I didn’t want to feel like this at 40

Vicki, 41, wanted to make big lifestyle changes before hitting a milestone birthday...

After my son, Seb, now four, arrived, I became a full time mum. I lost myself. I didn’t have time to cook fresh meals or exercise. I had no time to do anything for me. 

My husband, James, worked long hours, while I spiraled downwards, eating rubbish because it was quick and easy, wearing bagging clothes and moping around the house. 

Then, in November 2018, we went on holiday. I felt so uncomfortable in the heat. I couldn’t walk very far. I couldn’t keep up with James when we went out. I’d always been quite fit but now, I had no stamina. I couldn’t look after Seb properly because I was too tired to engage with him. I felt rubbish.

I said to a friend: ‘I don’t want to be like this at 40. I am going to lose 4st by my 40th birthday.’

My 40th was in June 2019. On New Year’s Eve 2018, we went to a party but I hated it. I didn’t like my outfit and felt frumpy and uncomfortable. 

In January 2019, I joined Slimming World. I was nearly 18st. 

I liked that I didn’t have to faff about weighing out portions. I could cook for the whole family and fell in love with cooking again.  

When my 40th birthday arrived, I was so happy. I was three sizes smaller and it was a hot and sunny day, yet I didn’t feel uncomfortable in the heat like I used to.

I was a few pounds shy of 4st lost, because we went on holiday and I relaxed a bit, but when I did reach the goal a few weeks later, I realised I wasn’t done. I had more to do.

I ended up losing 5st5lbs in total.

Summer 2019, a local women’s rugby team started up and I wanted to join, so I had to up my fitness. I did the Couch to 5k challenge, then started running ParkRun every weekend and going out cycling. Now, I can’t lose any more weight because I play in prop position and I need to be strong. 

Seb is an active child, but I can keep up now. He has a bike too so we often go out together. He’s too young to remember how I was before, but he knows Mummy loves running and rugby. Of my slimming club, he did say: ‘Mummy goes to fat class.’ But I have a feeling he’s parroting my husband!

I feel happier, fitter, stronger. I was so down when I was bigger, because I didn’t do. I just was. I couldn’t have joined the rugby club if I hadn’t lost weight, because I wouldn’t have had the confidence, nor would I have been able to get past the warm up. Now, exercising is my time for me and it always has a profound effect on my mood. It’s changed everything, because I feel incredible when I exercise. I lost myself, but I found myself. 

Before:

Breakfast: White bread with butter. Coffee.

Lunch: Fish fingers and chips.

Dinner: Pizza

Snacks: Crisps, sweets, three glasses of wine.

Now:

Breakfast: Fat Free Greek yoghurt with strawberries

Lunch: Ham and Cheese salad

Dinner: Homemade chicken and pasta. One glass of wine.