Louisa Halliday before and after her weight loss. (Image: SWNS)
A mum who piled on 6st through comfort eating has confessed she was so mortified by her weight gain that she dodged mirrors for a staggering THREE YEARS. Now, after shedding the excess weight, she feels reborn.
Louisa Halliday, 45, tipped the scales at 16st 9lbs and squeezed into a size 18 at her heaviest, succumbing to chocolate, crisps, and Chinese takeaways during the pandemic lockdowns.
The mum-of-one’s weight spiralled to such an extent that she no longer recognised herself, leading her to shun her reflection for three long years.
However, a knee injury exacerbated by her weight left her with “no other option” but to slim down. Joining Slimming World, Louisa lost an impressive 1st 1lb in just the first week.
Fast forward 10 months, she’s now four dress sizes down, boasting a svelte figure at 10st 6lbs and a size 10. Louisa, now a weight loss consultant from Swansea, Wales, shared: “I couldn’t look in the mirror for three years – I just couldn’t bring myself to do it. I didn’t recognise myself, but now, I feel like my old self again.”
She added: “I felt so depressed and down, I just couldn’t cope with that feeling anymore.”
Determined, she said: “I thought: ‘Now’s the time to change’.”
And change she did.
“Now, I have no trouble seeing myself in the mirror – I can wear whatever I want, like lots of fitted clothing.”
When -19 struck in March 2020, Louisa found solace in food as a form of comfort and self-“treat”. Her diet consisted mainly of chocolate, crisps, and regular Chinese takeaways, not to mention six glasses of her beloved red wine every weekend.
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The mum-of-one gained so much weight she didn’t recognise herself (Image: SWNS)
Louisa’s weight nearly doubled as she indulged in wine and high-calorie treats during lockdown, admitting: “I drank a lot of wine and I was eating high sugar, high fat food.”
She reflected on the common struggle, saying, “Lots of people put weight on during the lockdown, it was just a bad time.”
Her cravings led her to comfort foods: “I just wanted to treat myself – so I was going for the chocolate, the crisps.”
The extra pounds took a toll when an injury struck; Louisa recounted the painful incident: “I fell on top of a wooden frame bed. The corner went straight through my kneecap.”
Despite the pain, she coped without medical help: “I just got on with it, really – but because of my weight, the pressure on my knees was awful.”
Determined to shed the weight and ease her knee pain, Louisa avoided doctors and set a target of 10st, turning to Slimming World for support. Her efforts paid off quickly, as she lost 1st 1lbs in just two weeks, leaving her ecstatic: “It felt absolutely amazing,” she beamed.
Louisa had faith in the programme: “I just wanted to see if Slimming World would work. ” Her focus was intense: “I knew I was going to lose big in the first week – when I really start concentrating on something, that’s it.”
She avoided home weigh-ins to dodge disappointment: “I never weighed myself at home – I didn’t want to be disheartened if the figure changed. ” Her results were impressive: “But my first week, I lost 12lbs – and 5lbs in my second.”
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Louisa Halliday, 45, weighed 16st 9lbs and was a size 18 at her heaviest (Image: SWNS)
Alongside Slimming World’s meal plans, Louisa trimmed fat from meats and filled her plate with veggies, stopping when full.
Louisa has transformed her life, shedding an astonishing 6st 3lbs by overhauling her eating habits and committing to a rigorous exercise regimen.
Her daily meals have switched from cheese on toast and fast food to oatcakes, soup, and homemade ratatouille, while takeaways are now barred from her menu.
She embraces a more vibrant wardrobe, feeling reborn as her “old, sexy self” in form-fitting dresses, jumpsuits, and shorts. Louisa shared her elation: “I can wear what I want again.”
“I even feel like I can be more sociable – when I gained the weight, I became very shy. I feel amazing – and I’m not restricting food, either, as nothing’s off-limits.”
Her exercise routine has become just as disciplined; she aims for at least 28,000 steps a day complemented by boxing sessions in the gym.
Here’s how Louisa’s meal plan has evolved:.
BEFORE THE DIET.
Breakfast: Two slices of cheese on white toast.
Lunch: McDonald’s or KFC.
Dinner: A Chinese takeaway.
Extras: Three-to-four glasses of wine on a Saturday and Sunday.
AFTER THE DIET.
Breakfast: Oatcakes.
Lunch: Soup.
Dinner: Batch-made ratatouille, or butternut squash curry.
Together with her newfound commitment to fitness, including at least 28,000 daily steps and hourly boxing exercises in the gym, Louisa has regained control and sparkled anew with confidence.