A cake shop owner who would cry when she looked in the mirror has lost a whopping seven stone – and said she isn’t tempted by her sweet treats. Abby Redmond, 25, tipped the scales at 21st last year after gorging on four takeaways a week and said she would panic about not being able to fit into booths at restaurants.
She struggled to get into the back of two door cars and would cry in changing rooms trying on size 22 clothes. Abby said she hit rock bottom when she went swimming and burst into tears when she saw herself in the costume - and knew she had to make a change.
Cake baker Abby found a PT and committed to a diet plan eating 1,800 calories a day as well as lifting weights and has slimmed down to a size 12. Despite struggling to even walk upstairs last year, she can now deadlift 160kg and run 5km.
And Abby said she is never tempted by the cakes in her shop because the meals she is eating now are never boring. Abby, from Glasgow, said: “A gym opened up across the road from my cake shop and I thought right this is my chance, there is no hiding from it now.
“I had really hit rock bottom. I burst into tears when I looked in the mirror and would cry in changing rooms when I was shopping because nothing fit me.
“My weight affected every aspect of my life. When I went out for meals I would panic if they sat us at a booth because I was scared I wouldn’t fit in.
“If my friends picked me up in a two door car I would worry I was too big to get into the back. I would go out and see everyone up dancing but would just sit and watch because I had no confidence, and I was so scared people would be looking at me.
“I just felt I was too big to do anything. The worst moment was when I went swimming and I put on my costume and I just burst out crying, I didn’t want to come out of the changing rooms.
“That was my rock bottom moment, I hated what I saw in the mirror and I knew it had gone too far. I was eating about four takeaways a week.
“I would have a McDonalds for lunch and then order something else for dinner. I don’t really have a sweet tooth so I was never that temped by the cakes in the shop.
“I didn’t believe anyone my size could actually look slim but when I asked my PT if she thought I could do it she said yes. That was the light bulb moment for me, just having someone believe in me.”
Abby, who owns Abby's Cakes & Cupcakes, now goes to the gym five days a week and eats 140g of protein a day. She said she loves being on the dance floor and that nothing can hold her back now she has shifted the weight.
Abby said: “I have found a passion for weightlifting. I had never lifted a weight before but now I love it. Last year I could barely get up the stairs but now I can run 5km.
“It’s given me a new lease of life, now when I go to parties, I am always up dancing and I want people to look at me because I have worked really hard for this. Nothing can hold me back now.
“I am never hungry, my protein intake is important now I am lifting weights and I try to eat 140g a day. I make fakeaways and protein puddings, my meals are never boring.
“I won achievement of the year at the Scottish Health and Fitness awards which I am really proud of, and my trainer who owns The Wee PT won best female PT.”
Abby's diet before:
Breakfast - fry up made with oil, full fat sausages, bacon, potato scones, white bread
Lunch - Fast food, McDonald’s
Dinner - Indian or Chinese takeaway
Abby's diet after:
Breakfast - healthy fry up in the air fryer, bacon medallions, low fat sausages, mini hash brown, eggs, mushrooms, tomato, beans
Lunch - protein bagel thin with sliced cold meat
Dinner - fakeaway mayflower chicken curry with plenty of onions, spring onion, peppers
