A Renfrewshire gran who was 'medically dead for over an hour' after collapsing in the street has a new lease of life after losing eight stone.
Ann Barrowman's heart was left broken 'physically and emotionally' around six years ago. In 2015 her pub manager husband, Alex, passed away.
Then while out shopping one year later, she collapsed, suffering a major heart attack. CPR kept the 71-year-old alive before ambulance crews whisked her off to hospital.
Ann, from Paisley, endured a double heart bypass. The part-time carer was 'medically dead for over an hour'.
READ MORE: Watch Lewis Capaldi surprise students at his old Lanarkshire music college
She told the Paisley Daily Express: “The years 2015 and 2016 were life changing for me, some of the hardest I’ve had to deal with. Sadly, I lost my wonderful husband who passed away in September 2015 and two became one.
“Shortly after in 2016 my health took a turn for the worse and while out shopping I collapsed and suffered a major heart attack. I underwent a double heart bypass and was medically dead for over one hour as they repaired the damage.
“Recovering from two major life events in such a short space of time was extremely difficult. My heart needed time to mend, both emotionally and physically.”
The ordeal left Ann 'scared of life' and fearful of leaving the house. The widow's worsened mobility affected her fitness levels and she piled weight on.
She added: “After everything that happened I became scared of life. I found it difficult to leave the house in fear of what happened that day I went shopping.
“If I did go out someone would have to be with me all time. My mobility was poor and I was often spending £40 per week in taxis to get from A to B.”
She said: "Looking back on the majority of my life, I realised that for more than half of it I struggled with my weight.
“My husband ran a busy pub, so life bringing up my son and running a business could be a challenge especially when it came to food choices as convenience generally won out over healthy home-cooked meals.
“So many times I told myself Monday is the day, Monday is when I take back control but that Monday never came until 40 years later.”
But last year she decided to turn her life around and has lost a whopping eight stone, after switching convenience food for home-cooked grub and walking clubs.
The doting grandmother met Martin Bryan, a consultant for the 1:1 diet by the Cambridge Weight Plan, in 2021.
In just 18 months Ann has lost eight stone, dropping from 18 stone to 10 stone.
She said: “I found the 1:1 diet different because of the tailored support I received. I couldn’t have done it without Martin.
"His constant support helped keep me on track and so my Monday had finally arrived.
“Now, 71 years old and eight stone lighter I have a newfound zest for life that has helped me overcome health issues and mobility issues. As a result of my weight loss I now walk everywhere.
“I have gone from being a near recluse to being much more independent. I’m spending more time with my family and often collect my granddaughter from school.
“I take care of my older sister as part carer and have joined a local carers’ walking group. Martin often tells me that I have a better social life than him.
“It feels great that I now have the ability to do this. It’s taken me 40 plus years to achieve my goal but I’ve finally arrived and I’m grabbing all opportunities to live with both hands.”
Ann does it all with her late-husband Alex at the forefront of her mind.
She added: “He would be really proud of me. I would always tell me to ‘go for it.’
"He was always really encouraging.”
Martin lost an incredible 11 stone in total himself while on the Cambridge plan, and is now a consultant covering Paisley.
He added: “Ann has been a dream client. A lot of people want to lose weight but are maybe not in the right frame of mind.
"Ann has thrown herself into this. Of course she’s had a few weeks with a busy social life when she’s thought I’ve had a terrible week but she’s kept going.
“I’m so proud of her and now it’s just about maintaining her new healthy weight.”
People can get more information on the Cambridge diet by emailing Martin at martin1to1diet@gmail.com.
READ NEXT
Schoolgirls having to ask staff for period products say they're being 'stripped of dignity'
Schoolgirls 'in tears' after being lined up and told trousers are 'too tight'
Lanarkshire MS fighter starts £45k Mexico treatment in bid to care for brain bleed wife
Glasgow mum's PTSD as baby battles rare, life-limiting conditions
Doctor mum of Glasgow schoolboy with life-limiting disease struggles to accept his cruel fate
