A Clydebank mum who ‘sounded like Darth Vader’ after reaching 17-and-a-half stone has changed her life by losing over 100lbs in just one year.
Lorraine Gallacher regularly found herself in pain and out of breath when trying to climb the stairs, with the 40-year-old beginning her weight loss journey after she was warned by her doctor that her blood pressure was far too high for someone her age.
In a bid to avoid being put on medication, the mum-of-two was referred to her local WeightWatchers (WW) group by NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde for 12 weeks.
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Lorraine, who was a size 22, said she struggled with her breathing so much her sister had dubbed her Darth Vader in a video she had taken with her children, Alistair, 15, and Jessica, 11, reports the Daily Record.
The bank worker said: “I’d been blind to my weight for a long time but I knew I was getting bigger.
"Walking up the stairs was a nightmare. If I went to hang up my washing, I'd be out of breath and I would have to sit for a minute or two, if not longer. I remember one day, I took a video of my children and sent it to my sister.
“She said it sounded as if Darth Vader had been filmed because of the heavy breathing. It was a vicious circle of being tired, lying about with no energy. But then I’d reach for some unhealthy snacks to try to cheer myself up.
“I was just coming up to turning 40 and the nurse said they thought I was a bit young to be going down the route of medication so could I try to lose a bit of weight. After hearing that, I jumped at the chance to do something about it and they made a referral. I went to my first WeightWatchers class on January 8, 2022, which is a date I’ll never forget.”
Lorraine, who now weighs 10st 5lb, told how she’s now able to be more active with her kids and thoroughly enjoys clothes shopping trips which she used to avoid.
“We were lucky enough that I didn’t let my weight stop us in too many ways. We’d go to the park but I’d just sit and watch them. Now my wee one wants me to go trampolining with her which I’m jumping at the chance of doing next time we’re off school.
“I enjoy shopping and buying clothes now too. I go to shops that I actually want to go in now and not just the ones that carry my size. It’s opened a whole new world for me. I had to go through my son’s phone to find old photographs of myself because I’d always avoid the camera. But now I really don’t mind it at all.”
After slimming down to a size 12, Lorraine decided to become a WeightWatchers coach and has vowed to help others battling with their weight.
She added: “My daughter is a young girl and she’s very aware of my weight loss. I didn't want my kids thinking ‘oh you can’t eat that because you’re on a diet’.
“If I had a drug or alcohol problem, I could have abstinence completely but you need to eat to live. Food addiction is not talked about enough.
"But over the last year, I’ve lost seven stone despite celebrating my 40th and going away three times with my family. My diet never affected it. We went to Blackpool for a few days and did a load of walking which the Lorraine of 2021 couldn’t have done.
“I don’t want to seem patronising but if I can do it, honestly, others can too. It’s all about making those little changes along the way.”
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