It was a January holiday that pushed this mum who was “sick of being the fat friend” to shed over 5st.
Helen Coyne said she had “always felt like the fat friend and the fattest in any social group”, which caused her to hide her true feelings and personality. And although she portrayed herself as the “bubbly” friend in the group, deep down she was feeling sad and uncomfortable.
The 43-year-old, from Windy Nook, Gateshead, said: “I was very unhappy with my appearance. I wore frumpy clothes to hide my body shape and because I had limited choice when shopping. It was always on my mind that I needed to lose weight which led to me feeling bad about myself and staying in the cycle of comfort eating, putting more weight on, feeling bad and eating more ‘comfort’ foods.”
The children’s services manager added: “I was being tested for gluten intolerance and coeliacs disease at the beginning of 2023 and had horrendous gastro symptoms, I knew deep down it was diet related and all of my symptoms are now gone.”
Helen said she had gained extra weight during lockdown and the shock of her weight gain hit her while on holiday with friends towards the end of 2022. And with another holiday looming in January 2023, Helen said the thought of going away looking and feeling the same as she did during the trip “finally gave me the shove I needed”.
Helen Coyne has now lost 5st 7lb
(Image: Slimming World)
Despite previously trying Slimming World in January 2009, the mum-of-one decided to give the group another go.
“I’d done the plan before and found it really easy to understand and it fit in well with my lifestyle”, said Helen, who found having the option to pick up a Slimming World ready meal from a supermarket helped to keep her on plan to begin with.
Now she has lost a whopping 5st 7lb, slimming from 17st 5lb to 11st 12lb, and dropped from a size 20-22 to a size 12-14.
“I feel so much healthier and happier, and feel more confident,” said Helen, adding, “I didn’t enjoy cooking before and tended to avoid it, but now I can make more meals and they’re more varied. I’m physically more healthy and can walk briskly without getting out of breath. And I can shop in different clothes shops that were previously out of bounds.”
The mum of one teenage daughter now cooks from scratch and plans her meals, rather than turning to a takeaway for convenience after a busy day at work.
Helen Coyne has now lost 5st 7lb
(Image: Slimming World)
Helen said: “My go to meals were convenience foods and I was a lover of anything that began with a ‘ch’ – chips, cheese, chocolate. Although crisps were my biggest downfall – the big bags and the stronger flavour the better.
“I had 2-3 takeaways a week for quickness after work and as a reactive move rather than planning meals in advance.”
She added: “My meals are much more balanced now. I still don’t eat breakfast but for lunch in warmer weather it’s fruit and fat free yoghurt or various types of salad. Colder weather has me reaching for homemade soup or leftovers from the night before. On days that I feel more hungry at lunchtime I’ll have jacket potato or homemade quiche.
“My favourite meals are always pasta related. My favourite go-to is a Slimming World lasagne with Slimming World chips- it feels too naughty to be true!”