i lost 10st... for my little girl
After the birth of her little girl, Alex Fosterpegg was determined to get in shape and be a healthy and active mum...
Sitting in my car outside the local community centre in January 2016, I cried. For 10 minutes I’d been trying to build up the courage to walk into my first weight watchers meeting, but I was too scared of what the scales would say. Then, as my four-month-old daughter, Ella, started babbling happily in her car seat behind me, I wiped my eyes and took a deep breath. I had to do this for her.
I’d struggled with my weight since I was a teenager, secretly eating crisps in my bedroom. At school, I became the jolly big girl and, later, the bubbly barmaid and chef – a fun career, but terrible for my waistline! I’d pick at food all day and unwind in the evening, chatting to customers over pints of lager. I’d diet occasionally, then bask in the compliments. But I could never resist the aroma of the freshly baked rolls or roast potatoes in the restaurant kitchen.
Under pressure
Food was also my source of comfort. During my first marriage in my twenties, I was diagnosed with polycystic ovary syndrome, which reduces fertility.
I suffered a miscarriage, then tried a course of fertility-boosting injections. When that failed, I signed up for IVF. But the pressure was too great and my marriage fell apart while I was waiting for treatment. Suddenly single, I was struggling with the knowledge that I might never be able to have children.
Then, in 2012, I met David. He was a regular at the pub where I worked. Both single and without children, we made the most of socialising, travelling and eating out. David loved food, but never gained weight, whereas I had to find a size-20 dress for our wedding in June 2014.
That Christmas, I felt shattered and, despite how pointless it seemed to be, I took a pregnancy test. When David and I saw it was positive, we were overjoyed.
New motivation
My pregnancy was difficult, with terrible morning sickness, heartburn and severe pelvic pain, but it was all worth it when Ella was born in September 2015, weighing 7lb 15oz. Cradling her in my arms was magical and when we brought Ella home, her grandparents rushed over to meet her.
‘You don’t want Alex in there – look at the state of her,’ my mum Pauline said as my father-in-law snapped photos. Trying to be helpful, Mum had always nagged me about my weight, but right then everything crystallised. I was an older mum – as the midwives kept telling me – and I wanted to be around for my daughter’s wedding day. If I didn’t tackle my weight, I might not be.
Mum now feels guilty about how blunt she’d been, but it did push me to join Weight Watchers. At that first meeting I asked my coach to hide my weight card, so I could read it once I’d left. Looking at the card back at home and seeing 20st 5lb, I burst into tears.
Despite how upset it made me, I felt determined and during my first week I lost more than 7lb. As a chef, I found the programme easy and would tinker with recipes to reduce the Smartpoints as much as possible. I also spent hours finding healthy alternatives to takeaway meals, making my own version of all my favourite fast foods to have on the weekend as a pick-me-up. Over time, I noticed that greasy foods no longer appealed to me the way they used to, so it became even easier for me to avoid temptation. I started every day with a good breakfast, so I didn’t feel tempted to snack. And, knowing how important it is to enjoy a treat now and then, I’d save my weekly Smartpoints for a Chinese meal and a glass of wine. I started exercising too, walking before breakfast with our spaniel, Bertie, and Ella in her buggy. It helped me physically and mentally, and kept me focused. I was too intimidated to go to a gym, but my slow 10-minute ambles built up to 30-minute walks, and now I often walk 5k. I love it, plus it’s a great time to chat to Ella and get some fresh air. I’ve always tried to be honest with myself – never making excuses for going off track but dealing with wobbles by giving myself a stern talking to. Making sure I give myself enough me-time has helped me keep a positive mindset too. But of course I’ve struggled. Whenever I felt a bit down, David gently reminded me just how brilliantly I’d done. After I reached my goal weight, David bought me a size 10 pink jumper, which I proudly wore to my meeting. But when my coach, Becky, noticed it she said, ‘Alex, that’s like a tent on you!’ Thrilled, I took it back to exchange for a size eight. When the shop assistant asked why I was grinning, I said it was the first time I’d returned an item of clothing because it was too big! ✱ For more inspirational success stories and to see how weight watchers Flex can work for you, visit weightwatchers. com/uk/success-stories
‘Cradling ella WAS magical’