I was hiding my problems behind a pair of stretchy trousers and something had to give. By Kelly Young, 40
Picking up the pastel pink maternity trousers from the rail, I pulled at the waist and admired the stretch.
Perfect, I thought, adding them to my basket.
But I wasn’t pregnant. I was in denial.
I’d taken to buying clothes from the maternity section so I could kid myself I was a size 14.
In reality, I was 15 stone and a size 18.
I didn’t have to look far for a reason why.
That evening, as usual, I succumbed to the munchies and before I knew it, I had scoffed a pack of shortbread and then started on the chocolate chip cookies.
My sweet craving was followed by a desire for something salty and I said to my hubby Jason, ‘Pass me those peanuts, please.’
However, as I looked down at my tummy that night before bed, I barely recognised myself.
‘I think I need to lose some weight,’ I said.
‘Whatever you think, love,’ Jason replied, being as supportive as ever.
So I went on a diet.
First, I tried weight-loss shakes, then I did calorie counting and I joined a slimming group.
It worked, at first.
I would lose a stone to begin with but I always ended up putting it back
on – and more.
As the years went by, my sweet cravings were my downfall. Then I fell pregnant.
After our little boy Brody was born, my hectic life as
a new mum meant I lost some weight.
But I was still overweight and, one day, as I chased after Brody in the garden I realised I couldn’t keep up.
It was then, I realised I needed to make a bigger change.
So, at 12 stone, I joined a Slimming World group near my home in Southampton.
‘You can do this,’ Jason
told me.
And he wasn’t the only one showing me support – the whole group was lovely and
I started looking forward to going.
I was encouraged to write down what I ate and drank every day.
Seeing how many treats I was having made it easier to stop. And the weight dropped off.
I found my own tips and tricks, too.
Getting ready to take Brody out, I packed my own snack bag that I could dip into during the day. That way, I knew I had a little treat on hand
that wouldn’t ruin my longer term goals.
In time, I reached my goal weight of 10st 7lb, and I took up swimming, losing another stone in the process.
Now I weigh 9st 7lb and I’m so happy.
I love shopping for clothes and there isn’t one item of maternity wear in my wardrobe!
Most importantly I can finally keep up with Brody.
I’ve even become a Slimming World consultant myself and all my members walk around with their little snack bags.
I love helping people to reach their goals, just like
I reached mine.
If, like many of us, you find your good intentions coming undone when you go out to eat, try this: decide in advance what you will order and stick to it. When we affirm, intend and embody how we’re going to eat at the start of the day, it helps us to make the right choices.
BEFORE
12 stone,
size 14
AFTER
9st 7lb,
size
10-12
DIET BEFORE
Breakfast: toast with butter
Lunch: chicken and bacon sandwich, NikNak crisps, regular Coke
Dinner: spag Bol from a jar
Snacks: chocolate, shortbread, cookies, peanuts
DIET AFTER
Breakfast: natural yogurt with fruit, overnight oats
Lunch: scrambled eggs, spinach and cheese on protein bread
Dinner: homemade spag Bol, stir-fry
Snacks: Hi-fi bars, fruit