You’ll never believe it: I was a 24st curry addict
Charlotte Spredbury, 43, tucked into takeaways four times a week – until she got the shock of her life
Piling my plate high with chicken vindaloo, chicken satay, large rice, cheesy naan bread, onion bhajis and samosas, I couldn’t wait to get comfy on the sofa with my takeaway. But while most of us have had nights like that – where we get carried away and indulge a bit too much – for me, it was nothing out of the ordinary. I’d order a curry at least four times a week. I know, it sounds horrendous.
I hadn’t always been so gluttonous. Until my marriage breakdown in May 2002, I was a size 14. But, becoming a single mum to my son Michael, then 15 months, life was hard. I spent my days taking him to activities, and then when I’d put him to bed, I’d flop on to the sofa, exhausted and lonely.
Out of control
I couldn’t face cooking, so most nights I’d order a takeaway from my local curry house in the Wirral. Indian was always my favourite – and the spicier the better. By 2006, I was a size 26 and, two years later, at 24st, I was squeezing into a size 32. My 4ft 11in frame struggled under the weight.
I never thought I’d find love again, only, at the end of 2010, I met Paul. He was 46 and worked as an MOT inspector. Like me, he was divorced and had an eight-year-old son called Luke. My size didn’t seem to bother Paul. He always told me I was gorgeous and he never commented on my takeaway addiction.
We got married in August 2011, but that November I was having a rare evening in the kitchen cooking dinner when I collapsed. I had no idea why I’d passed out – I’d been feeling fine. But my GP referred me for tests and a scan at the hospital revealed I had a 4lb benign fluid tumour on my ovaries. It was a shock but what came next hit me even harder. ‘You’re too big to operate on,’ the consultant told me. ‘If we put you under anaesthetic there’s a chance you won’t wake up.’
Why had I let myself get in this state? The consultant was able to drain the tumour for the time being but it wasn’t a permanent fix. I still needed to get down to 18st, meaning I had to lose 6st before I could have the operation. I tried cutting out junk food, eating smaller portions and snacking on apples. I even cut my beloved curries to one a fortnight. Within six months I’d lost 4st. But then I started to plateau. Realising I needed extra support, in September 2012 I joined a diet club. Stepping on the scales I was 19st 7lb. I was given a plan of healthy meals to cook and I was amazed I could still eat my favourite curries as long as I cooked them from scratch. Each week I’d lose 2-3lb and Paul and the boys were so supportive. By September 2013 I’d lost 8st. But my journey didn’t stop there. I took up exercise and by February 2015 I was down to 12st and a size 12. Since then, I’ve put on a few pounds but I know I’ll never let myself return to they way I was. I’m proof that it’s never too late to regain control of your life.
‘My 4ft 11in frame struggled under the weight’