Gran who was too big for theme park ride lost 13 stone
AFTER BEING DENIED ACCESS TO THE RIDES AT A THEME PARK BECAUSE OF HER WEIGHT, MICHELLE SHEDS AN INCREDIBLE 13st!
I found it hard looking after Teddy when I was overweight. When I went on the floor with him I couldn’t get back up! Michelle Russell
A GRANDMOTHER has shed an astonishing 13 stone – after discovering she was too big to take her grandson on the rides at Drayton Manor .
Michelle Russell had taken her daughter’s child Teddy to Thomas Land at the Staffordshire theme park. But the trip turned sour when the 48-year-old discovered she could not fit in any of the seats – as she weighed 23st 2.5lbs.
She immediately joined her local Slimming World group and in just one year she lost a phenomenal 13st 4lb and now weighs 9st 4lb.
Michelle, who part owns a nail salon, said: “I was always happy overweight and have been fat all my life.
“I was a size 32 in my wedding dress but I always loved life and I wasn’t an unhappy overweight person. “But I decided to change when my daughter became a single mother. “She needed help with my grandson Teddy who was a year old at the time. “I decided to work part time and help my daughter Samantha out two days per week. “But I found it hard looking after Teddy when I was overweight. “When I went on the floor to play with him I couldn’t get back up! “The final straw came when I took him to Thomas Land at Drayton Manor Park but I couldn’t go on any rides with him as I couldn’t fit in the seats. I knew I had to change.” Before she decided to lose weight Michelle’s daily meal plan consisted of two slices of buttered toast for breakfast, followed by a packet of crisps at around 11am. Lunch would consist of fish and chips or a large sandwich and for dinner she would tuck into a creamy lasagne or large roast dinner with all the trimmings. A snack at night would consist of a couple of slices of cheese and toast or biscuits.
Michelle, who live in Bedworth, joined Slimming World in April 2016 and immediately changed her diet.
Buttered toast was now replaced with yoghurt and fruit for breakfast with home made soup for lunch. Dinner would consist of salmon with butternut squash or salad.
Michelle’s days of snacking on crisps and biscuits were long gone.
She also started taking her labrador dog Flynt a walk twice a day and the weight started to melt off her. Michelle was also a Type 2 diabetic before her weight loss and has now reversed her condition and no longer requires medication.
Her astonishing weight loss was acknowledged by her fellow members who voted her as their representative in the National Woman of the Year competition run by Slimming World.
She did not win on the night but remains an inspiration to her fellow members.
Michelle added: “I still go to Slimming World every week to maintain my weight. “We are all a big family. “I love to think I am inspiring other women to lose weight.”