‘I ‘PREPARATION IS THE KEY TO ACHIEVING SUCCESS’ quit takeaways and lost 10st in 12 months!’

DITCHING JUNK FOOD ❛ MY WEIGHT MADE ME MISERABLE – I HAD LITTLE CONFIDENCE ❜ S

tudent Sarah Linney, 21, lives in Manchester with her boyfriend Lewis. She says, “I’ve always been bigger than most of my friends. At 15 years old I already wore size 14 clothes, but I was toned and healthy because I played a lot of sports.

“But when I left home to go to university, I no longer had Mum making me healthy homecooked meals and I stopped playing so much sport. My weight crept up steadily and, indecember in December 2017, I weighed 19st 6lbs and was a size 22.

“I admit my eating habits were appalling – I’d often binge eat, gorging on Mcdonald’s, pizza, KFC, chocolate and ice cream most days. My eating was completely out of control.

“And my weight made me miserable – I had little confidence. I’d go out socially with friends, but I’d often leave early. Going to clubs and bars was no fun for me, as I couldn’t wear the same clothes as my friends and felt out of place. I was convinced people were staring and laughing at me. “Every now and then I’d try cutting out takeaways and chocolate and eat salads and fruit instead. But my willpower was weak and, after just a few days, I would give up and head to Mcdonald’s. I was convinced I was just meant to be big.

BLOATED

“But in December 2017, I’d finally had enough. Lewis and I had two weeks of eating out every single night and I was left feeling so bloated and miserable and had gained even more weight. “Around the same time, a friend of mine lost a lot of weight with Slimming World. She looked amazing and, as she told me all about the plan, I began to think that if she could do it

then I could, too.

“I knew I couldn’t carry on the way I was, so I made a resolution to change my lifestyle – and this time I was determined to actually do it.

“So, at the start of January 2018, I found my local Slimming World class and went along. I vowed to give up takeaways and sugar and to only cook from scratch.

“In the first week I lost 5lbs, which motivated me to stick with it. The first month was definitely the toughest as my body adapted to the new regime, but I felt brilliant after I’d detoxed from all sugar and the processed, fatty foods I’d become so used to eating. I was so focused, I wasn’t even tempted by junk food. After a few months, I even decided to become vegetarian.

SELF-DISGUST

“It took six months for me to really appreciate how different I looked. But mentally I felt better immediately as I was taking charge of my eating habits – I was proud of myself. I was no longer bingeing on junk and then feeling full of self disgust. I was slowly becoming a new person.

“I also started exercising again – something I hadn’t really done since school. I ran my first 10k last July and I completed a half marathon in October.

“In just a year I lost 10st and I nowweigh now weigh 9st 6lbs, perfect for my 5ft 7 frame, and I can fit into a size 8.

“I’d encourage everyone who wants to lose weight to stick to their diet and not give up. It has literally transformed my life. I look forward to every single day. Lewis, who I met when I was 15, has been incredibly supportive. He loves my new look and how much happier I am now.

CONFIDENT

“I want to tell people that if I can do it then anybody can. Even if you do have a bad day, keep going. It’s just one bad day and you can start again the next. I can’t believe the difference in myself in just over a year.

“I don’t feel limited any more and, rather than wishing I could do something or achieve something, I put the steps in place and make it happen. Nothing is holding me back. I’m confident and believe in myself.” leading cause of liver disease in the UK and, via The British Liver Trust’s Love Your Liver campaign, alcohol users are encouraged to drink no more than 14 units per week and to have two to three consecutive booze-free days each week. Visit Britishlivertrust.org.uk – the official partner of Dry January. Sign up to stay sober this month, at Britishlivertrust.org.uk/support-us/dry-january