‘Ditching takeaways and snacks helped me lose 4st’
Sarah Fogarty, 39, has maintained her weight loss for nine years
As I turned the key in the door, I’d already decided I couldn’t be bothered to cook dinner. It was 7pm, and I just wanted something quick, so I could enjoy the rest of my evening. “Shall we order an Indian tonight?” I said to my husband Stephen, who said yes. We’d treat ourselves to takeaways at least twice a week. I’d order a chicken jalfrezi, poppadoms, pilau rice, onion bhajis and naan breads. I would pile my plate high and eat until I couldn’t move, but I’d always find room for tea and biscuits before bed. It was 2010, and I was a size 18-20. I hated how big I’d got, but couldn’t find the willpower to do anything about it.
I’d been a size 12 when I got married to Stephen in June 2008. We already had our son Finley, now 14, and then in October 2009, I got pregnant again. I suffered badly with morning sickness, so I was prescribed tablets by my GP, but they didn’t make a difference. Whenever I wasn’t feeling sick, I’d eat whatever I could get my hands on. Before work, I’d go to the local coffee shop and order fruit toast with lots of butter, followed by a large hot chocolate and two pain au chocolats. I’d graze all day on sweets, biscuits and chocolate – I’d even keep some behind the till at the department store where I worked as a sales assistant, so I could snack between serving customers. Then for lunch, I’d pop to the shop and get a chicken and bacon sandwich meal deal with crisps and a fruit juice. By the time I got home, I was tired from being on my feet all day, so I’d put a ready-made lasagne in the oven with chips and garlic bread or, like now, we’d order a takeaway. Indian was our favourite, but I’d always over
‘I have so much more confidence’
order and keep eating it even when I was full.
Our daughter Darcey, now 11, was born in June 2010, and I’d gained nearly 5st. As a new mum, I didn’t want to put too much pressure on myself to lose the weight straightaway, but when she was a few months old and my size 18 clothes were getting too tight,
I decided to go to Slimming World. I had been a member before and it had really worked – I’d lost a stone. This time, I felt so nervous heading through the doors. But I needn’t have worried as everyone was so friendly. At 5ft 5in, I weighed 13st 12.5lbs. Standing on the scales was the lightbulb moment I needed. “I’ll never be this weight again,” I told myself.
At home, I started having fat-free Greek yoghurt with berries and muesli for breakfast, followed by chicken and vegetable couscous for lunch. Dinner was homemade Bolognese pasta bake, and if I needed a snack, it would be a piece of fruit or a healthy energy bar. I was cooking the same meals for my family, and they enjoyed the healthier swaps we were making, too. Ditching the takeaways and snacks was really making a difference as
I lost on average 2lbs a week. And by swerving the takeaways, we were saving more money, too!
By March 2012, I’d lost 3st 13.5lbs and was in size 10 clothes. I’d reached my goal, and after maintaining for a few years, I wanted to tone up and improve my fitness, too. I had a wedding to attend in July 2017, and I bought a size 10 off-theshoulder dress that felt a bit snug. I joined a gym and started weight training. Within six months, the dress fit me and even felt a bit big.
It’s been nine years since I lost the weight, and I’ve kept it off all this time. I’m a size 8 and have so much more confidence. I go to the gym three times a week and have a new-found love for fitness. Even throughout lockdown, I worked out in the garden and went on long walks – I’ve never felt better and am so happy I embraced this new lifestyle.
Ordering takeaways and constantly snacking on biscuits and chocolate wasn’t good, and it took me a long time to undo the repercussions. But now, I’ve built a body I’m proud to show off and I am setting a good example to my children.
‘I’ve never felt better’