I struggled to shift my mum tum until my friend came up with an eye-popping idea. By Jodie Taylor, 33
I’d just plated up a roast chicken dinner, and my three-year-old, Corey, was getting stuck in.
‘Eat up those peas and carrots,’ I said. ‘They’re good for you.’
I wanted him to be healthy. Trouble was, I didn’t practise what I preached.
My own plate was a veg-free zone, piled high with thick slices of chicken smothered in gravy, and roast spuds dripping with butter.
I hated vegetables and fruit and always had.
My attitude was: If it’s green, it’s grim.
It was bad news, because although I was a proud mum to Corey and his four-month-old brother Riley, my growing girth was dragging me down.
At just 4ft 10in, I wore a size 24.
It wasn’t as though I ate lots. I didn’t have breakfast or lunch and went through the day on just a packet of crisps.
But dinner was my downfall. I loved to tuck into a roast, followed by cake and chocolate. And then in bed, I’d sometimes wolf down a couple of jumbo eclairs.
I’d tell my husband Craig that it was a treat for getting through the day.
But one day, I was at the surgery having a health check when the GP’s expression clouded.
‘I see you’re continuing to put on weight, Jodie,’ she said. ‘I can refer you to Slimming World, if that will help.’
I felt my face flush.
‘Erm, yes,’ I said. ‘Thanks.’
And I hurried home feeling mortified.
But I knew she was right.
I told Craig: ‘I’m going to shift this weight for the boys. I want to be healthy to see them grow up.’
Still, the thought of going to a slimming class was daunting, so I asked my mum-in-law Kathy to come along for moral support.
As I walked into my first meeting and stepped on the scales, my knees were practically knocking with dread.
I had no idea how much I weighed, but when the needle came to a halt, I felt horrified.
I was 16st 9lb.
I thought: Something has got to change.
I went home to Melksham, Wiltshire, armed with recipes and a new resolve, and next morning, I started my new lifestyle.
I wasn’t used to having breakfast, so I had to force myself to eat two Weetabix with semi-skimmed milk. Lunch was an egg sandwich in brown bread, and my daytime snack was a high-fibre cereal bar.
Out went the roasts, and in came lean meat stews.
It took every scrap of willpower, but at my next class the results showed.
I’d lost six and a half pounds.
I was thrilled and for the next month I kept at it, losing about three pounds a week.
But then, after one particularly exhausting day, I cracked and wolfed down two Freddo bars and a chocolate mousse, without coming up for air.
The following night, I ate chips, special fried rice and gravy.
At my next class, I was 2lb heavier. I felt so guilty and that made me eat even more.
But then I reminded myself why I was doing this.
It’s for the boys, I thought.
And I knew I could do anything for them.
So I got back on the diet, and after a year, I’d lost 2st 7lb and could fit into a size 18.
Feeling more energetic, I decided to join a women’s gym and then my friend Casey came up with an idea.
When she told me, my jaw hit the floor.
‘Pole dancing?’ I said. ‘Are you serious? I’d snap the flippin’ thing!’
But Casey was keen, so I went with her.
When we arrived at the class, however, my tummy lurched. The other women looked like supermodels in skimpy shorts and teeny tops while I was in a baggy T-shirt and pyjama bottoms.
And when I held on to the pole, I couldn’t even get my feet off the ground.
I thought: This was a huge mistake.
But the instructor was kind and patient.
‘Don’t worry,’ she said. ‘You’ll soon pick it up.’
By the end of the session, I’d started to enjoy myself. I decided to go back and had such a good time, I started going three times a week.
And as I got better with the pole, my confidence soared. Most sessions were filled with women of all different sizes and I made lots of friends.
Going to a class was more like going to a party than exercising, and the weight just melted off me.
Now, two years on, I weigh
10 stone and wear a size 10-12.
I feel so much better about myself. And I’m healthy and setting a good example to my boys.
I’m proud to say I’m back in pole position!
Height 4ft 10in
Before 16st 9lb Size 22-24
After 10 stone Size 10-12
Total loss 6st 9lb
Diet before
Breakfast: nothing
Lunch: nothing
Dinner: roast chicken, roast potatoes, gravy
Snacks: jumbo eclairs, cakes, chocolate
Diet now
Breakfast: two Weetabix or scrambled eggs
Lunch: egg sandwich
Dinner: homemade lasagne
Snacks: fruit