A hairdresser says she can finally be the mum she wants to after losing more than 13 stone. Natasha Gibbs, from Essex, dropped from a size 32 to a size 12, determined to be able to have fun and enjoy life with her son Jayden.
The 37-year-old knew something needed to change after being unable to fit on rides at theme parks or play football with Jayden, 11, who she vowed to be a good role model for. Natasha lost weight with diet and meal replacement brand exante’s products, by substituting her three main meals a day with nutritionally-complete, low-calorie shakes, pot meals, soups and bars.
Natasha, who dropped from 24st 4lbs to 10st 9lbs, said: “I was overweight for most of my life, I was a size 16 when I was 15-years-old, and I was about 18 stone in my 20s. I remember back then being told by a doctor I was dangerously overweight for someone with my 5ft 7inch frame, and that I was lucky not to have other serious health problems.
“By the time I was pregnant with Jayden in 2011, I was a size 30, and I put on another stone during those nine months. Becoming a mum meant more to me than anything, but I struggled to keep up with him, and as he got older it’s something I was really embarrassed about.
“I couldn’t run around with him in the park and I dreaded him asking to play football with me, because I couldn’t jog without getting breathless quickly. The first time we went to a theme park hit me hard. Jayden was four but had to go on rides with my mum instead of me, because I couldn’t fit on.”
Natasha knew she needed to make changes but was disheartened because nothing had worked for her so far, she’d tried various diet plans but never managed to keep any weight she lost off. Working a busy schedule as a hairdresser meant she often grabbed meals, and junk food, on-the-go and admitting she regularly made poor choices out of convenience.
The turning point for her was seeing herself in the background of a picture of Jayden and feeling unhappy with how she looked. She said: “My friend told me about exante, which offers meal replacement products like shakes and soups, and diet plans people can follow. She’d already lost four stone and told me to give it a try.
“I started off by having a nutritionally-complete shake for breakfast, a bar or pot meal for lunch and soup for dinner. Drinking lots of water helped because I didn’t feel as hungry.
“It was the first time ever that I started to see real results. In seven months I had lost seven stone and I was in complete shock. I was fit enough to go to gym two-to-three times a week and exercise without it being too much of a strain.
“Then lockdown hit, but I was determined to continue with my healthy lifestyle so I started going on long walks instead. I continued using exante products and added other healthy, low-calorie meals to my diet.
“By May 2021 I reached my initial target of fitting into a pair of size 16 jeans. It felt amazing but I didn’t stop there. By December last year I was a size 12 and I’d lost more than 13 stone in total over 18 months.”
For Natasha, running around with Jayden in the park is no longer something she has to dread. After losing almost half of her body weight, her life has changed for the better, and she’s intent on maintaining her healthy lifestyle. She balances her diet out with exante’s meal replacements, healthy meals, and the odd treat here and there.
She added: “I had a really proud moment when I was last at a theme park with Jayden, we were waiting to go on a ride and he was holding my hand and smiling at me. It was the first time I could go on a rollercoaster with him because I wasn’t too big.
“Another brilliant thing to come out of my weight loss is that I can go into any clothes shop and choose what I like, and not have to worry about only choosing from plus-size clothes. I’m more confident, I feel so much better and I have more energy.”
“I can have treats and takeaways in moderation now, but I’ll never go back to how I was before.”
Meal replacement firm exante advises anyone embarking on a low-calorie diet plan should consult their GP or a healthcare professional first, as should anyone with a medical condition, who is looking to change their diet.
It adds its meal replacement products should complement a balanced diet and lifestyle. Those using meal replacement products should drink two litres of water a day.
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