Before losing 6st

My kids were a shield

I didn't realise how big I'd become

Lesley Wilkinson alt

As a mum of two, Lesley, from Carnoustie, admits that she buried her head in the sand for years and didn't really pay attention to her weight.


'My children acted like a human cover-up,' she laughs 'as I would grab them to stand in front of me if there was a camera anywhere in the vicinity! 'I was mostly the one in charge of the camera and it wasn't until I was away on holiday to Tenerife with my parents and younger daughter, when I realised how big I had become.

I Struggled to Recognise Myself

'Someone managed to take a couple of photos of me - and there was one of me sitting down and I was really shocked and struggled to recognise myself. I'd gotten good at never actually looking at myself in the mirror, and it was only when I looked at these holiday pictures that I realised how big I had become and how much of an issue my weight was.'

Lesley remembers feeling embarrassed and self-conscious when she saw the holiday photos. She realised that she needed to take control of her health and make some changes. Lesley started by making small changes to her diet, and started going for short walks every day, gradually increasing her activity levels.

After that holiday and with her two daughters growing up, Lesley realised it was time for her to take action and lose the weight she had gained. 'I had lived my life through my kids and realised I had to do it for me this time.'

'My decision coincided with me having a dental brace fitted, after years of problems with my teeth. I decided to get them and my weight sorted once and for all. Lesley joined Scottish Slimmers class and never looked back. At her heaviest, Lesley weighed almost 17 stone and, losing more than 6 stone, got to a slender size 10.

I had no self-confidence

'Before losing weight I ached all over. I had no energy and felt frumpy. I hated how I felt, I had no self-confidence whatsoever. Since losing the weight I have so much more energy and motivation to do new things. In fact I have actually started taking skiing lessons and I love it.'

'I love skiing although there is no way I could have learnt to ski when I was 6 stone overweight!' Lesley's husband Frank has booked a trip of a lifetime to celebrate their wedding anniversary and, says Lesley 'by the time the trip came around, I was only a few pounds away from my Target Weight - I felt fantastic.'

Grabbing Life with Both Hands

We had an amazing time, we walked everywhere in New York and when I got back I was delighted to find I hadn't put on an ounce! Just goes to show how beneficial walking is for weight loss.'

These days Lesley is a brand new-person, 6 dress sizes slimmer and 6 stone 9.5lbs lighter, and a whole lot of experience later.

It wasn't easy and there were times when she felt like giving up. But with the support of her family and friends, Lesley persevered and gradually started to see results. She lost weight and began to feel more confident and energised.

Now, Lesley is proud of the progress she has made and is determined to keep up with her healthy habits. She hopes her story can inspire others to take control of their health and make positive changes, no matter how small they may seem.

'Losing weight has changed my perspective on life. I'm now grabbing hold of it with both hands rather than sitting on the side lines, and I've never been happier!'