A single mother reveals how she lost more than seven stone after reconnecting with her childhood sweetheart from 40 years ago. Julie Mutlow, 58, and Mark Harris, 57, dated back at school when they were 14 years old for a few months, but drifted apart, married different people and ended up on separate paths of life.
That was until Mark decided to take the plunge and reach out to his first love on Facebook last year - when Julie was over 20 stone. Mark, from Swindon, said: "There wasn't a day that went by in 40 years that I didn't think of her at one time or another".
At the time Mark messaged Julie, also from Swindon, she admitted being overweight and "in a dark place" in her life, struggling with depression and anxiety. The mother-of-four, who received Mark's message in January 2021, said: "I was so shocked when Mark reached out to me that I didn't know what to do.
"I'm quite shy and reserved - but my daughter said 'Reply Mum!'. So I said 'Welcome to Facebook!' and it just went from there".
Towards the end of 2020, Julie was over a size 24. She had just been told by her doctor that she had a fatty liver, was verging "on the borderline of obesity", and at high risk of diabetes.
Julie describes that phone call as "the turning point for change" as she realised her "health was in great jeopardy". The determined Mum, who cares for her six-year-old grandchild with high-functioning autism, managed to lose three and a half stone entirely on her own throughout the first few months of 2021 by eating "as clean as possible".
However, she decided that some extra support was needed to pile off the additional weight, so joined her local Slimming World group in April. With Julie's determination, combined with Mark's daily support, the encouragement from her weight loss group and her family and friends, she has now lost more than seven stone.
The grandmother-of-seven explained: "I do not want to body shame people because big is beautiful but I was not happy in myself. I was really, really down and used to contemplate what was out there for me - I just lost my purpose.
"With me, I ate junk food to make me feel better and its almost a addiction. My health was being affected in the end, my confidence and my self esteem and so many times I have tried to diet but failed in the last few years".
Before embarking on her journey, Julie recalls eating substantial amounts "of bread, toast with lots of butter, crisps, cake junk food and pizza". Now, her days consist of hearty and healthy meals filled with nutrition.
Julie said: "I have fruit and shredded wheat at breakfast, salad for lunch, dinner is veg and meat mainly chicken, cottage pie with low fat mince. Lots of omelettes, fish, jacket potatoes - and anything fried is with fry-light or air fried.
"My treats are snack-a-jacks, pink and white wafers, fat free yogurts and jellies. There are so many nice foods that you can have that are not high in sugar and fat.
"But what I really will stress is that life is for living and if you have a special event, have that piece of cake or treat meal - it's a change of lifestyle rather than a diet. It is willpower too its not easy but it gets easier.
"So when Mark messaged me I was trying to turn my life around. He was a really big encouragement".
The pair initially met through Julie's brother, and used to hang out as a little group during their teens in Swindon. Then one evening they "hit it off".
Mark, a musician and a retired sound-testing engineer for Dolby, recalled: "Julie was just one of those girls. She was always stuck on my mind. I guess you always remember your first love".
As it turns out, Mark actually reached out to Julie back in 2012 on 'Friends Reunite' but Julie never saw his message. He also saw her at her old place of work in a Swindon Sainsbury's, where Julie worked for 25 years, but "never could muster the courage" to go up and speak to his first love.
However, Mark never gave up - and after messaging on Facebook nearly two years ago, the pair began to speak on the phone. They then arranged a reunion with another friend from Dorcan School, Swindon.
Mark said: "I'd only gone on Facebook to find Julie. I hadn't spoken to her in 40 years, it's a very long time.
"She was really depressed with life when I reached out. I tried to help coach her into becoming more positive and telling her that things will get better".
The father-of-one has dealt with depression and anxiety in his life too. He said he tried to pull himself out of his own situation and utilise his experiences to help his friend too.
Since that moment, their friendship has blossomed once again. The two go out to the local park to feed the ducks, take drives to the countryside and even partake in jamming sessions with Mark playing the guitar and Julie singing along.
Mark, now divorced, and Julie, who is separated, have both made it clear that they are "just friends". They said they are just "seeing what happens".
Mark said: "Ju deserves to go out and enjoy life. She missed out because she got married at just 17 years old.
"I didn't realise how much more she was enjoying life now and I can certainly say she has a companion forever". The two both admit that they have changed each other's lives "for the better".
Julie's Slimming World mentor, Kaz Rose, has seen Julie thrive since she joined last year - having lost three stone and 11lbs with the weight-loss programme.
The 39-year-old, who has been been a consultant for over two and a half years after losing a staggering 13 stone herself, said: "When Julie first came into the group, she was a shell of herself and wouldn't speak. Now she is flying and her confidence is growing.
"She is still shy but has made such good progress and is a great role model for everyone in group".
Julie said her whole journey has been about embracing her newfound positive mental and physical wellbeing. She said: "I am living my life again - I don't know what is going to happen, but I'm finding my freedom".
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