The incredible shrinking nurse’
Juggling work as a theatre nurse with being a mum meant Rebecca Boyd, 31, neglected her own health. But she turned things around and is now fighting fit
Since my teens, I’d always been a comfortable size 12-14 and felt fine with myself. But then, in July 2016, my weight struggles began after I returned to work as a theatre nurse from maternity leave. With my husband Scott, 39, away training in the army and only coming home occasionally, I was juggling four days of work a week and looking after our children, Sophia, then three, and Brody, eight months. It was really overwhelming and lonely at times, and I found myself reaching for more convenience food because it was quick and easy.
I’d always start the day with a bowl of cereal or toast, and at work, I’d pick at biscuits and cakes from the staff room on my break, then have chips and gravy from the canteen for lunch. In the evenings, after bath and bedtime with the kids, all I had the energy for was ordering a takeaway kebab or pizza. Over the next year, I went up to a size 16-18, and I was gutted when I had to swap my medium theatre scrubs for large ones. My confidence was at an all-time low. I didn’t want to socialise with friends, and I was sad that I couldn’t run around with my kids without getting out of breath. I knew it was down to me to change my lifestyle habits.
A couple of the mums at the kids’ nursery were on WW and raved about it. Although I didn’t have time to attend my local workshop in Chepstow, the WW online membership looked great. At the end of May, I signed up online and entered my weight of 13st 13lbs. My goal was to get down to 11st, healthy for my 5ft 10in height, and I knew the key to success was sustenance. I didn’t want to go hungry – and to my delight, I didn’t have to. For breakfast, I swapped my usual cereal for porridge, which kept me full for hours, and midmorning, I’d have a protein shake and banana, which would sustain me until the afternoon when
I’d be out of theatre. Rather than have chips and gravy from the hospital canteen, I started bringing my own sandwiches or salads, and if I felt peckish later,
I’d have a cereal bar. In the evenings, I’d pull out leftovers from the freezer that I’d batch-cooked on weekends. WW had reignited my passion for cooking, and I loved making healthy fish pies or lasagnes. Every week,
I recorded a steady loss, and by August, I’d lost over a stone.
I’d never been into fitness that much, but feeling a burst of motivation, I downloaded the Couch to 5K running app and dug out the trainers Scott had bought me two years before, but I had only worn once! By now, he was back home for the summer, so I was able to get up at 5.30am and go for a run before work. To begin with, I alternated jogging and walking, but within a couple of months, I was running straight 5Ks. It was a great way to start my day and left me feeling so much more positive and energised.
By December that year, I’d reached my goal weight of 11st, but I felt I could go a bit further, and in June 2019 – a year after joining WW – I reached a new target of 10st 7lbs. For the first time in my life, I was wearing size 10 jeans, and it felt amazing when I realised my medium scrubs were too loose and I had to get small! But more importantly, I was mentally and physically strong.
By now, Scott had been deployed to Afghanistan for six months, but he’d bought me a treadmill, so I could still run with the kids at home. I had finally found a routine that worked for me, and I was able to maintain my goal weight by tracking my points on WW.
Then, in March 2020, the pandemic hit and the theatre staff at work were transferred to the intensive care unit, where there was a huge influx of COVID cases. It was terribly stressful. Thankfully, Scott was home and could look after the kids while I worked 12-hour shifts. But working more nights and being under such stress meant my healthy eating took a nose-dive and I put a stone back on. I didn’t beat myself up about it, though, and after two months, when the ITU situation was calmer, I started tracking my WW points again and building up my running routine. Within a month, I was back to my target weight, and I’m thrilled to have maintained it ever since.
I love running and try to get out at least three times a week with my dog Shadow. I still enjoy my treats, and our family has takeaway Fridays every week. My general attitude is better than ever, and I’m so pleased to be a healthy role model for Brody, now five, and Sophia, eight, who often comes running with me. I feel more confident in my clothes, and I even wear cropped T-shirts, which is something I would never have dreamed of doing. I’ve gone from large scrubs to small, and every time I put them on, I just feel so proud of myself.
● To start your weight loss and wellness journey, visit Ww.com