My sports day humiliation

CHANCE

Slowing my car to a stop, I rolled down the window. ‘A double sausage and egg McMuffin, and a large full-fat Coke, please,’ I said into the speaker.

A few minutes later, sat in the car park, I tucked into my delicious McDonald’s breakfast, ready to start my day. After filling up, I headed across town to my job as a hairdresser. ‘I’m starving,’ I moaned to my colleague an hour later.

‘I haven’t eaten anything all morning.’ Of course, it was a complete lie.

But it meant that I could join her on a mid-morning trip to the bakery across the road, and tuck into a warm pasty without anyone judging me.

It was 2006, and for years, I’d been eating in secret, not wanting anyone to know how much I was actually gorging on.

What I wasn’t able to hide, though, was my growing frame.

It had all started when I was 16, going out with my boyfriend James*.

At the time, I was a trim and healthy size 6.

We were young and in love, but the magic didn’t last for very long.

The relationship became toxic, and to cope with how I was feeling, I started eating more and more. By the time I was 19, I’d gone up to a size 12 –not massive, but much bigger than I’d been before.

That year, I fell pregnant, and thinking we were doing the right thing, James and I got married. Still, it wasn’t a happy relationship, and James would often judge my eating habits. ‘Are you really having another biscuit?’ he’d scold as I sat down on the sofa with a cup of tea.

‘Don’t start that,’ I’d say, rolling my eyes.

It always ended in an argument. By the time our daughter Summa was born in 2007, I’d ended up resenting James, eating in secret just to spite him.

Every morning on my way to work, I’d stop off for a full McDonald’s breakfast.

Back at the salon, I’d lie to my colleagues, telling them I hadn’t eaten anything.

Then throughout the day, I’d snack on crisps and chocolates.

I would even hide treats in my hairdressing trolley, snacking in between customers.

I’d drink about three litres of Pepsi a day, and on my way home from work, I’d stop for a pasty or sausage roll to eat on the way.

‘I haven’t eaten all day,’ I’d lie to James, so in the evenings, we’d tuck into huge cheesy dinners.

On weekends we’d get a Chinese or Indian takeaway, and I could easily get through three ne

days. as my , dark ret. No one new how much I was ating.

I was nhappy ith my ationship, was eating mpensate. 3, our At 19st, Leanne Linds bottom. Then a stranger handed her a lifeline... I was so ashamed

I did it for my daughter

relationship had reached breaking point, and James and I got divorced. By then, I was a size 20, and too afraid to stand on the scales.

After that, being a single mum to Summa, then six, I went on what you would call a ‘divorce diet’. Suddenly feeling more in control of my life, I actually lost some weight without even trying.

But when I met my second husband, David*, in December that year, all the weight came piling back on – and then some.

I was finally happy, and David and I would often enjoy meals out together – but it meant that my waistline continued to grow.

Four years later, by 2017, I’d reached 19st.

And by then, my weight was starting to take a toll on my health. I struggled to run around with Summa, and I felt like I was failing her as a mum.

I was missing out on her childhood, and it was all because of my weight.

It became so bad, I was even diagnosed by my GP with asthma and high blood pressure.

‘You need to do something about this,’ he’d warned.

But that was easier said than done. Later that year, I bumped into

REAL LIFE

Before

The pounds melted away

David’s ex girlfriend. You always want to look better than your partner’s ex, but I definitely didn’t.

And she wasn’t nice about it at all, calling me a ‘fat dog’.

That night, I cried myself to sleep, absolutely mortified.

The following year, my second marriage came to an end, and once again, Summa and I were left on our own. She was such an active child,

I was in sheer agony and I couldn’t keep up with her.

‘It’s my school sports day!’ she beamed excitedly one morning a ew months later. Eager to be there to support girl, I went along, stood on elines.

I didn’t know was that they’d scheduled in a mum’s race... ‘Please, Mum,’ Summa begged. ‘All the other mums are doing it!’ Not wanting to embarrass her, I reluctantly took my place at the starting line.

As the whistle blew, I heaved my body off the line, huffing and puffing for 100 metres, until finally, I’d reached the end. Looking around, I quickly realised that not only had I come in last place, but now, all the other mums and kids were staring at me, looking rather redfaced and sweaty. I was mortified. Afterwards, as I gulped down a bottle of water, one of the mums, Stephanie, 33, came over to me.

‘I’m a personal rainer,’ she smiled, handing me a

usiness card.

‘You should come o one of my classes ome time.’

‘Thanks,’ I smiled hyly, my cheeks urning up.

Back home, staring Stephanie’s phone umber, I thought out my life. I’d allowed myself become obese, my alth was at risk, and w I was an mbarrassment to y daughter.

‘I’m going to give s a try,’ I said.

You can do it, um!’ Summa amed proudly. So, a few mornings r, in the pouring n, I found myself in local park, ready to t Stephanie’s class. Turns out, it was a

body, high intensity workout, and as she put me through my paces, I thought I was going to die!

After all, I’d never exercised in my life!

After just an hour, I was in sheer agony.

But at the same time, strangely, I felt great!

Two days later, I went back for another class with Stephanie, and I’ve never looked back.

Stephanie and her partner Anthony also helped me overhaul my diet. For breakfast, I’d have scrambled eggs with broccoli, followed by tuna with broccoli for lunch.

Dinner would usually be After

something similar, and during the day, I’d snack on handfuls of almonds and blueberries.

I was learning to cook with garlic and spices, and also learnt a lot about calorie counting.

Signing up to musclefood.com, I regularly bought their lean, highprotein meats, incorporating them into my meals.

Incredibly, in the first four weeks, I dropped a stone.

‘This is amazing!’ I cried. A couple of months later, looking in the mirror, I started noticing my collarbones and hip bones.

‘I haven’t seen these in years!’ I laughed to myself.

I continued with Stephanie’s class and diet, and since then, I’ve lost an incredible 7 stone, and have dropped to a size 12.

Stephanie and I are actually really good friends now, which is no surprise really, as we see each other so often!

The day she handed me her business card was the day she saved my life.

Losing weight has eradicated my asthma, and the best part about it is that now I can finally be a proper mum to Summa.

Now 13, she’s been my rock through this, encouraging me every day to keep going.

I’ve even met a new bloke – Andrew, 32.

For a long time, I was in a very sad, dark and lonely place.

Losing weight has completely turned my life around and made me so much more confident.

I used to be the fat person getting nasty comments, but now people notice me for the right reasons. Leanne’s diet

BEFORE: Breakfast : Sausage and egg McMuffin Mid-Morning: Pasty Lunch: Pasty or a sausage roll Dinner: Pasta or takeaway Snacks: Crisps and chocolate Drinks: 3l of Pepsi, wine

NOW: Breakfast: Scrambled eggs with broccoli Lunch: Tuna with broccoli Dinner: Musclefood.com lean meat with steamed veg Snacks: Almonds and blueberries Drinks: Water