K up ing and our lives
OM ROCK BOTTOM
But as the weight dropped d to walk-run-walk on the and now I can run three roblem,” she said. t have to go every day, all people in the group were e to four times a week. I ermined that I was going ave since learned to stop s much, and lost more en I didn’t go so often. ained my body needed to d by going too much my trying to protect itself so wasn’t shifting so easily.” later, Dee and other group members decided to o enter the competi- tion Jo had won and d she learned how to pose on stage.
“My confidence soared. I started to practise the poses at home in the mirror. r. My body looked completely different,” nt,” she said.
At the London competition, ompetition, Dee donned a bikini, top op hat and tails and was named winner in the novice category.
“Standing there with the medal and standing alongside ngside Jo one year on from messaging essaging her was an incredible in dible feeling.
“Yo You realise there th that everyone feels i insecure. ecure. You have to h have e that fire or drive to overcome the obs obstacles cles in your way. “Ev “Everyone one was amazing and had a reason ason to be there – a story or journey jour y of their own.
“It’s opened up p a new world. I’ve met so many amazing a azing people. The number of frien friends I have has hasdoubled, doubled, quadrupled even. It has been a lifestyle transformation and there’s no way I’d go ba back to how things were. “I’ve got approval that my body is OK. A And I’m not perfect at all. I originally original felt at rock bottom. My partner had left me, I was overweigh overweight with a low body confidence and a self-esteem.
“But I was in Victoria’s Secret a few weeks ago. I needed n new underwear as my boobs h have gone from a 40FF to a 34D.
“It was so busy, the lady in there asked if she could measure me o on the shop floor and I jus just took my t-shirt off.
“I would ne never have done that bef before.
“I felt like I had lost 10 years of my life w when hen I was overweight. Now, N I feel like I’ve got them t back again and a w whole new life ahead of me. me.”