The Scottish Mail on Sunday

I lost 4st to marry in my dream dress

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KRISTEN MITCHELL, 50, is early years adviser for Cambridge City Council and lives near Bury St Edmunds with her husband Carl. She lost 4st in six months (dropping from 14st) to fit into a size 10 dress for her wedding last summer.

THIS diet plan has been life-changing. I lost four stone in six months and was thrilled to get married in the dream dress that sparked my weight-loss challenge. I bought it in a size 10 when my husband Carl proposed, in 2019, vowing to get into it. On the day, it fitted like a glove.

For the first time ever I understand why I’d been gaining weight. I’m 5ft tall with a slow metabolism, so I can’t get away with eating the way I used to eat.

I was always out of breath on walks. I felt uncomforta­ble in clothes. Even putting on shoes or boots was a struggle. Although 800 calories a day didn’t sound a lot, I’ve never felt hungry.

I love the recipes. They’re delicious and filling. My husband, who didn’t need to lose weight, has been eating them with me and been surprised by how much he enjoys them, too. He’s much healthier as a result.

I’m so happy to cut out breakfast, just have lunch at 1pm and eat nothing after 7pm dinner. Having just two meals a day suits me. It’s also been great to have so many high-protein, low-carb lunch options I can take to work. My favourite is frittatas (which I freeze in batches, then heat in the work microwave) or a salmon dip, which I eat with celery sticks.

I signed up to the Fast 800 online programme (thefast800.com) and I keep my weight stable following a 5:2 or 3:4 pattern, always eating within an eight-hour window every day. It suits me and my body feels better.

If my weight fluctuates, as it did after a cruise with my mum and my sisters, I know how to get things back in line. I simply return to Stage One of the plan, eating 800 calories a day for 12 weeks. It works a treat every time.

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