Two women who bonded over their weight struggles at work are now “reliving their teens” as thrill-seeking best friends after losing over 14 stone between them by swapping takeaways and chocolate for zip-wires, rollercoasters and mountain climbing. Unable to walk upstairs without getting out of breath and weighing 19st 6lbs at her heaviest, senior analyst Gaynor Hayes, 53, lost five stone with Weight Watchers (WW) just before the pandemic hit in March 2020.
But, turning back to the crisps and biscuits in lockdown, it was bonding with her colleague, 62-year-old team leader Gill Beckford – who had just dropped from 13st 12lbs to 10st 13lbs with WW – that helped them both stay on track. Sharing recipes and enjoying 20-mile country walks, the two mums then tried new adrenaline-pumping activities to help them slim – with Gill reaching her 8st goal in March this year and Gaynor hitting 11st 7lbs in May.
Gaynor, who lives in Watford and has two children, Louise, 28, and James, 26, and Gill, who lives with her husband, businessman Errol Bowker, 62, in Enfield and is mother to Ryan, 36, and Reiss, 30, recently had their noses pierced and are planning to skydive and abseil for their next challenges.
