A mother who once spent up to £120 a week on takeaways says she was left ‘out of breath doing almost anything’ before losing nearly five stone – without weight loss injections.
Whitley Lloyd, 34, from Brecon in Wales, turned to food for comfort after losing her grandmother ten years ago, and would order up to four takeaways a week at around £30 each.
She said: ‘Looking back now, it’s shocking to think about how much money I was spending,’ she said.
‘I’d barely eat during the day, only to end up having takeaways and snacks late at night.’
At her heaviest, Whitley – who is 5ft 3in – weighed 15st 9lbs, placing her in the obese category.
But it was everyday life that began to suffer most.
She said: ‘I used to think takeaways were a treat, yet I found I wasn’t enjoying them anymore – they were making me feel poorly and giving me headaches.
‘I used to get out of breath doing almost anything – even just going up the stairs.’
Whitley Lloyd, 34, from Brecon in Wales, weighed 15st 9lbs at her heaviest
The mother-of-one lost nearly five stone without weight loss injections, dropping to a size 10
Working as a hairdresser meant that Ms Lloyd spent hours on her feet every day – which left her in constant discomfort.
Her turning point came after seeing a photo of herself at a family party.
Encouraged by a friend, she joined Slimming World – a decision she says ‘changed everything’.
Slimming World members attend a weekly ‘weigh in’ session, and are encouraged to stick to a low calorie diet which focuses on homemade meals and avoid calorific but nutritionally poor snacks and drinks.
Ms Lloyd said: ‘That first week I threw myself into the healthy eating plan and I lost five pounds,’ she said.
‘It was a huge moment. For the first time, I realised losing weight was possible.’
Since joining, she has swapped takeaways for home-cooked meals and started planning ahead to stay on track.
Ms Lloyd, who lives with her husband Sean and daughter Aleena, 12, now weighs 10st 11lbs and has dropped from a size 18 to a size 10.
‘When I think about how I was spending up to £500 a month on takeaways, it’s unbelievable,’ she said.
‘Now I’ve only had four takeaways this year – and I’m proud of the meals I can cook.’
She added that simple planning stopped her from reaching for delivery food and helped her enjoy eating again.
Whitley is pictured before and after losing five stone and dropping four dress sizes
Encouraged by a friend, Whitley joined Slimming World, which she says ‘changed everything’
‘I’ve lost weight by eating delicious, satisfying meals, saved money and discovered I’m a really good cook,’ she said.
‘My most recent success was a vegetable madras – it was amazing.
‘My dad’s a real foodie and he always asks when I’m making his favourite meals.’
Her weight loss also helped her become more active, completing Couch to 5K.
‘I cried when I finished it,’ she said.
‘I never believed I’d be able to do something like that.
‘I’m happier, healthier and truly myself again.
‘Slimming World didn’t just help me lose weight – it gave me back my spark, my confidence and control of my finances.’
