A mum-of-two lost seven-and-a-half stone in eight months after her dream holiday was ruined because of her weight
Jeanette Painting, 44, opened up about struggling to lose her baby weight after giving birth to Taion, 12, and Tarlia, nine. saying she got "stuck in a rut", hiding her size 24 figure in tracksuits and reaching 19st 13lbs.
The mum, from Gloucester, even shied away from being photographed with her children when they were young because of her size. She now regrets not having many snaps with them together to look back on and feels that she's hotter now in her 40s than she ever was in her 20s.
Jeanette said she realised "enough was enough" when a sunny holiday in Devon with her two children that should have been fun, left her feeling self-conscious about her size and not wanting to go out. It paved the way for Jeanette signing up for the 1:1 Diet by Cambridge Weight Plan in June 2021 through weight loss consultant Jade Foran.
It meant ditching oven-ready meals, takeaways and biscuits and sweets in favour of healthy salads, high-protein meals and special smoothies and shakes, reports Brimingham Live.
Her diet, detailed below, changed dramatically from meals like burgers, chips and beans to a chicken salad. She cut out sugar, carbs and fat and got a personal trainer who she still regularly visits.
"When I did the Cambridge Weight Plan, I lost weight every week until I achieved the weight I wanted to be," said Jeanette. "Being on plan gave me something to focus on every day. The ease of the diet was exactly what I needed.
"I didn’t need to overthink anything, no shopping or calorie counting, I just needed to enjoy my products – I couldn’t go wrong."
After eight months, Jeanette dropped from size 24 to size 12 and her weight came down too from 19st 13lb to 12st 6lbs. Jeanette said she now feels better than she did in her 20s and is in the "best shape ever".
Jeanette said: "Along with my anxiety and depression, the weight made me feel worse. I hated looking in the mirror. My back was playing up so much, I never wanted to go out. I didn't want to be doing anything with the children - I was physically exhausted.
"I definitely go on more days out with my children, I will take them on days away whereas before I wouldn't. I can now enjoy time with my children and be a mum with them.
"I am sad I didn't take more photos when I was bigger, when I look back and see my children being young it is sad as I am not in them as I am big. If I could change it, I would.
"I have learned to live with myself. I am in the best shape now than I can remember, even in my 20s. I look better now than when I did in my 20s."
Mum-of-two Jeanette's diet before and after
Before:
Breakfast - Cookie with a coffee
Lunch - Meal deal consisting of sandwich, crisps and fizzy drinks
Dinner - Burger, oven chips and beans
Snacks - Pack of biscuits, crisps and dips
Drinks - Fizzy pop and coffee
After:
Breakfast - Porridge
Lunch - Turkey with tinned tomatoes and scrambled egg
Dinner - Chicken and salad or vegetables
Snacks - Protein bar
Drinks - Water, flavoured sugar-free drinks only
