‘Half the woman I was’
At 19st Jo Slater was camera shy and too embarrassed to sit down on the train or eat in a restaurant. Now, 9st lighter she can’t wait to go out for lunch and pose with her kids on Mother’s Day…
Ican’t pinpoint the moment that I finally decided to take control of my weight. It has been an ongoing battle for most of my adult life.
In January most years I’d join a slimming club, shed a few pounds, but within months I’d have slipped back into my unhealthy habits. Mountains of food, crisps and a carton of ice cream a night.
And, if I’m really honest, my problems began in childhood…
My body changed earlier than my friends and I had big boobs, which always made me feel larger than I actually was.
Then, when I was a teen, I went to an all-girls’ boarding school and I never made sensible choices at mealtimes. I’d eat a lot of chips and spent my pocket money on crisps at the weekend. On the whole, I didn’t eat terribly, but by the time I left school I was 5ft 4in and a size 14.
My issues with food and overeating didn’t really arise until
I met my thenhusband in the Eighties. When we set up home together, I wanted to make nice dinners and I always made mountains of food.
We got our first microwave, too, which opened up a world of ready meals – not so good for healthy eating.
By the time I fell pregnant in late 1991, I was a size 18, and promptly gained two dress sizes. When our son, Ben, arrived I was utterly besotted with him. He was my focus and I’d grab food as and when I could.
Three months later, I fell pregnant with Becca and put on more weight. When she was born, I was content – but life was hectic! As the kids grew, I made sure they ate healthily, but I didn’t extend the same courtesy to myself.
My portions were huge and
I grazed on crisps throughout the day. Five years later, my husband left unexpectedly. The upside was that the ‘divorce diet’ helped me shed 3st and I kept it off – for a while, anyway…
It wasn’t until five years later that I met Ashley online. He was a gardener, loved the outdoors and adored dogs as much as I did. He never tried to parent the kids, but he was always there if they needed a lift or a shoulder to cry on.
When he moved in with me in 2004, I fell back into my old ways, making massive dinners and, before I knew it, I was a size 22 again.
Ashley always made me feel special, but I wasn’t happy with my weight. I avoided being in pictures, didn’t like going out for dinner in case people stared and wondered why I was eating.
By 2010, I was on medication for my high blood pressure and, although doctors didn’t explicitly say it, I knew my weight probably didn’t help.
‘I never once felt like I was being deprived’
I’d avoid sitting down on the train in case I didn’t fit into the seat. I never went to the theatre for the same reason and, while holidays should have been a happy time, I didn’t enjoy them.
I was always looking for the next fad diet, but nothing seemed to work.
In January 2018, as I had done most years, I decided to join WW online. I wouldn’t have to leave the house to get weighed, and I didn’t know how well I’d do, but I was determined to try. At 19st and a size 24, I needed to.
For the first-time ever, I gave myself permission to prioritise myself and my health. I wrote down everything I ate, stuck to my allocated points and never once felt like I was being deprived.
I loved that I could scan food items at the supermarket with my WW app, which would tell me how many points were in it. It made it easier to make healthy choices.
In my first week I lost 4lbs and, somehow, six months later I’d dropped 50lbs (over 3st). Something just clicked, and I knew I would never go back to my old ways. People paid me compliments and it really spurred me on.
I took inspiration from other people on Instagram and enjoyed trying new recipes. When friends told Ashley how well I’d done, he’d diplomatically say: ‘She looks lovely whatever size she is.’
By January last year, I’d lost a total of 8st and felt like a different person. I had much more energy, could walk our dogs for hours and no longer felt people were staring at me.
Now, at 55, I’m 9st 9lbs, a size 10, medication-free and I know the kids are proud of me. ‘ You’ve done brilliantly,’ Ben always says, and Becca makes a fuss of how I’m dressed. It’s really touching.
I’m not sure what we’ll be doing this Mother’s Day, but I know I won’t mind having my pictures taken with the kids – or eating out. As long as I track my food, of course!