When Laura Cain found herself tipping the scales at 30st she was deeply worried. She saw her weight soar after a series of heath problems and found she could have no "normal" lift with her young son.
And as she got heavier and less and less mobile she found she could no longer even "walk her son to school". She finally reached the point she had no idea if she would survive to see son Dominic, nine, grow up, reports the Liverpool Echo.
In desperation she turned to Slimming World, changed her diet and mindset, and shed 17 stone in three years. Now she is passing on her tips to others who want to have a healthier life.
Laura, who was recently named as one of the UK’s top three most inspirational Slimming World slimmers, told how food became a source of comfort when she was bullied at school. But then the 34-year-old says things spiralled after she was left on life support after contracting swine flu as well as having brittle asthma and fibromyalgia
Speaking to the ECHO she said: "We just could not do anything normal, I did not walk him to school or play out with him. He knew all the medicines I need and where to find my inhaler so he started to become my carer.
"I was in a vicious circle, I was on steroids for my health problems and it was hard for me to move, so I kept eating and I just could not be the mum I wanted to be for Dominic and I knew something had to change."
Laura said the first thing for anybody looking to lose weight is to ask yourself "why are you doing it". For Laura, it was Dominic.
Her previous eating habits included eating up to six pieces of bread a day with butter eight cups of tea and coffee with two sugars and "as much chocolate" as I could eat". Laura from Southport said: "I was on so much medication and I had to use a walker to get around like I was an old person.
"I was in so much pain all the time and I was referred by an asthma consultant to have weight loss surgery. He explained that I needed to make changes soon or I would not be around for much longer."
She joined Slimming World Southport led by Dee Wright and has been supported by her fellow members in the group. Laura spurred on by her son said her diet "drastically changed". Now Laura eats Weetabix for breakfast with yoghurt or semi-skimmed milk; tuna with salad or jacket potato for lunch and now "carbs" make her feel sick.
She said: "My best advice would be to ask yourself why you are doing it and have that goal in mind. I did it for my son and it is really hard to lose weight so having that goal keeps you going.
"You need to be kind to yourself too and don't beat yourself up you can't be too hard on yourself and plan your meals I think that is the most important thing.
"If I don't plan your meals you will go in and grab whatever you want off the shelves. If you plan ahead you will go in and buy only the things that you need, it is just a way to help you keep on track."
"Looking back at everything the best thing for me is being a mum again I can take my son out to the park and be the person he needs to me to be"
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