Stuck indoors, I started baking, but no one was eating it except me. By Shirley Salter, 66
Filled with anticipation, I took the cake tins out of the oven and, for a moment, the sight lifted my heart.
My lemon drizzle glistened golden brown, and my coffee and walnut traybake had a beautiful caramel sheen.
All that was needed was
a quick glaze and they’d be perfect for when my guests came over.
Except my guests only
ever had one slice at most.
Then I ate the rest.
I’d started baking after giving up my hobby of horse riding when my husband, Kevin, was diagnosed with cancer.
He needed chemotherapy and I knew I had to be
there for him.
I was also a nurse working in a busy GP practice, which made it difficult to eat three healthy meals a day.
Without the exercise from riding, the pounds crept on, and my 10st 7lb, size 12 figure soon disappeared.
The stress of Kevin’s illness and the boredom of not being out and about affected my daily diet, too.
Kevin and I would wake
up at home in Drybrook, Gloucestershire, and
have a cup of tea in bed
with a packet of biscuits.
Then we’d have bacon
and eggs with toast and marmalade.
I’d eat nothing for lunch, but by dinner I’d be so hungry I couldn’t stop.
I’d cook something like
a cottage pie and wolf it down, followed by cheese and biscuits, crisps or a
bowl of cornflakes.
Within a year, I’d put on over four stone, and I felt depressed and lethargic.
My daily five-mile walks with our Collie-cross Mac soon dwindled to half as much, because I’d get so
out of breath.
At 14st 10lb, I was far too heavy for my 5ft 4in frame –but, because I made my own clothes, I could pretend my dress size hadn’t changed.
But one day, I glanced at Kevin’s phone and saw a picture of myself sitting down, and all I could see were rolls of fat.
‘I feel awful,’ I said to Kevin. ‘I have no energy any more, and I really need to lose weight.’
‘I’ll support you,’ he said.
I’d lost weight years earlier with LighterLife, so I signed up again immediately.
I was assigned a fantastic mentor called Tracey, who supported me throughout
the whole weight-loss process.
‘You can do this,’ she said.
I had four food packs a
day, which included porridge, bars, shakes or a dinner such as a spaghetti Bolognese.
I lost 6lb in my first week, which spurred me on.
After that, I shed a steady 3lb a week, and had more energy than I’d had in years.
Within about four months,
I was down to 10st 7lb.
I threw out all my baggy tops and tracksuit bottoms and bought myself new jeans and fitted shirts.
Now I’m back to taking Mac for long walks, and I’m better at looking after Kevin, whose health is now stable.
And I’m still making my own clothes – only now with far less material!