Breaking my back giving birth was just the start
MUM TELLS HOW SHE WAS MOTIVATED TO GET BACK IN SHAPE
A MANSFIELD mum has been on an inspiring fitness journey while recovering from breaking her back in childbirth.
Kelly Black, 42, a Slimming World consultant, lives in Huthwaite, with daughters Regan, 14 and Franki, 10.
She told the Mirror that she resorted to using tablets to get through her day after breaking her lumbar spine during the birth of one of her daughters – described by doctors as the kind of injury usually suffered by rugby players or people in car accidents.
She said: “When I think back to how I used to feel before I found Slimming World, it makes me feel quite emotional. I’d wake up in the morning and the day would start the same way it always did – with agonising pain in my back and a handful of tablets just to get me through the next few hours.
“Living in pain was exhausting – not to mention I already had my hands full with my baby daughter, Regan. The truth was, I hadn’t felt myself since Regan was born, and the old me that I knew before just seemed to be slipping further and further away.
“I’d wash some painkillers down with a big mug of coffee and go about my day as best I could, trying to put on a brave face as I played with Regan and attempting to lift her in and out of her pushchair without straining my back too much.
“Of course, that meant that by 10am I was absolutely ravenous and would grab whatever was easiest or closest, usually biscuits and chocolate bars.
“It soon became clear that my low moods were becoming more regular, and, after visiting my doctor, I was diagnosed with postnatal depression. In a way it felt good to acknowledge how I was feeling, but with the pain in my lower back still raging, and often shooting up and down my leg too, it was hard for me to make any progress.
“I felt like nobody understood just how much pain I was in – this couldn’t just be a side effect of childbirth, could it?
“The pain meant I wasn’t able to work or drive, which put a further strain on my mental health. I just didn’t recognise the person I had become and slipped further and further into depression.
“My doctor prescribed me with anti-depressants but while I was still
in pain, nothing made me feel better. After lots of appointments it was thought that maybe I had strained my back during birth and had a slipped disc, so they put me on a traction machine. It was agony and seemed to make things worse rather than better.”
Two years after the birth of her eldest daughter, Kelly was referred to the Queen’s Medical Centre to have an MRI scan,
She said: “Finally, two years after Regan was born, I was referred to the Queen’s Medical Centre in Nottingham where I had an MRI scan. I left and before I’d made it to the car park, my phone started to ring. ‘We need you to come back right away,’ they said.
“Nothing could have prepared me for what would happen next.
“The MRI scan showed that I had broken my lumbar spine, which was the cause of all the pain. I was referred for an operation and six months later I had a painful procedure to have my spine fused together and pinned with titanium screws.
“The doctors were so shocked that I had sustained this kind of damage from childbirth.
“After I recovered from my operation, I got pregnant with my second daughter, Franki. I gained weight really quickly during pregnancy and snacked on chocolate and biscuits throughout the day. I was even diagnosed with gestational diabetes, which was linked to all the sugary treats I’d been eating.
“And in the evening, exhausted from the pregnancy and looking after a toddler, I’d just collapse on the sofa with a takeaway. By the time Franki was born I was 2st 7lb heavier than before, and even though my back pain was now much more manageable, I was still thoroughly miserable with my weight.
“Feeling so unwell for so long made me realise I needed to look after myself – and being diagnosed and treated almost felt like a second chance.”
She started her transformation by starting to eat more healthily.
She added: “I had the chance to be the bright, buzzy, happy Kelly I was before, and I wanted to take that opportunity with open arms. I’d tried fad diets in the past, but I knew they wouldn’t work around my family.
“I needed something that would work for us all. I’d heard Slimming World was based on healthy home cooking, so it seemed the perfect solution.
“In 2011, when Franki was about five months old, I strapped her into the pram and walked to my local group. I knew I’d made the right decision as soon as I heard about the plan. There was no starving yourself by only eating rice and broccoli – as a family we could still enjoy favourites like spaghetti bolognese, roast dinners and delicious curries and stews.
“I soon got to grips with the Food Optimising plan and lost weight steadily week after week.
“The group support was amazing and knowing everyone was rooting for me really kept me motivated. Within a year I’d reached my target weight of 9st and I felt incredible.
“As I lost the weight, activity became more and more important to me. When I was living in pain I moved as little as possible, so it was a bit daunting to start to move more.
“I never thought I’d be the kind of person to love the gym, but I liked the idea of trying something new and having a bit of ‘me time,’ so I signed up.
“After a few weeks I was hooked and now I love classes and weight training.
“Slimming World encourages members to build up their activity levels gradually which I think is really important. It’s now just a part of my day – it comes as naturally to me as brushing my teeth.
“Once I’d reached my target weight, my consultant pulled me aside one day and asked if I’d ever considered being a consultant myself. I hadn’t had a job since before Regan was born – my back pain and two small children meant I just couldn’t make it work. Becoming a consultant seemed so flexible, though, and I did love Slimming World. Could I really do it?
“The answer was yes. I used to think that losing weight was the best feeling ever – but now I know that helping members to achieve their goals is even better. When Franki was three years old, my husband and I separated – which meant my work became more important to our household than ever.
“I’m really proud of the fact that as a live-alone mum, my Slimming World groups have allowed me to support my family – and to top it all we even have our own house now, which is amazing.
“I’ve now been at target for 10 years, which is such an incredible feeling, and I’ve been a Slimming World consultant for seven years.
“It’s my dream job and I feel so lucky. I used to need 25 tablets a day just to function, now I start the day with a spring in my step. Slimming World really did change my life – and now I’m proud to say that it’s a life I love.”
I never thought I’d be the kind of person to love the gym but after a few weeks I was hooked Kelly Black