Airdrie & Coatbridge Advertiser
WEIGH TO GO Weight loss goal to shed more for her wedding day
A Coatbridge mum whose impressive weight loss helped her give birth to her beautiful baby daughter is once again aiming to shed stones for her wedding day next year.
Andrea Dawson had been told by doctors it would be “difficult for her to conceive” due to her having a polycystic ovary back in 2016.
But, after discovering that losing weight would improve her chances of having a baby, Andrea - who is pictured above weighing more than 16 stone – joined her local Slimming World group and lost a whopping four-and-a-half stone over the next four months.
A short time later, Andrea and partner Anthony Hernon were given the wonderful news that they were going to be parents, with the couple welcoming baby Isabella into the world last March.
Andrea, 38, told the Advertiser: “I had battled with my weight since my teens, then had my son in 2000 and my weight gradually crept up after that.
“I met my partner Anthony in 2011 and was blissfully happy, but fell into a pattern of takeaways and lunches out until my weight rose to more than 16 stone; my confidence was at an all-time low.
“I had longed for a baby with Anthony but was told by my GP that I had a polycystic ovary which would make it difficult for us to conceive.
“But the doctor said if I lost weight it would give us a better chance and I finally plucked up the courage to join Slimming World in March 2016.
“By the time I went on holiday three months later, I had lost three-and-a-half stone and never felt better.
“Shortly afterwards I was overjoyed to find out I was expecting and gave birth to my beautiful baby girl last March.
“We are so happy, and owe it all to the support I have received from Slimming World.”
Andrea is utilising that strong support once again after putting on “quite a lot of weight” during her pregnancy as her motivation turned to looking “her best” for her wedding to Anthony next May.
She said: “I was determined to restart my journey to try on my dream wedding dress, so rejoined Slimming World two months after giving birth to Isabella.
“I have lost just over three stone since and I’m once again starting to feel good about myself; I hope to reach my target weight in the near future.
“Slimming World has changed my life completely and I have met amazing and inspiring ng members along the way.
“I’ve had my ups and downs but I’m so grateful l to have walked through those doors as I now have a handsome son, a beautiful baby girl and will soon realise my dream of getting married.”
Denise McCormick, the consultant at Andrea’s Slimming World group, added: “Andrea has done fabulously; she is a busy mum who has to juggle a lot of things about, but never misses group, even if she can’t get to ours, which shows her commitment.
“Her confidence is coming back and she will l make a stunning bride.”
To register an interest in joining any of the Slimming World sessions run by Denise, contact her on 07463 726375.
Slimming World has changed my life completely and I have met amazing and inspiring members along the way