I wasn’t eating for two.. I was eating for whole family
Julie rose to the challenge of losing weight after giving birth – thanks to signing up with Slimming World
FACING up to the mammoth task of trying to lose postpregnancy weight is something every new mum will understand – but after shifting 9st in a year following the birth of her second child, Julie Charles can relate more than most.
The young mum put on 7st during her second pregnancy, taking her to 22st and a size 22 before the birth of daughter Harlow.
Her appetite while expecting had seen her give in to cravings for unhealthy snacks of crisps and chocolate while dining mainly on takeaways at mealtimes for convenience.
Julie, now back to a trim size 12, knew her weight had crept up far higher than during her first pregnancy with son Odin, five, but it was still a shock when her midwife told her exactly how much she’d put on.
“I wasn’t just eating for two, I was eating for a whole family,” said Julie, 33, of Irvine, Ayrshire.
“I was using my pregnancy as an excuse and, if I’m honest, I didn’t care how much I was putting on’.”
With just under three weeks to go till her due date, Julie got another shock when, at a routine antenatal appointment, it was discovered she was suffering from pre-eclampsia, a condition related to high blood pressure in pregnancy that can be life-threatening for mother and baby.
One of the risk factors for pre-eclampsia is being overweight or obese. Julie was rushed to hospital and labour was induced early to avoid further complications. Harlow arrived four days later on December 3, 2017, and despite Julia suffering some post-birth haemorrhaging, all was well.
Julie said: “I wouldn’t be surprised if the pre-eclampsia was brought on by my size and that’s difficult to acknowledge. I feel ashamed to think I could have been putting my life and my baby’s at risk. I knew something had to change.”
Julie, who is 5ft 8in, had been about 13st and a size 12-14 most of her adult life but she put on 2st after meeting her now husband, James, 31, in 2012 and settling into a comfortable couple lifestyle of dining out regularly and enjoying takeaways.
She put on 2st while pregnant with son Odin, born in 2014, but lost it again, going back to about 15st.
Soon after giving birth to Harlow, she decided to seek the help of her local Slimming World group to get back to a healthier weight.
She said: “I felt really supported, not only by my consultant, but also by all my fellow members who were so encouraging. That really helped me to stick with it.”
By the time Julie rejoined her Slimming World group in Irvine in January 2018, her weight was down to 19st 0.5lb.
She set herself a initial target of getting back to 15st and achieved a brilliant 4st loss in just 28 weeks. It took another 20 weeks to lose the remaining 2st she needed to reach her
At last, I felt I liked what I was seeing in the mirror again
target of 13st and she hit the milestone right before Christmas last year. Julie said: “For months, I’d been hiding in the background in leggings and baggy tops and my confidence had hit rock bottom.
“At last I felt like I liked what I saw in the mirror again – I could shop for my age and for things that I liked rather than just buying cheap things in huge sizes because that’s all that would fit.”
She added: “I like the new way of life that Slimming World has taught me and I’m thinking of becoming a consultant myself one day, to help others in the way that it’s helped me.” ●Visit www.slimmingworld. co.uk or call 0344 897 8000, follow Slimming World at www.twitter. com/slimmingworld or on Facebook at www.facebook.com/ slimmingworld