‘I’ve lost the weight of a human being!’
Sarah Swift feared her children could be orphaned if she didn’t lose weight. Now she’s over 12 stone lighter…
Popping two slices of white bread into the toaster, I finished off the kids’ packed lunches, before slathering the toast with butter. I wolfed it down, checking Brandon, now nine and Eloise, six, had everything they needed, before ushering them out the door.
‘Have a good day,’ I said, dropping them off at school, before getting back to the safety of my own home. The 10-minute walk had left me hot and breathless – and dropping and collecting the kids was the only job I had. Our grown-up sons, Daniel, now 28, and Arran, 26, still lived at home – while my husband Paul supported us with his health and safety manager job.
I was incredibly lucky, and I adored the kids, but back home, I flaked onto the sofa to watch daytime telly with some mini muffins. For lunch, I devoured cheese sandwiches and crisps, decided what I’d cook for the evening meal, then went to collect the kids again. I hoped no one made fun of them for having a fat mum. I was always very conscious at the school gates. And at a size 30, I guess it wasn’t any wonder. But I’d been this way for a long time…
I’d struggled with my weight for as long as I could remember. I was sporty at school – played netball, loved athletics and had been tall for my age…until everyone else caught up! I was bigger round the middle than my friends despite eating healthy home-cooked dinners and we never had takeaways. Paul and I had known each other since I was 12 and we got together three years later. I knew he loved me regardless of what I looked like.
When I left school, I was a size 14, but after getting my first job and popping to the corner shop each day, snacking on crisps and chocolate, the weight slowly crept on. By the time I fell pregnant with Daniel when I was 20, I was nearing 19st and a size 26. My pregnancy had to be consultant-led because of my weight. Still, it didn’t matter when our baby boy arrived – we were besotted. Paul was a brilliant dad and it wasn’t long before I fell pregnant again. After Arran was born, I’d grab food as and when I could, ordering takeaways when I was too tired to cook.
I was always conscious of my size when I had to do the nursery and school run, but I’d tried every diet going. I joined clubs, cut out carbs – anything
I could think of. I’d lose a couple of stone, plateau and give up. And with my big portions, the weight always crept back on.
Years later, I had gestational diabetes with Brandon and Eloise because of my size, too. Now, with them both at school, I should have been sorting my diet out, only I had no idea where to start. Then, in April 2018, Paul came home from a medical he needed for a new job. ‘They’ve found something wrong with my heart,’ he said. There was some kind of blockage and he’d been referred to a specialist.
I was absolutely terrified. ‘I’m sure it’ll be OK,’ Paul said, but I spent the evening Googling and wished I hadn’t. In time, we learnt Paul had left bundle branch defect (LBBB) meaning that there was a blockage of the electrical impulses to his heart’s left ventricle.
He would likely need a pacemaker in the future, but he was given medication to even out the electrical impulses.
Paul had never been ill in his life. I always thought of him as invincible. He’d never been overweight, and it got me thinking about my heart. I wasn’t looking after myself – what if I’d done some damage? Could our children be left without any parents? It didn’t bear thinking
about. So, on 28 May that year, I went to my first 1:1 Diet appointment with Cambridge Weight Plan. Paul took me to see my consultant, who reassured me, despite me weighing 24st 2lbs and being a size 32, that I could lose weight.
I was utterly determined. To start with, I had four meal replacement products a day and a glass of milk – and, as I didn’t have to think about anything, I found it easy. I didn’t mind cooking for Paul and the kids either. In my first month I lost two stone, which really spurred me on. Paul had regular checkups and I was pleased we were taking care of ourselves – not just for the kids, but for each other.
Within six months I’d shed 8st, but I wasn’t giving up – I had more energy and knew I could lose more. In time, I introduced calorie-controlled foods to my diet and now, I’m 11st 10lbs and a size 12-14. My goal is to lose another 10lbs, which I firmly believe I can do.
I’m 49 and can take the kids to the cinema or a funfair without worrying if I’ll fit in the seats. I even go for coffee with my friends, knowing I won’t get stared at like I used to.
I know I’m healthier, happier and have no doubt I’ll be around to watch our kids grow. ‘You’ve done brilliantly,’ Paul always tells me – and our younger two hardly recognise old photos of me.
I couldn’t have done it without my family’s support but I can safely say, I know I’ll never be big again.
‘I was pleased we were taking care of ourselves’