Jasmin wanted to start a family, but there was a snag...
Beckoning my little brother over, I whispered, ‘I’ve got a secret quest for you…’
Five-year-old James’s eyes lit up.
‘I need you to get me that bar of chocolate from the cupboard – without Mum and Dad seeing you,’ I said.
Aged eight, I had an insatiable appetite, and was forever pinching treats between meals.
And when my parents caught me secretly nabbing bags of crisps, sweets or chocolate to eat in the bathroom where nobody would think to look, I’d get my brother on the case for me.
As years went by, I got bigger and bigger. Aged 16, I would be 16 stone, at 18 I was 18 stone. My weight crept up with my age.
By 20, I was working as a chef.
Days were long and stressful, so the last thing I felt like doing when I got home was cook.
Instead, I’d survive on frozen stuff I could chuck in the airfryer, like onion rings, chips and chicken strips. Anything beige had my name on it!
My diet during the day was just as unhealthy. I’d get by on convenience food, like sausage rolls and crisps.
But I just didn’t think about it.
Any health kicks I did go on made no difference.
I seemed to put on weight anyway.
In time, I met my partner Jamie on Tinder.
He loved me for me and, happier than I’d been in
years, any thoughts of dieting
or exercise went out the window.
Two years later, we got married.
And talk turned to our future…
‘I’d love to be
a mum one day,’
I told him.
Jamie wanted a family too.
But try as we might, it just wasn’t happening for us.
After a year, I went to see
my GP.
Following tests, she had answers.
‘You have polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS),’ she said.
I learnt it was a hormonal disorder characterised by irregular periods, excess androgen levels, and often multiple cysts on the ovaries, which could affect fertility and overall health.
It could also cause unexplained weight gain, especially around the abdomen.
Suddenly all my symptoms made sense.
'I feel like less of a person'
While it was a relief to have
a diagnosis, it meant we might never conceive naturally.
It was a lot to get our heads around.
‘We’ll find a way,’ Jamie reassured.
We looked into IVF.
But then there was another setback.
‘You’re too heavy to get it on the NHS,’ the doctor told me. ‘Your BMI is too high.’
Nearly 22 stone and a size 26, my BMI was 56.
I wasn’t viable for treatment until my BMI was 25 or below – about nine and a half stone.
Leaving the room in tears, I wept, ‘I feel like less of a person.’
Struggling, I slumped back into old habits of emotional eating.
Then one morning, I woke with a renewed determination.
You can’t keep moping, I thought. It’s time for action!
My mind then turned to my aunt.
She’d recently lost weight with Slimming World and looked fantastic.
Feeling inspired, I joined my local group before I could talk myself out of it.
From the moment I stepped through the door, I felt welcomed and supported.
The biggest change was planning our meals ahead and cooking everything from scratch.
For breakfast I’d make overnight oats or have eggs
and spinach.
I’d take in salads for lunch at work, or have leftovers from the night before.
For dinner, we’d have fun making our own fakeaways,
with lean meats and nutritious homemade sauces.
We never felt deprived of delicious food.
As the number on my scales went down, my energy levels went up.
Exercise became easier, and I loved going for long walks and to Zumba classes.
A year on, I reached my goal weight of 9 stone 5lb, and fitted into a size 8.
Today, I’ve lost almost 13 stone – more than half my body weight.
And most importantly, we can start IVF!
Though I still suffer with symptoms of PCOS, I’ve so much more energy and confidence, and am now a Slimming World coach myself.
I hope my journey inspires others who are struggling.
You’ve got this!
Jasmin Hartmann, 30, Lincoln