Through THICK &THIN
I threw away all the takeaway menus
Drying myself off, I decided it was time for drastic action.
So, after years of doing nothing but eat, I joined my local Slimming World group.
Walking in to my first weigh-in was the hardest thing I’ve ever done.
But I found myself surrounded by women just like me.
Some at the beginning of their journey, some in the middle and some already at their target weight.
But they’d all been where I was, knew exactly how I felt.
‘You can do this,’ one grinned, encouragingly.
And the support I got from the other women in my group was incredible.
Feelings of shame and embarrassment were replaced with ambition and accomplishment.
They shared recipes for high-protein meals, tips on living a healthier lifestyle.
One of those tips was to photograph meals, which I did, as well as keeping a written food diary.
I’d scribble down every meal and reflect on it each day.
I also threw away all the takeaway menus, and deleted their numbers from my phone.
‘Wow, you’re really serious about this, aren’t you?’ Ian said to me, smiling.
‘It’s a little extreme,’ I admitted, blushing. ‘But I’m determined.’
I swapped greasy curries and fast food for jacket potatoes, chicken and veg.
Ian didn’t mind the drastic change in my eating habits. He just wanted me to be happy and healthy.
Besides, the Slimming World recipes are delicious, filling and nutritious.
I learnt portion control, and halved my plate sizes.
It was tough but, after the second week, I’d lost 11½lb.
As you can imagine, I was deeply proud of myself!
Six months into my battle, I realised that my massive, baggy tops and T-shirts hung off me.
And my huge jogging bottoms were far too big. I was chuffed to bits!
In 18 months, I won Slimmer of the Month six times. And I lost a whopping 14st!
I could even squeeze into the skinny jeans I wore before we married.
My old strappy tops and skirts fitted me again, too.
This September, everyone in my group cheered when I hit my 16st target.
I was back to a size 14, too. I felt sensational. To celebrate, Ian and my family took me out to dinner, though I stuck to my healthy-eating regime.
‘There’s no going back – ever!’ I cheered, munching on a healthy salad.
But I’m not done yet.
I’d like to get to size 12, but the last little bit is always the hardest.
Ian never wavered in his love for me, but it’s made a world of difference to our marriage.
He’s no longer my carer, we go for romantic walks.
I can help with the washing, cleaning and tidying – meaning there’s more time for other, more fun things.
And, these days, if Ian ever hops in the shower with me, it’s not to help me wash!