A mum who indulged in four takeaways a week and considered half a jar of Nutella a mere snack has shared her journey to shedding more than three stone.
Kayleigh Howard, repeatedly found herself unhappy with her physique, battling constant fatigue and shortness of breath.
The 33-year-old’s diet consisted mainly of “beige” unhealthy foods, complemented by frequent snacking on crisps, chocolates, and biscuits.
Her indulgent eating habits led to ordering takeaway food as much as four times a week, devouring three chocolate bars daily and partaking in copious amounts of Nutella in a single evening.
Determined to make a change after being confronted with an unflattering photograph of herself in Blackpool, the Radcliffe-based mum-of-one recognised the need for a lifestyle overhaul not just for her psychological wellbeing but also for her physical health, reports the Manchester Evening News.
Kayleigh confided: “I was feeling really uncomfortable. I saw a photo of myself in Blackpool last August and it put me right off myself. I thought, ‘I need to do something’.”
“Everything was just draining. I would go for walks with my toddler and be out of breath. I would be sweating and just have no energy at all. I work with kids so it was affecting my job; I was struggling to get up and down.”
“I would just wear jeans and baggy tops on nights out so I didn’t feel bloated. In pictures, I would try and get the right angle so you couldn’t see me. I didn’t want to be seen.”
Feeling motivated, Kayleigh decided to embark on her weight loss journey, joining a local Slimming World group in November 2023 when she weighed in at 13st 5.5lbs, wearing a size 18.
By sticking to a structured food plan and embracing gym workouts, she achieved an outstanding weight loss feat of 3st 5.5lbs and now tips the scales at 11st, confidently fitting into a size 12 dress.
“It’s brought my confidence right back up,” she said “I was binge eating. There was never something healthy on my plate.”
“Now, I go out in gym gear and buy clothes off the rail in the shop. I don’t need to find bigger clothes in the back of the shop.”
She attributes her newfound zest and slimmer figure to hitting the gym thrice weekly and experimenting with healthier meal options.
“I was always a plain Jane with food,” she recounted. “It’s just looking at weekly recipes and trying new foods. I never wanted to eat anything green or leafy.”
“I feel very proud. The amount of compliments I get now I walked into work the other day and I had about four parents notice I had changed. I’ve got so much pride for myself.”
