‘I don’t recognise myself in the mirror’

She was shocked into losing 6st, and now nurse Heather Campbell from Glasgow is feeling happy, healthy and more confident than ever.

Having been overweight for most of my adult life, sometimes I forget how far I’ve come. When I go clothes shopping, I often pick up items in size 22. I’ll get to the changing rooms before I remember, when the shop assistant looks at me, puzzled, that I’m now a size eight.

My weight ballooned when

I was training to be an A&E nurse. The shifts were long and I was exhausted on my days off, meaning I never ate proper, home-cooked meals. I opted for takeaways, and would snack all day on cakes and biscuits from patients. I was at my heaviest in 2015, weighing 16st, and I am only 5ft 4in.

Although I had tried diets in the past, nothing ever seemed to stick. Patients would often refer to me as the ‘fat nurse’ and I pretended it didn’t bother me, but it did. The big change came in October 2016, when a minibus pulled up outside the

The weight started falling off, and my progress made me more determined

hospital because a woman on it had collapsed. When I tried to help my colleagues pick her off the floor,

I got stuck between the seats. I was absolutely horrified.

I realised being overweight was preventing me from doing my job properly. I often told patients about healthy eating, but I was setting a terrible example. I was at high risk of stroke and diabetes and I hadn’t even reached 50. I knew I had to change; I wanted to be around for my children and grandchildren.

Immediately, I signed up to WW, formerly known as Weightwatchers. It’s based on scoring points for healthy meals, and you attend meetings with mentors to keep you motivated. I had to completely overhaul my lifestyle. In the past, I’d skip meals and then comfort eat, but I started eating three meals a day, tracking my points and ensuring I only snacked on fruit and vegetables.

Going to the gym was too hard to fit around 12-hour shifts, so I made small changes like walking the 30 minutes to work. My colleagues, Mary and Rosie, saw the progress I was making and signed up, too. We helped motivate each other with Whatsapp messages, and held each other accountable.

Gradually, the weight started falling off, and my progress made me even more determined. I reached my goal weight, 10st 10lb, just in time for my first ever girls’ holiday last April: to Benidorm to celebrate my 50th birthday. Not only was it wonderful shopping for swimwear and feeling confident on the beach, it was so much more comfortable in the heat.

I’m now down to 10st and still stick to my WW plan to maintain my weight. I have so much more energy, my confidence has rocketed and I think I’m even better at my job. I feel like

I can take on anything.  ww.com