When a festive photo left me reeling with shock, I knew it was New Year or never. By Ashley Gathergood, 27
My mouth watered as I looked at my plate, which was groaning with turkey, crispy roast spuds and all the trimmings.
I polished off the lot and then leant back in my chair, just as my boyfriend Tom took a sneaky snap of me and our little girl, Lottie.
At 20 stone, a size 28, I normally avoided cameras like the plague.
I’d struggled with my weight for most of my life. As a child, I’d secretly binged on chocolate bars that I’d hidden under my bed.
Over the years, I’d tried all sorts of diets — and failed. Then, when I’d fallen pregnant with my eldest, Lucas, all thoughts of losing weight had gone out the window.
Lottie had arrived three years later, and now I found myself struggling to get up the stairs in our Nottingham home without gasping for breath.
When Tom showed me the picture he’d taken, I groaned seeing the rolls of fat under my chin and my shirt straining over my gigantic boobs.
Merry Christmas? Merry cringe-mas more like! I thought.
It played on my mind and made me think about how much I’d love to be able to run around with the kids.
And when New Year arrived, I made a resolution and felt determined to stick to it.
With the festivities over, I joined Slimming World and set myself a goal to halve my body weight.
I began whipping up tasty salads and low-calorie, low-carb meals.
In just under two months, I lost two stone.
But it wasn’t just my diet that changed, I overhauled my lifestyle too. I ditched my car and did the school run on foot instead.
And getting a dog also got me out and about with Tom and the kids.
When I did online workouts, Lucas would cheer me on, saying: ‘Come on Mummy!’
My love of exercise grew, and I joined the gym and started swimming and lifting weights.
By the summer, I’d lost six stone and could slip easily into size-14 clothes.
However, I’m not stopping there. After this New Year, I’m on track to hit my target weight of just under 10 stone. And that really will be something to celebrate.
I recently started a new job, organising Total Wipeout-style events for team building, and stag and hen groups.
I’m on my feet for 12 hours a day and I’m always the first to try out the inflatable slide and assault course — something I’d never have been able to contemplate before.
That photo last Christmas may have been a shock. But it gave me the jolt I needed to become the best mum — and me — that I can be.
Diet before
Breakfast: pancakes with chocolate spread
Lunch: cheese and ham toastie
Dinner: lasagne from a jar or Chinese takeaway
Snacks: cream cake
Diet after
Breakfast: protein bagel with cheese and bacon (with fat cut off)
Lunch: couscous and chicken salad
Dinner: roasted-pepper spag Bol, without the spaghetti
Snacks: fruit
Ashley's stats
Height: 5ft 1in
Before: 20st 8lb Size 28
After: 12st 2lb Size 12
Total loss 8st 6lb
Ashley’s top tip