You’ll never believe it: ‘I had a 17st wine belly’
Janine Hooley, 30, had no idea what partying was doing to her
Sinking on to the pub seat, I felt so fed up. ‘I just don’t understand it,’ I said to my friend, Laura. ‘I’ve been dieting for six months now and I’ve only lost 7lb.’
I reached for my glass of rosé and took a big slurp to make myself feel better. At 24, I was 5ft 7in and fed up of wearing size 20 blouses and flowery elasticated skirts.
Laura looked at me, then at the huge wine glass in my hand. ‘Well you do drink a bit,’ she said.
I looked up, ready to be affronted. But then I gave a sheepish smile. She was right. I did like my wine. In fact most nights I’d be down at the pub knocking back two or three glasses.
It had begun two years befor, in 2007, when I’d split up with a boyfriend. To ease my heartache, I’d found solace with my mates at the pub.
Taking a toll
I loved sweet white wine and rosé, and as I got over my break-up, I started having fun. At weekends, my friends and I would go to clubs too, where I’d do tequila shots and dance until dawn.
Once home, I’d scoff a whole pizza. And, as I didn’t have to be at my shopassistant job until 10.30am, I was able to sleep off any hangovers.
Before long, my lifestyle was taking its toll on my size 14 figure. Soon, I was borrowing my mum’s size 16 jeans and, over the year, I went up to a size 18… and then a 20…
Then, in June 2009, my friends and I booked tickets for a music festival and went shopping for outfits. Browsing the rails of a high street store, I self-consciously picked up a size 20 denim skirt and slunk off to the changing rooms.
Only, I couldn’t get the waistband over my thighs. Mortified, I decided to diet, cutting out bread. But now, sitting here in the pub with Laura, I realised that my wine habit was probably to blame.
That night, I googled the calorie content of rosé – a glass the size I was drinking had 160 calories. That meant my three-a-night wines were adding 1,920 calories a week to my diet – the equivalent to eating eight Mars bars.
What’s more, I was downing 27.6 units – 13.6 more than the recommended weekly level.
Straight away, I swapped wine for vodka and slimline tonic, which had
just 56 calories. I also decided to skip evenings at the pub for gym sessions.
Energy boost
Within two weeks I’d lost 2lb. After three months, I mustered the courage to weigh myself. But, as the dial sprang to 16st 7lb, I was horrified. I still weighed so much.
So I stopped going to the pub altogether and tried to find non-boozy ways to have fun, like going to the cinema. Over the following months, as my waistband loosened and my energy levels soared, I realised I wasn’t missing the drinking.
After two years, my healthy lifestyle paid off and I managed to lose 6st 7lb. Back to a size 14, and 10st 5lb, I was delighted to zip up my old jeans again!
I even joined a boot camp to tone up – and after a few months, I’d shaved off an extra 5lb, shrinking to 10st.
And it was there I met a gorgeous new man, Darren, 33. We’ve been together a year and I’m so happy.
I still enjoy the odd drink, but these days, you’re more likely to find me sipping on a green juice than a vino.
After all, it’s great to feel better now than I did in my twenties!
‘To ease my heartache, I found solace at the pub’