‘I’ve always been big… until now!’
Kirsty Miller, 34, was terrified she wouldn’t get to see her children grow up, but now she’s lost 4st, that fear’s gone away
When I was growing up, people would often comment on my pretty face or how shiny my hair was looking. Although it was nice of them, I knew they were just being kind. As the biggest girl in my class, they were saying anything to avoid commenting on my body or my weight.
I’d always loved fatty foods. Cheesy chips were my favourite school lunch and I would always demand pizza for my tea. Combined with the fact that I hated all forms of exercise and would do anything to get out of PE, it was no wonder that by the time I was 18, I was wearing size-16 clothes.
Still, it didn’t stop me travelling the world and working in Japan, the Caribbean and the USA. My favourite thing was sampling local cuisines, and I’d always get huge portions.
In 2007, I was working behind the bar of a New York country club. Although I was self-conscious, I met chef Daniel Miller, now 42. He was a man of few words, but he made me feel beautiful.
The following year, Daniel and I wed in New York. I wore a size-16 ruched dress with a pink ribbon.
Happily married, I’d tuck into the huge pasta dishes Daniel made, matching him mouthful for mouthful.
Three months later, we had a wedding party in my home town of Glasgow, and I was mortified when my dress had to be let out. Yet even that wasn’t enough to stop me eating Daniel’s calorific culinary creations.
The next thing on our list was children, but when we started trying, nothing happened. So we went to see a fertility expert. Although I never dared to set foot on the scales, I was pushing a size 20 by then. ‘Perhaps you could try losing weight,’ I was told. I was horrified that my excess stones might be the reason we weren’t conceiving.
So, I embarked on various diets, but I couldn’t seem to lose more than a few pounds.
Remarkably, I fell pregnant with twins in June 2012. I was careful to eat sensibly throughout my pregnancy. Alexander and Matthew arrived in January 2013.
Being a mum to two boys was hard work, but I loved every moment of it. Most days I was so busy that I’d forget to eat, or I’d have a jar of baby food, before Daniel came home and cooked.
I’d demolish huge portions of casseroles and potatoes because I was so hungry.
Just before Alexander and Matthew’s first birthday, I fell pregnant again.
We couldn’t have been happier, but I worried about my weight more and more, especially as I was a size 20 when I gave birth to baby Cecilia in September 2014.
By then, I was so unfit that pushing the boys up the hill to nursery left me sweaty and panting. I’d got so big I’d literally have to roll myself out of bed.
It struck me that if I didn’t change my ways, I might not see my little ones grow up – a thought that terrified me.
In July 2015, while at my mum and dad’s house, I saw a group of people working out in the park across the road. ‘It’s a fitness club,’ Mum said, following my gaze.
That night, I found their Facebook page and messaged the leaders. I went to my first session that week, weighing 17st 1lb and wearing a size 22. It was brutal. We did burpees, sprints and sit-ups, and by the end, I was in tears.
I didn’t want to go back, but seeing how hard I found it only showed me how much I needed to change my ways. So I stuck with it.
After a few weeks, it seemed to get a little easier as, gradually, my fitness and energy levels improved.
‘Do you fancy coming running with me?’ one of the leaders asked. I was about to make my excuses when something stopped me. I knew I needed to push myself to get healthy, so I accepted the challenge.
‘ You’re doing brilliantly,’
‘If I didn’t change my ways, I might not see my little ones grow up’
Daniel said as I got up at 6.30am to go running.
In October that year, my leaders suggested I look at my diet, too.
So I started the Herbalife Nutrition plan. It involved drinking nutritious shakes and snacking on protein, plus having a healthy dinner.
I’d eat little and often, but it never left me feeling hungry.
My body was changing shape, I was toning up and I had so much more energy.
In June 2016, I completed a 10k run in one hour and 14 minutes. I felt so good that, later that year, I ran a half-marathon.
Mum, Dad, Daniel and the kids were all at the finish line, and I burst into tears as I fell into their arms. I couldn’t believe I’d done it!
Now, at 34, I’m 13st and, at 5ft 9in, I’m a dress size 12. I will definitely get to watch my kids grow up. If I ask Alexander and Matthew what Mummy’s favourite thing to do is, they shout, ‘Exercise!’
We spend hours in the park playing football, and I can finally keep up with them.
‘I’m so proud of you,’ Daniel says. And, if I’m honest, I’m quite proud of me, too! l For more info, visit herbalife.co.uk