Laura blooms after shedding five stones
WHEN overweight Laura Bloomfield saw pictures of herself as a teenager, it gave her the motivation she needed to change her lifestyle.
And the 30-year-old shed an impressive five stone as she swapped her “rubbish” eating habits to a fat-free diet.
Laura, who has Down syndrome, joined a Slimming World class and set herself the challenge.
And once she focused on the task ahead, nothing was going to stop her.
“I am delighted with how I look now,” said Laura, of Sheriff Hill, Gateshead. “I am, definitely proud of myself because I did it.”
Laura was 13 stone 13 lbs and was in a size 20 dress size when she started her healthy regime. Now she is a svelte 8 stone 13 lbs and is a size eight.
“I eat cereal, chicken, vegetables and fruit. I like all things healthy. I just focused and found it easy.”
Parents Brian and Tracey are so proud of their daughter.
Brian, 58, said: “Laura is so focused, when she sets her mind to doing something, she sticks with it.
“Before she ate takeaways, pizzas, kebabs, anything really. She doesn’t cook so we were supplying her with it, so ultimately her being overweight was down to us. However, losing the weight was totally down to her.”
Laura is sharing her weight-loss story with The Chronicle’s, army of readers during October, which is Down Syndrome Awareness Month. It celebrates those with Down Syndrome and makes people aware of their abilities and accomplishments.
Laura’s journey started after seeing pictures of herself when she was slimmer.
Dad-of three Brian, who is Laura’s carer, added: “My dad, Norman, died in January 2015 and it was in the March we were looking at past pictures when Laura saw herself as a 12 to 13 yearold. It was then she said she wanted to be that size again.
“She looks amazing now. She sticks to the Slimming World ready meals and when we cook she eats chicken, veg and healthy things.” Super slimmer Laura Bloomfield and right, as she was before she lost all the weight Brian, who has four grandchildren, added: “My wife and I have seen how well Laura has done so we are trying to cut down as well. “We have a loft conversion and Laura has a rowing machine, treadmill, exercise bike and twister up there.
“She still has the odd treat like a cream cake now and again but she is so focused she wants to stick to her target weight.”
Laura’s mum Tracey, 53, is manager at a Greggs shop in Gateshead and would bring sausage rolls and doughnuts home for everyone to eat. But now Laura resists temptation. Laura attends her Slimming World class every Tuesday at the Leam Lane Methodist Church run by consultant Gemma Fisher.
And Laura fits in so well with her group that she has taken on the voluntary role of selling raffle tickets for the class’s social fund. Gemma runs classes on Tuesdays at 9.30am, 11.30am, 3.30pm, 5.30pm and 7.30pm, and on Wednesdays at 9.30pm. For more information call her on 07572490912. Laura Bloomfield before she shed the pounds, pictured with her dad, Brian