on. In 2015, I fell pregnant and my diet went from bad to worse. Some people ate for two, I ate for four! I’d think nothing of polishing off a family-sized bar of Cadbury’s Dairy Milk for breakfast, then for dinner I’d have a large McDonald’s Big Mac meal with a portion of nuggets on the side. My weight rocketed, and I shot from a size 14 to a size 22.
After having Alfie, I found juggling looking after him and working tough. When Alfie was 10 months olds, I noticed he wasn’t meeting his milestones and a series of hospital appointments followed. The added stress that my baby might have additional needs meant I ate even more. I found comfort in sweet foods. I’d have toast with Nutella and banana for breakfast, followed by McVitie’s caramel biscuits. Then I’d have a cheese and ham sandwich for lunch with crisps and more chocolate. For dinner I’d grab a McDonald’s, a pizza or make pasta with lots of cheese. Then there’d be more sweet things like cookie dough before bedtime. The cycle continued and got worse when my relationship with Alfie’s dad broke down.
Alfie was diagnosed with autism, selective mutism and hypermobility at the age of five. I was so focused on helping my little boy and my job that my diet and health continued to suffer. I stopped going out with friends and lived in baggy clothes in front of the TV. The few times I went out, I’d hide behind other people if someone took a photo. I knew I had to get a grip and lose weight but didn’t have the energy to do it properly. Instead, I’d starve myself one week, then put on even more weight the following week.
In January 2023, I had a lightbulb moment. I looked at myself in the mirror in my huge size 22 black smock dress and thought, I’m too young for this. Stepping on the scales, the needle hit 16st 8lb and I decided enough was enough. Alfie needed me and if I couldn’t even go swimming or run around with him, what kind of a mum was I? I’d seen LighterLife products in the shops and had considered buying them in the past but I knew if there was any chance of losing the weight for good, I’d need to subscribe properly. I chose the Total Plan which included four daily food packs, plus a LighterLife snack. My self-esteem was so low, I felt it was the right choice as the package came with a mentor. I spoke to the wonderful Georgina every week and she did a great job of keeping me motivated. Within a month I’d lost a stone and after three months, three stone. My goal was to lose five stone, and I knew I needed to keep going, but it was getting harder. ‘If you have a bad day, you need to sit with your feelings and think about them because food will not solve anything,’ Georgina advised me.
So if I was stressed, I’d focus on what had gone wrong and how I could fix it, rather than reach for a bar of chocolate. Six months after starting LighterLife, I’d lost 5st 2lb and was down to 11st 8lb. Now I cook low-fat spaghetti Bolognese or have a salads for dinner and I snack on LighterLife bars or have a shake if I’m hungry. I have more energy and confidence and love going out with my friends again. I’ve treated myself to new party dresses in a size 12, jeans and crop tops, but also a new swimming costume because, most importantly of all, I love splashing around with Alfie in the pool and that makes him so happy. Seeing his happiness makes me determined never to go back to the old me.
BEFORE 16st 8lb Size 22
AFTER 11st 10lb Size 12
DIET BEFORE
BREAKFAST: Two pieces toast with Nutella and banana
LUNCH: Cheese and ham sandwich, crisps, chocolate bar
DINNER: McDonald’s Big Mac meal and chicken nuggets
SNACKS: McVitie’s caramel digestives, cookie dough, chocolate
DIET AFTER
BREAKFAST: LighterLife porridge
LUNCH: LighterLife bar or soup
DINNER: Chicken Caesar salad or spaghetti Bolognese, diet coke
SNACKS: LighterLife bar or shake