When my relationship hit the rocks, I was down. But then I found another love. By Annalise Schillemore, 31
I heard the front door close, then I burst into tears.
Mark and I had been together for a couple of years, and we had a gorgeous six-month-old daughter, Ada.
But the relationship was on the rocks and, after another row, he’d stormed out.
That night, after getting Ada to bed, I consoled myself by ordering a takeaway.
When the doorbell rang, my mouth started watering.
Taking the bulging bag from the delivery man, I spread out the food cartons on the table.
Then I got stuck into a steaming chow mein, spring rolls and crispy seaweed.
Soon, I’d eaten so much, my tummy felt like a football. I was so full that minutes later, I couldn’t help throwing up.
Why do you keep doing this to yourself? I thought sadly.
As a kid I’d been big. But after leaving home, I’d cut back on snacks and hit the gym.
By the time I’d met Mark, I felt good at 14 stone, a size 14.
But as our relationship began to sour, I turned back to food for comfort, gorging on takeaways, crisps and chocolate.
My weight had been creeping up and up, and now I’d hit 26 stone, a size 26.
Although we struggled on after this latest blow-up, when Ada was 18 months old, Mark and I finally split.
Then one day, a month after we broke up, I stood in front of the mirror at home in Portsmouth, Hampshire, and lifted up my top.
I’d been in denial about my weight, but now the blinkers were well and truly off.
And what I saw made me gasp.
My belly was so huge it hung over my leggings.
I didn’t even recognise myself.
I knew then I needed a fresh start — for me and for Ada.
So, I put on some leggings and a knee-length baggy T-shirt, and hit the gym.
Grabbing the lightest hand weights, I shot into an empty exercise room so no one could see me.
But just a few weeks into my new regime, I had a stroke of luck.
A Facebook message popped up from my old mate Shaun.
We’d lost touch, but as we caught up, I told him how desperate I was to lose weight.
He loved going to the gym, and wrote: Don’t worry, I’ll help you!
So, he sent me some food plans. It was like having my own coach.
Sticking to Shaun’s suggestions, I had oats mixed with water for breakfast with a few strawberries.
Lunch was a strawberry protein shake and a banana, then for dinner, I rustled up chicken and veg.
I put my goal into my phone, so it would ping up every day.
I want to be able to buy something from River Island, I wrote.
That first week I lost 8lb, and by the end of the month I’d lost 1st 2lb.
Shaun wrote up a weightlifting programme for me, and I gradually started doing squats, leg extensions and chest presses four days a week.
I’d get frustrated when my weight loss stalled. But Shaun was there to reassure me.
‘Remember you’re building muscle,’ he explained. ‘That weighs more than fat.’
Six months in, I nipped into River Island and tried on a size-18 black leather jacket. But it was so big, I had to get the size 16.
I couldn’t believe it!
Now, a year after beginning my diet, I’m 18st 3lb and a size 16 — meaning I’ve lost a whopping 7st 11lb.
After I went to a confidence-building workshop in London, I was selected to enter Ms Curvaceous UK, and
I can’t wait to take part.
I can’t thank Shaun enough for all his help. I’ve gone from miserable couch potato to one happy gym bunny.
● Mark’s name has been changed.
Diet before
Breakfast: none
Lunch: crisps, chocolate
Dinner: takeaway chow mein, spring roll and seaweed
Snacks: crisps, chocolate
Diet now
Breakfast: oats mixed with water and strawberries
Lunch: strawberry protein shake and a banana
Dinner: chicken and veg
Snacks: boiled egg
Height 5ft 11in
Before 26 stone Size 26
After 18st 3lb Size 16
Total loss 7st 11lb