Exercise had never been a part of my life, even as a child. I’d spend all my pocket money on chocolate and by the time I was 15, my clothes were a size 16.

I weighed around 15st when, aged 22, I gave birth to Emily. Then Megan came along six years later, and my weight crept up to 17st 10lbs.

After splitting up with the girls’ dad, I threw myself into my career in recruitment. I felt exhausted most of the time, though. I remember seeing a slim, sporty mum in activewear zipping around town with her buggy and thinking: ‘What’s she on?’ For me, it was enough of a physical challenge to get up in the morning and make it through the day. I might as well have thought about going to the moon as to the gym.

By the time I met Steve in 2009, I was a size 20 – and very unhappy about it. Steve, who had a physical job and never seemed to put weight on himself, told me he loved me no matter what size I was. Our life revolved around working hard during the day, then unwinding with a couple of glasses of wine and a takeaway in the evening.

Falling pregnant for a third time at the age of 39 was a wonderful surprise. When baby Freya arrived, though, looking after her was so much tougher than it had been with Emily or Megan. By now, I was a size 22/24 and all fitted clothes felt uncomfortable on me. I stuck to wearing shapeless tunic tops and leggings, and didn’t think about how much older they might have been making me look.

When Freya was about six months old, I took her for her vaccinations. I felt my cheeks redden as the nurse asked me if I was babysitting and I realised she thought I was her granny.

As Freya turned into an active toddler, keeping up with her became even harder. Trips to the playground would wear me out and I’d have to sit on the bench and watch her play by herself. Megan had to take Freya swimming, too, which I felt should have been me.

Then, in January 2016, my daughter, Emily, joined Slimming World. Her son, Freddie, was a toddler now and she wanted to lose her baby weight. Within a fortnight she’d lost 7lbs and when I saw her cuddling Freddie, I had a sudden moment of clarity. 

Getting started was easier than I’d expected. I swapped my usual breakfast of toast, butter and jam for a sweet omelette (made by mixing in vanilla extract and a pinch of sweetener) with fruit. Instead of cheese sandwiches for lunch, I had a filling salad with canned mackerel in brine, and my takeaway dinners were replaced by home-cooked chilli or salmon with stir-fried veg and noodles.

I’d end the day with a treat using my Syns – usually plain quark with a crushed meringue nest, topped with fruit and a crumbled-up Hi-fi bar.

At group, I’d listened to other members talk about Slimming World’s activity programme, Body Magic. It sounded like something I’d consider once I reached my target weight. Then Emily told me she’d been to a Body Pump class at our local leisure centre and loved it. By now, I’d been at Slimming World for a month and had lost a stone. I decided to join her.

For the next three weeks, I kept my weights really low, so as not to overdo things or hurt myself. Still, I noticed my energy levels improving and I was sleeping better. I soon felt confident enough to add in a Body Combat class – a martial arts-inspired workout where you kick and punch the air. It left me breathless and exhausted… and I was hooked!

Within six months, I had a completely different image of myself and I was able to run around with Freya and my grandson, Freddie. In October 2016, just nine months after joining Slimming World, I’d lost nearly 6½st and Steve and I went to Majorca on our first holiday abroad in eight years. I wore size-14 dresses when we went out for dinner and I even walked to the pool in a tankini!

I hit my revised target of 10st 7lbs in September 2017. And a fortnight later, I turned 45. Now, I do at least four fitness classes a week. 

I’m confident about the way I look and I love my toned shoulders. Best of all, I have the energy to play with Freya. Seeing her eyes light up when we head to the park makes me so grateful I made the decision to change my lifestyle.

I’m never going to take my health for granted again. I’m carrying on Food Optimising to maintain my weight and I’m mixing up my fitness by trying different workouts, too. Nothing beats that feeling of coming home from the gym, refreshed, glowing... and able to keep Freya on her toes!

Weight loss will vary due to your individual circumstances and how much weight you have to lose.