and plucked up the courage to walk down the aisle.
Pretending all eyes weren’t on me, I focused on Andy,
who was gazing at me with a loving smile. As soon as
the ceremony and group pictures were out of the
way, I nipped upstairs to change into a pair of black
linen trousers and a white tank top. Blending into
the background, I felt much more relaxed. Despite
Lisa-Marie’s warning, I was relieved that we hadn’t had
a full set of professional photos, though at the same
time a little guilty that Andy wouldn’t have a picture
of the two of us to look back on in years to come.I’d been a size 12 when Andy and I had first met,
and I’d felt happy in my own skin. Very quickly,
romance blossomed between us. Then after
a surprise pregnancy
ended in miscarriage,
I turned to food to cope
with our loss. I’d send
Andy out regularly to get
me something sweet, and
he’d bring back family-size
packs of chocolates and
cakes. My weight climbed
and when my second
pregnancy ended in
another heartbreaking
loss I began to believe I’d
never become a mum, and
turned to food even more.
We tried for a year and the
emotional impact took its
toll on both of us. Feeling
sad and low, I started
hiding what I was eating
from Andy. I’d seek solace
in pastries and muffins in
the car after work, then
when I got home, I’d have
dinner and pudding, with
him none the wiser.In time, we got the good
news we’d been longing
for – I was pregnant again
and this time things were
going well. A few months
earlier, I’d taken the plunge
and joined Slimming World, and I was sure losing
2st had helped me conceive. Even so, towards the
end of my pregnancy, my weight had been high
enough to cause concern, and I was diagnosed with
gestational diabetes and had to take medication to
control it. Just a few months after giving birth to
a beautiful little girl, Kaycie, I was thrilled when
I found out I was expecting again. This time, I was
tested for gestational diabetes earlier, and my blood
sugar was so high I needed to inject myself with
insulin. Archie was a healthy baby and was ready
to go home within hours, but my health was more
of a worry. My blood sugar still wasn’t stabilising
and the doctor delivered a stark warning to me as
I was discharged: ‘You’re twice as likely to develop
type 2 diabetes now if you don’t change your
lifestyle.’ As Andy drove us all home, I sat in shock,trying to digest the news. I’d seen a family member
cope with diabetes, so I knew all about the possible
complications that might come with it. My mind
turned to our children’s future. What kind of
example would I be setting if I didn’t take my
doctor’s advice? Might my health even stop me
being the kind of active, fun mum I wanted to be?With Kaycie and Archie as my motivation, I rejoined
Slimming World three weeks later with the support
of my midwife. The Consultant, Laura, and the rest of
the group were really welcoming, and I went home
determined that I’d do everything in my power to
lose weight and keep it off for good. With a toddler
and a baby to look after, I knew being busy could
easily get in the way if I wasn’t organised, so
I decided to plan all my meals in advance. I kept
things really simple, having cereal with fruit and
milk, jacket potatoes with baked beans and salad,
and stir-fries and curries from Slimming World’s
Take 5 cookbook – all easy to make in a hurry.
Food Optimising was the perfect fit for me and, as
Slimming World works with the Royal College of
Midwives to support new mums and mums-to-be,
with a few small changes, like including more
calcium-rich foods, I knew I was getting the extra
energy and nutrients that I needed for breastfeeding.Andy was my biggest supporter, helping to keep me
on track when I was worn out after a sleepless night.
Every weekend he’d make us a delicious Slimming
World cooked breakfast and sit down with me while
I was menu planning, helping me sketch out our
meals for the week ahead. Within six weeks, all while
enjoying generous, filling meals, I’d already lost
2st. Soon after, my sister, Amber, and her boyfriend,
Matthew, came round for Sunday dinner, and Andy
cooked a Food Optimising roast for everyone. He
was only just beginning to get into cooking and I felt
really touched that he’d gone to so much effort –
the roast dinner was delicious and I could tell how
proud he was of the results. When we told Amber
and Matthew that all the food was on the Slimming
World plan, they couldn’t quite believe it. They
were full of compliments, both for the food and
the weight I’d lost so far, and that day gave me
a real lift. I knew I was on my way and with every
pound lost, my confidence grew.I wanted to start doing some regular Body Magic,
as I knew it would support my weight loss and
I liked the thought of getting out and about. So each
evening, after putting Kaycie to bed, I left her with
Andy as I strapped Archie into my baby carrier and
set off for a walk. To begin with, I just circled the
block a few times, before heading back into the
house feeling breathless but pleased with myself
for trying. Soon, I managed to get a couple of my
friends to join me on my springtime evening walks,
which meant we could chat and catch up while we
exercised. I bought myself a smart watch with
a fitness tracker and set myself little physical goals,
like standing up for a minute, or walking so many
steps a day. Meanwhile, I was sticking to my planned
meals and snacks, and by the time our big familyHayley’s
tips
for busy
mums
● Planning your meals ahead can
save you money as there’s so much
less waste – which I found particularly
useful while on maternity leave.
● You don’t need a babysitter to
enjoy Body Magic. Invest in a good
baby carrier and you can walk while
enjoying precious time together.
● Kids are welcome at Slimming
World groups, but it can also be
nice to enjoy some adult time, so
don’t feel guilty if you prefer not
to take them along. Any time you
spend at group will benefit them
in the long term.
● Batch cook Food Optimising
recipes that you know your kids
will like, such as chicken casserole,
spaghetti Bolognese and beef stew,
then freeze adult and child-size
portions. It’s so reassuring to have
some dinners on standby.>26 SLIMMING WORLD MAGAZINE