A York mum tells KATE LIPTROT how losing six stone has changed her life.

LIFE has changed beyond recognition for mum-of-three Michaela Watts over the last year. The 36-year-old been abroad and swimming with her children for the first time.

She has learned to cook, got engaged and moved jobs – and all, as a result of her decision to lose nearly six stone in weight in order to feel more healthy.

“I didn’t want to be unhealthy any more and I wanted to be a good example to the kids,” Michaela said. “After having children I put weight on.”

At the start of last year Michaela, from Huntington Road, vowed to do something about her weight, which had crept up to more than 16 stone 7lb since having children and raising them as a single mum.

Having tried to diet before, the learning assistant went along to her first local Slimming World meeting of 2013 for support, and has since gone on to lose nearly six stone throughout the year, dropping from a size 22 to 12.

“I feel ten times healthier and have more energy and confidence,” Michaela said, “I wish I’d done it sooner. It’s the best thing I’ve done.

“I’ve always been really shy but now I’m more confident. I’m in a lot better place than I was last year.

“I have never been really slim. Before I had children I was a size 14 so I’m slimmer now than I was then.”

Now a whizz in the kitchen, Michaela’s puts her weight loss down to cooking and preparing healthy food. “I have never been able to cook and now I can from scratch – people ask me how to cook things,” Michaela said, whose speciality dishes now include lasagne, pulled pork and chicken.

In August she went on a plane for the first time, travelling to Spain with friends and her children Rhys, 16, Rhiannon, 14, and Megan, 12 – a landmark trip for her as it was time she felt confident enough to go swimming. “I had never been swimming with the kids because I couldn’t put a swimming costume on,” she said.

Even being made redundant as a school supervisor didn’t set Michaela back and she has now got three jobs, working as a creche worker, learning assistant and after-school assistant.

After being asked by partner Trev to get married on several occasions, she finally agreed. “When he asked me before, I kept saying no,” Michaela said, “I think because I was feeling different and confident I said yes.”

• Michaela lost weight with Kath Aveyard’s Huntington Slimming World Group. The Huntington groups run at Huntington Primary School now at 5pm and 7pm on Wednesday and at Huntington WMC at 9am and 11am on Friday. Call Kath on 01904 422853 for more information or visit slimmingworld.com to find other groups.


Michaela’s vital statistics

Before

Size: 22
Weight: 16 stone 8.5lbs
Typically ate: Cup of tea and half a packet of biscuits for breakfast. Sandwich, crisps and chocolate bar for lunch. Chips and lasagne for dinner and snacks included sausage rolls or anything convenient.

After

Size: 12 
Weight: 10 stone 12.5lbs
Typically eats: Yoghurt or fruit for breakfast. Salad for lunch. Lamb, sweet potato and veg for dinner with fruit for snacks.