Mum’s life-changing 11 stone weight loss after switching diet to fruit …

A mum who decided "enough is enough" lost 11 stone after suffering seriously from Covid-19. Primary school teacher Kerri Hayes, 42, weighed 22 stone when she caught the virus in 2021 and was hospitalised for several days. After extensive tests, she was told by doctors she had several blood clots in her brain, with some haemorrhaging, plus experienced slurred speech and confusion.

The consultant advised her morbid obesity was a significant attribute of the illness and was put on a collection of medications to tackle the symptoms. Although she gradually got better throughout 2021, she knew she had to make a change at the beginning of 2022 because she was not losing weight. This prompted her to join her local Slimming World[1] group in Layton.

She said: "Before I lost weight, after standing up in the classroom all day my knees would hurt and my ankles were always aching and swollen. I was lethargic, lacked motivation, and had very low self-esteem. "I have so much more energy and confidence.

My teenage son Nic and I live on the fourth floor in a block of flats and when I was at my heaviest, I'd dread it if the lift was out of order. "Now, it's no bother! I don't get out of breath at all when walking up stairs.

I go to Zumba classes twice a week - I was inspired by hearing other Slimming World members talking about activity and actually one of the ladies from my group is the instructor.

"I love the Slimming World online activity videos too and I walk 10K steps a day." Ms Hayes, from Walthamstow, said she was nervous going into the group, as she was the heaviest she has ever been, but managed to lose 7lbs the first week and praised the group for being "so welcoming and supportive". The single mother traded her old diet comprised of sausage rolls, takeaways, and sugary drinks and now eats a healthier diet of water, fresh vegetables and fruits, and low calories meals.

She has revealed she saves around GBP100 a month on food bills because of the healthy choices. "Now I'm eating much more fresh food than I did before. I enjoy cooking and making healthy versions of all my favourite foods which are nutritious and filling so I'm never hungry.

I'm using up all the vegetables in my fridge which would probably have gone to waste before, too. "I feel in control of what I'm eating for the first time in my life, and that feels really good." Now at 11 stone, she shared the tips she learned with her friends at work and they tell her how inspired they are by her. She also said she is "reliving her youth" after she dropped five dress sizes from a 22 to size 12.

Joanne Wason runs the Leyton Slimming World group and is Kerri's Slimming World Consultant. Joanne says: "It's been such an honour for me to part of Kerri's weight loss journey. It wasn't long after Kerri joined my group, and as she began to swap takeaways and ready meals for her own home-cooked food, that Kerri found she was losing weight and she was also saving money.

"She now shares her tips and experience with the group and she's such a valued member - we can't imagine our group without her!

Awarding Kerri with her 11st award was a moment I will never forget - it was a magical moment and I'm so proud of Kerri's success."

References

1. ^ Slimming World (www.slimmingworld.co.uk)
2. ^ The family 'torn apart' by smart motorway crash as government scraps scheme (www.essexlive.news)