”I kicked my £10k-a-year takeaway habit and halved my body weight”
After an unhappy relationship, Chelsey Goold, 24, from Cumbernauld, relied on fast food and piled on the pounds. But after forcing herself to join a dating app and giving her lifestyle an overhaul, she shed 9st
As I sat on the sofa watching Saturday night TV, I scoffed an Indian takeaway and pictured a life beyond my front room. I’d been single for almost a year and had accepted my chances of finding love were low.
That day, in May 2018, was like every other. I’d spent £30 on fast food and my bank balance was taking a serious hit – as was my health.
I’d planned to go out with friends, but could already feel feelings of dread creeping up on me. With my insecurities about my weight and how I looked, my anxiety was through the roof.
A year earlier I’d ended a very unhappy four-year relationship. At the time, I was a size 20 and weighed 18st. Then I’d started comfort eating to hide my emotions.
Each day I’d skip breakfast before having Mcdonald’s for lunch, curry for dinner and chippy tea for a late supper, with unhealthy snacks in between. As I watched my friends settling down with their partners, my heart yearned for the same.
Every time I saw an engagement or pregnancy announcement on Facebook,
I felt an ache inside me.
“I’ll never find anyone, will I?” I moaned to friends over the phone one evening, as they begged me not to cancel another night out.
“Well, you won’t if you don’t put yourself out there!” they said.
I stood in front of the mirror staring at my clothes clinging to my ballooning figure. None of them fitted. I felt a mess and feared everyone would look at me in disgust.
With a sigh, I sadly put on my pyjamas and slumped back on the sofa. As Ant and Dec blared from the television, I picked up my phone and downloaded the dating app Plenty of Fish. If I wasn’t going to meet Mr Right on the dance floor, I might as well try online dating.
I uploaded some older, slimmer photos and ones with Snapchat filters on them. Within minutes, I spotted Owen, 29. I swiped, matched with him and sent a message.
“Hey, how are you?” I asked, before shutting off my screen. There was no chance he’d fancy me – and besides, I’d forgotten how to flirt. I walked into the kitchen and grabbed a few packs of crisps.
The next day, as I nervously checked the app, I saw his reply.
“Hi Chelsey, you look beautiful,” it read. My stomach fluttered. We spent the rest of the day exchanging messages and getting to know each other.
With each reply I felt a jolt of excitement. The next week flew by and before I knew it, I’d agreed to my first date in almost five years.
I met him with my hair and make-up done. I’d bought a new loose top and black trousers so my body wasn’t on show, and it made me feel a tiny bit more confident about seeing Owen.
“Oh my God, you look amazing,” he said as his eyes lit up. I brushed off any compliments – I didn’t believe them – but the night was perfect. Owen was so down to earth and knew how to make me laugh. I felt the spark straight away. He asked me out again and as the hours in each other’s company whizzed by, I realised I was truly happy for the first time in years.
I’d gone from a couch potato to someone so full of life. It felt like everything was coming together. After a few weeks of dating, I told Owen I wasn’t happy with my weight and had been trying to lose it. I also mentioned I’d been to my GP about it a year earlier and was on the waiting list for gastric sleeve surgery. I’d tried before to lose weight – the most I’d lost was 2st over two years – but I couldn’t keep it off. Owen simply said to me that if I felt the
‘Within 12 weeks I’d lost around 4st’
surgery would help, then he’d support me 100 per cent. When I said I felt disgusting, he would smile, tell me how beautiful I was and say he didn’t care about my weight. After my ex, I never expected so much support. But this was something I had to do for myself.
I ditched the takeaways and began eating healthily. We’d cook together when we met up and Owen helped me learn about portion sizes after years of piling up my plate.
complex surgery
In September 2018, I went under the knife. I was terrified to undergo such complex surgery, but when I came round, Owen was by my side and he waited on me hand and foot.
A month after being discharged, Owen asked me to move in with him. It was so soon, but we both knew it was right. In a matter of weeks I’d given my bed, TV, bed linen and towels to a Facebook donation page and started a new life with him.
“It’s just me and you now.
I’m so happy to wake up next to you each morning,” Owen said.
With my newfound love,
I was more motivated than ever to slim down. I was so thankful when Owen offered to help me in the gym and with his guidance, I tried really hard. even though he encouraged me, I felt so self-conscious and only went once.
But what I lost in high-impact workouts, I made up for with healthy meals of meat, fresh vegetables and fruit. I even ate breakfast for the first time in years. I had to retrain my mind as I still craved greasy, fried foods.
The more I recovered from surgery, the more I watched the pounds melt away as I ate healthily and tried to keep active. Aside from the odd treat, I waved goodbye to the crisp and chocolate pick-me-ups that had got me through the day.
Within 12 weeks of surgery, I’d lost around 4st and dropped to a size 16. I felt full of life.
On Christmas eve 2018, Owen called me downstairs and began to play Tale As Old As Time from Beauty And The Beast. As I walked into the room, he stood beaming at me with a beautiful rose and a glittering diamond ring in his hands.
“Marry me, Chelsey,” he said, with a tear in his eye.
“Yes!” I cried out, leaping into his arms. My life had changed so much in less than a year – I had new hope.
We set the wedding date for July 2019 and I spotted my dream dress online. I nervously ordered it in a size 14 – a huge milestone to aim for. I carried on eating healthily and again, the inches continued to disappear.
Just weeks before the wedding, my dress arrived. It was so beautiful, but a familiar sense of dread rose in me. “It’s never going to fit!” I said.
“Try it on, love,” my sister-in-law encouraged. As I stepped into it, I was shocked at how easily it pulled up. It was too big!
“You look like a princess,” she said.
I’d forgotten what it felt like to look so beautiful, after years of living in baggy jumpers and leggings.
beaming with pride
A couple of nights before the wedding, the altered dress returned as a size 12 – four sizes smaller than my pre-op body. I’d shrunk to a dainty 9st. I beamed with pride.
As I walked down the aisle, Owen’s jaw dropped in amazement. My best friends were my bridesmaids and I felt so lucky to have everyone who mattered in that room with me.
I’m 9st and would like to lose another stone because I’m only 4ft 8in. But I’m very happy. I have everything I ever wanted – the perfect husband, a healthy body that I’m confident in and a happy life.
I’m studying to qualify as a nurse, and the next step for us is starting a family. Knowing I’ll be able to run around after them instead of struggling to walk feels amazing. I can’t wait to be a mum.