Emma-Jayne, 25
Children tell it like it is. ‘Miss, you’re really big,’ one of my pupils helpfully pointed out. I couldn’t blame him; being a teacher can play havoc with your waistline. As a size 16 my confidence was shaky – I just didn’t feel like me. When my fiancé, Luke, and I set the date for our wedding, I settled on a size 16 wedding dress. I honestly didn’t consider that I could feel better.
It was my gran, Doreen, who put the thought in my head, saying that she wanted to lose some weight for the wedding. I decided there and then to join Weight Watchers with her – and then my mum Alison joined us, too. Following the plan together helped make it achievable. There’s nothing like back-up to keep you on track: I lost nearly 2st in five months. It felt wonderful to walk down the aisle weighing 9st 10lb; I was showered with compliments.
3 secrets to my success
- Having a goal: My wedding was my end goal and it worried me that after the big day, I wouldn’t have anything to work towards. That was silly – now I set other targets, like my honeymoon and my friend’s upcoming wedding.
- Yoga: I practice three times a week and it’s made me toned and so much stronger.
- My husband: Luke has been so helpful. He’s great at supporting me if I feel an urge to reach for chocolate!
